The city's Department of Community Services, aided by the federal stimulus package, has launched a Summer Youth Employment Program for economically disadvantaged youth and young adults, Mayor Mufi Hannemann said today in a news release.

"I'm very pleased that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is providing federal funding just in time to create jobs for youth and young adults during the summer," Hannemann said. "Not only does this help stimulate our economy, but it also provides an excellent opportunity for our youth to learn work maturity skills and help them become productive and valuable members of our workforce."

The program is open to young people age 14 to 24, and will employ 650 workers during the six-week period from June 15 through July 24, 2009. Workers will earn minimum wage and be employed for 30 hours per week at work sites located islandwide, hosted by city and state departments and private nonprofit organizations.

Applications for young people interested in participating in the Summer Youth Employment Program will be available today through April 3, 2009.

Applications are available at the Youth Services Center, Kailua Satellite City Hall, and at Oahu WorkLinks Centers at:

Youth Services Center/WIA Youth Program, 1505 Dillingham Blvd. Suite 206, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817; Oahu WorkLinks One Stop Centers, 1505 Dillingham Blvd. Suite 110, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817; 830 Punchbowl Street Room 112, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813; 94-275 Mokuola Street Suite 300, Waipahu, Hawaii 96797; 85-670 Farrington Hwy. Room 6, Waianae, Hawaii 96792; and 54-010 Kukuna Road Hauula, Hawaii 96717.

For questions regarding applications, call Donna Fautanu at 832-7818.

Applications can also be downloaded from:

http://www.honolulu.gov/dcs/specialprojects/youthservices.htm