Youth Mania!
Man-Tra Con Summer Program Results

It’s been quite a busy summer at Man-Tra-Con with Summer Works, Summer Works DNR, Youth Employment for the Summer (YES) and Put Illinois to Work (PITW) programs — in addition to record-breaking heat! The following program summary is the result of everyone’s commitment and hard work:

2010 Summer Works Experience
The 2010 Summer Works Experience administered by Man-Tra-Con in Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) 25 provided young adults, 16 to 17 years of age, with an opportunity to work part-time within government offices, non-profit organizations and area businesses through funding from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Participants earned $8.25 per hour during the program period beginning May 1, 2010, and ending September 30, 2010.

Summer Works Youth Coordinator Dorothy Porter worked with clients from Jackson, Perry and Williamson counties, with assistance from Youth Services Specialist JoDene Kern who managed clients from Jefferson and Franklin Counties.

According to Dorothy Porter, a total of 79 youth were placed among approximately 30 worksites, including 14 youth at the Attucks Community Center, which was added as a worksite in August.

Summer Works “DNR” Experience
The Summer Works “DNR” Experience provided young adults 18 to 24 years of age an opportunity to work at five Department of Natural Resources (DNR) worksites in Illinois beginning June 1, 2010. Participants earned $8.25 per hour during their assigned work period. In addition, the youth received a minimum of $5 per day for transportation costs, including and up to $300 worth of personal equipment needed or required for the job which they were able to keep after the program ended on September 30, 2010.

A total of 40 youth were placed among the following five sites.

• Giant City State Park in Makanda, (15)
• Mt. Vernon Game Farm in Mt. Vernon, (7)
• Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park in Whittington, (10)
• Trail of Tears State Park in Jonesboro, (5)
• Pyramid State Park in Pinckneyville, (3)
  

 
Y.E.S. Program
Man-Tra-Con helped administer the Illinois Youth Employment for the Summer (Y.E.S.) program for Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) 25, in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Y.E.S. program provided temporary full-time work for eligible young adults (aged 16-24) through state funds and federal stimulus dollars. Participants worked up to 40 hours per week. The program began in LWIA 25 on July 6, 2010, and ended on September 30, 2010.

Stephanie Castellano coordinated the program with assistance from Youth Services Specialist Melissa Cauthen and Resource Room Assistant Alice Wyskiel. This summer, 100 young adults were placed throughout approximately 37 work sites including 22 YES participants, plus 14 Summer Works DNR participants, who were placed in positions at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

Put Illinois to Work
Man-Tra-Con helped administer the Put Illinois to Work (PITW) program in partnership with the Department of Human Services throughout 28 counties in southern Illinois. Adults aged 18 and older were placed into employment positions for the summer with wages paid through state and federal funding. Participating employers provided each participant with supervision and training during the placement period. Wages were paid at a rate of $10.00 per hour.

PITW Coordinator Chris Pell reported that to date, 344 participants were placed in 28 counties throughout southern Illinois. The program ended on January 15, 2011.

"Without everyone’s contribution at Man-Tra-Con,
our placement successes would not have been possible!"
— Kathy Lively, CEO, Man-Tra-Con Corporation