Oneida County fully restores summer youth work programs

UTICA, N.Y. — Two major summer work programs in Oneida County will be restored to full capacity this year after being eliminated or limited by the pandemic last year, Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. announced Wednesday.

The Oneida County College Student Corps, which matches students with internships, did not operate in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Oneida County Summer Youth Employment Program, which connects low-income teenagers with work-experience opportunities, ran on a “very limited basis” last year amid the pandemic.

“Restoring full operation of these two programs is crucial to our community, both for the short-term benefit it gives our young people and employers this summer, and for the long-range growth of our workforce,” Picente said in a release. “These are vital programs for the future of Oneida County.”

Both programs are operated through the Oneida County Office of Workforce Development. Pre-applications for both programs are available at the Oneida County Office of Workforce Development page on the county’s website (www.ocgov.net).

The Oneida County College Student Corps, which was created in 1998 by the Oneida County Board of Legislators, provides 200-hour summer internships for county-based students. Under the program, employers and the county each pay half the cost of an intern. The county contends that this is an ideal public-private partnership that helps local college students gain a fuller understanding of local opportunities in their chosen field of study.

“Every time an employer dedicates the time, money and effort to provide a valuable internship, they are investing in the future of our region,” Picente said. “This program provides young people who grow up here a new look at their community and allows them to discover the opportunity that is growing all around them. It also gives employers a chance to preview young, energetic workers who could become key employees once their college studies are completed.”

Oneida County employers interested in hosting an intern can contact Arthur C. Rapp, Jr., special projects coordinator, at (315) 798-3679 or email: arapp@working-solutions.org.

Most participants in the Oneida County Summer Youth Employment Program work about 20 hours per week over four to six weeks, depending upon the level of funding allocated to the county through the state budget, the release stated. Youth workers earn a stipend and are placed in well-supervised community work experience sites or assigned to special projects. To be eligible, participants must be between the ages of 14 and 18 and meet certain income criteria.

Summer Youth Employment Program applicants will be contacted in early June. The program is expected to start in July.

Employers interested in serving as a work site can contact David Mathis, workforce development director, at (315) 798-5543 or email: dmathis@ocgov.net.