Youth are ideally suited to maintaining parks and trails around town during summer.
Hence the birth of the Recovery Conservation Corps (RCC), a
statewide effort with heavy local involvement, which Cincinnati Mayor
Mark Mallory introduced at the 4th Annual Youth Job Fair.
This program, aimed at youth aged 16 - 24, is the result of a
collaboration between the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)
and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS).
"The new state program will not only help youth in Hamilton County
gain skills, knowledge and work experience, but it will also teach them
the importance of conservation, ensuring a greener and healthier future
for us all," Mayor Mallory says.
Alongside Mayor Mallory, ODNR Director Sean Logan also discussed the details of this new youth job engine.
"These workers will gain critical experience and on-the-job training
as they improve the state’s parks, wetlands, forests and other natural
areas," Logan says.
Those employed by the RCC will be assigned to various maintenance,
repair and improvement projects in Cincinnati's parks, such as Hueston
Woods State Park, Caesar Creek State Park and Little Miami Scenic Park.
Specifically, the RCC will improve recreation lands, build
boardwalks, observation areas and trails and restrain the reach of
invasive species.
With all of the work to be done, the ODNR estimates that hundreds
may be employed by the program. Ultimately, this is encouraging news
during these economically challenging times.
“These projects fulfill the spirit of the rapid economic response
needed now by the people of Ohio and called for in the stimulus plan,”
said Logan. “The program puts young people to work and does it quickly.”
Funding for this program is coming from President Obama's American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, through which $2 million will go to the
RCC program.
Similar programs are already in place in New York, Indiana, Tennessee and California.
Writer: Jonathan DeHart
Source: Jason Barron, City of Cincinnati
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