By IL Public Radio
Springfield, IL – GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH ANNOUNCED TODAY (YESTERDAY) A YOUTH JOBS PROGRAM. 10-THOUSAND SUMMER JOBS HAVE BEEN CREATED FOR TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
TOM GREEN IS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. HE SAYS THERE ARE A VARIETY OF JOBS AVAILABLE FOR YOUTHS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 13 AND 22:
SOME JOBS PAY UP TO 10 DOLLARS PER HOUR. GREEN SAYS THE PROGRAM WILL COST THE STATE UP TO 14 MILLION DOLLARS. HE SAYS SOME OF THAT WAS BUDGETED LAST YEAR...BUT SAYS THE REST HAS YET TO BE APPROVED.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH HAS CRITICIZED A BILLION DOLLAR STATE BUDGET DEFICIT.