This is a significant and important part of the stimulus package approved by Congress, particularly for Surry County. The program offers 20 hours of work per week, paying $7.25 an hour, for youth and adults aged 16 to 24. The length of the temporary employment is different for various age classifications.
While it has been difficult to see what the bank bail-out has done — with many of those institutions simply tucking that money away, paying out dividends with the funds, or using the windfall to buy up competitors — this part of the stimulus plan is reaching where it needs. Teens and young adults, some between school semesters, others perhaps returning from military service and looking for part-time work while searching for more permanent employment, will benefit.
That means these young people will have money in their pockets to save for school, to spend in local stores, to make car payments, maybe even to help out with household expenses if their parents are jobless or under employed.
Yes, the jobs are only part time, and they are short-term. But this is a segment of the population which often has a hard time getting work, particularly in difficult economic times, and this money will help those most in need.
The program is structured so that employers cannot use the money to hire youth at the expense of regular adult workers. Instead, this has to be in addition to the regular work done by other employees.
Ultimately, taxpayers — be they individuals or businesses — will foot the bill for the stimulus package, and the need for the package, and the accompanying deficit spending, could be debated ad infinitum. The reality is the package exists, the money is going to be spent, and it’s good to see it going to those who need it most, rather than being used for some sort of pork barrel project that does little for the economy.
We only hope the rest of the stimulus package is managed as effectively.
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