Mayor Luke Bronin delivered Tuesday on a campaign promise that he talked about throughout his campaign for the city's highest office.
The Hartford Youth Service Corps will employ young Hartford residents between the ages of 16 and 24 and they will earn $10.10 per hour. The amount is significant because Connecticut was the first state to raise the minimum wage but it doesn't go into effect until January, meaning the members of the Youth Service Corps will earn higher paychecks sooner.
Mayor Bronin says the program provides a path for youths to stay out of trouble and break the cycle of poverty and unemployment in the Capital City.,
“This allows our young people to earn a paycheck while at the same time getting that sense of pride and purpose that comes with having a job.”
Youth Service Corps employees will work in parks around Hartford helping with gardening, beautification, and routine maintenance. They worked Tuesday on mulching in Riverside Park. They will also work in Keney Park and all over the city helping to maintain city sidewalks. The mayor also said that in the winter you could expect to see the Youth Service Corps will prioritize helping the city's elderly with snow removal.
The mayor's administration worked for months to find donors to help fund the program. They secured $2.2 million worth of investments from The Hartford, Travelers, Aetna, and the Newman's Own Foundation to fund the first year of the program.
Bronin knows the program may not be cheap, but says for the donors and for city, he hopes to see a return on investment that's good for everyone involved.
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“We hope that this chance is not just going to be a standalone opportunity but one that leads to more opportunities down the road.”
