WATERLOO - Stimulus funding will support a summer youth jobs program in Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler and Grundy counties.

Iowa At Work, a Hawkeye Community College agency, has secured federal funding available through the Workforce Investment Act. The money comes from the region's share of a $4.4 million state-wide stimulus package for summer youth programs.

"Our summer youth work programs are meant to get young people on the right path by developing good work habits," Jeanie Wright, associate director for Iowa At Work, said in a news release. "We help individuals find a job where they can build a good track record of employment and responsibility.

"The federal stimulus funds will allow us to reach out to more teens. With the state economy and high unemployment rate in our portion of the state, anything we can do to help get income into homes is a good thing,"

The program will begin June 22 and run through the end of July. It is designed for youth ages 16 to 21, as well as veterans and their eligible spouses up to age 24. Program participants will be placed in a variety of private and public non-profit agencies. Participants can work up to 30 hours per week earning $7.25 per hour.

Those interested should apply as soon as possible as these summer jobs will be filled on a first-come first-served basis to qualified individuals in the five county region. Applications are currently available by calling or stopping by the Iowa At Work office and on the web at www.hawkeyecollege.edu/go/summerwork. All participants must meet eligibility requirements, including income guidelines with a barrier to employment.

Hawkeye Community College's Iowa At Work has offices in Independence, Allison and Waterloo. For more information, contact Wright at (319) 291-2705, ext. 281, or Jeanie.Wright@iwd.gov or Gayle Beeler at (319) 291-2705, ext. 211, or Gayle.Beeler@iwd.gov.