Stimulus money to hire 2,000 for Ind. projects

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 31, 2009 at 10:49 AM EST

Story Updated: Mar 31, 2009 at 4:33 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — About $24 million in federal stimulus money will be used in Indiana to hire 2,000 young adults over the next two summers to improve parks, trails and natural habitats.

"Our template for stimulus funds is jobs, speed and lasting value," Gov. Mitch Daniels said Tuesday. "This program puts young people to work, does it quickly and adds the best kind of enduring legacy in the enhanced natural beauty of Indiana."

The new state program, dubbed the Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps, will be funded with $21 million in stimulus money. Marion County will receive $3 million for programs to train and hire young people.

Federal requirements say the jobs will be for those between 16 and 24 with family incomes at or below the federal poverty level, which is about $23,000 for a family of four.

Daniels said that preference will be given to those currently receiving unemployment benefits and veterans, so most of those hired will be closer to age 24 than 16. The jobs will pay $8.50 an hour and will be scattered across the state.

The positions will begin no earlier than May 1 and end by Sept. 30, with the program to be overseen by the Department of Workforce Development. Job applications are being accepted immediately online at www.in.gov/yhcc.

The Department of Natural Resources expects to restore up to 2,600 acres of natural habitat areas, build up to 110 miles of new trails, rehabilitate over 1,100 miles of existing trails and restore about 40 structures.

The work will take place at about 100 DNR sites, including state parks, reservoirs, recreation areas, state forests, nature preserves and state historic sites.

"You can think of this as healthy outdoor work, but we will have some young, unemployed Hoosiers with a chance to make some money," Daniels said. "They will be getting job counseling and assistance throughout 16 weeks. Our goal is that during or shortly thereafter this experience they move on to other jobs."

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