A coalition of business, city and community agencies announced Wednesday a more organized summer jobs program for youth in Greater Cincinnati to replace a program cobbled together after the April riots.

        For many of the jobs, registration begins Saturday at four schools: Taft and Western Hills high schools and Princeton and Sycamore junior high schools.

JOBS PROGRAM

• Who's eligible? 14- and 15-year-olds can apply for subsidized jobs at area nonprofit and government agencies; 16- to 22-year-olds can seek unsubsidized jobs. There are no residency restrictions.     • How do applicants sign up? Registration for private-sector jobs for those ages 16-22 will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Taft and Western Hills high schools and Princeton and Sycamore junior high schools. Registration also can be done 5-7 p.m. March 25-28 at the Urban League. Registration is required to participate in an April 13 career day at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College and a May 11 job fair at Woodward High School. Information: 487-6526.     Registration for 14- and 15-year-olds will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20 at the Citizens' Committee on Youth office at 2147 Central Ave. Information: 632-5100.     • How much will the jobs pay? The subsidized jobs will pay $5.15 an hour. The unsubsidized jobs will pay at least minimum wage.     • How do employers participate? An orientation session is March 27. Information: 475-7101.

        The Youth Employment Initiative hopes to hire more than 2,400 people through subsidized jobs for 14- and 15-year-olds, and unsubsidized private sector jobs for 16- to 22-year-olds. The jobs would run from about June 15 to Aug. 16.

        The program will try to turn last year's hastily organized program into a full-fledged, year-round one, said John Pepper, Procter & Gamble chairman and chief organizer of the initiative.

        “Our goal is to provide work experience and other experiences surrounding work, not just to develop productive employees but also good citizens,” Mr. Pepper said.

        Among the changes:

        • More sign-up locations, designed to expand the program beyond city of Cincinnati borders.

        • Expanded transportation services, to be funded by a $100,000 grant from Toyota.

        • Expanded job-readiness training, including lessons on filling out applications, how to dress for work, and workplace behavior.

        • Efforts to link the summer job program to year-round youth development, cooperative education, mentoring and school vocational programs.

        • An earlier start. Last year's program was designed after the April riots. This year, planning started in the fall.

        Sponsors estimate workers can earn between $1,000 and $1,400 for the summer.

        Sponsors say they already have commitments for more than $700,000 of the estimated $2 million needed. Sponsorships include $300,000 from the city, $300,000 from members of the Cincinnati Business Committee, and $100,000 from Toyota Motor Manufacturing, North America, based in Erlanger. The Greater Cincinnati Foundation contributed $85,000.

        Sponsors plan to ask the city for more money from its empowerment zone funds; the state for money from its work force investment program; the federal government for support through the U.S. Department of Labor; and private foundations for support.

        “I think this shows a serious commitment by the city, the business community and others to the development of young people in our community,” said Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken.

        Other supporters include the Cincinnati Public Schools, Greater Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency, Urban Appalachian Council, Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, African-American Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, and the Workforce Investment Board.

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