YOUTH CORPS SUMMER PROGRAM

Nearly 270 teenagers across the State will be employed this summer in conservation-related projects under the new Illinois Conservation Corps' $250,000 Summer Youth Employment Grant Program outlined by Governor James R. Thompson.

"This State-financed program will provide a substantial number of jobs for young men and women in Illinois," Thompson said. "The Conservation Corps will not only give these young people an opportunity to earn money but also the opportunity to participate in improving our communities and parklands."

The 16- through 18-year-old participants will work at conservation and natural resource management projects funded by Summer Youth Employment program grants to 41 communities and recreational agencies in 21 counties. Recipients include park districts, cities, villages, conservation and forest preserve districts and townships.

The 41 grants will pay up to 70 percent of the costs for local projects employing the maximum number of persons at manual labor tasks. The projects must get underway in late May and conclude in August.

Youth Corps members will renovate park shelters, trails, playground equipment and community boulevards. They also will install new trails, shelters, erosion control facilities, trees, shrubs and bank stabilization embellishments and build accommodations for handicapped persons.

The youths will be paid $3.35 per hour and work a maximum of 40 hours a week for up to eight weeks. They must be unemployed at the time they join the Conservation Corps.

"In the past, the State of Illinois has conducted similar summer job programs for our youth through its Youth Conservation Corps with the support of the federal government," Thompson said. "I am proud that even though those federally funded programs no longer exist, we still are able to offer our young people the same kind of opportunities with our own resources through the new Illinois Conservation Corps."

The $250,000 Summer Youth Employment Grant Program is a component of the Governor's comprehensive Illinois Conservation Corps program approved by the General Assembly last year. The following is a list of Summer Youth Employment Grant recipients and the grant amounts:

Addison Park District, $6,400; City of Alton, $6,500; City of Aurora, $6,500; Batavia Park District, $6,500; Canton Park District, $6,500; City of Carlyle, $5,500; Carrier Mills Park District, $5,000; Central Area Park District, Maywood, $6,000; Decatur Park District, $6,500; DeKalb County Forest Preserve District, $6,000; Village of Divernon, $5,500; City of East St. Louis, $7,000; Effingham Park District, $6,500; Elmhurst Park District, $6,500; Fox Valley Park District, $6,500.

Also: Freeport Park District, $5,500; Harrisburg Park District, $6,500; City of Highland, $5,500; Village of Itasca, $6,500; City of Jerseyville, $5,500; Kane County Forest Preserve District, $6,500; City of Lake Forest, $5,500; Lake Villa Township, $5,200; Lemont Park District, $5,000; Lockport Township Park District, $5,500; Macon County Forest Preserve District, $6,500; McHenry County Conservation District, $6,500; City of North Chicago, $6,500.

Also: Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NESDRA), Addison, $6,500; Village of Northfield, $6,500; Oregon Park District, $6,000; Putnam County Conservation District, $3,900; Schaumburg Park District, $6,000; Skokie Park District, $6,500; Sterling Park District, $6,500; Urbana Park District, $6,500; City of Vandalia, $5,500; City of Warrenville, $6,500; Westmont Park District, $6,500; Wheaton Park District, $6,500; and Will County Forest Preserve District, $6,500. •

May 1986 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 15