Cincinnati youths in need of jobs got a $1 million boost from Columbus Wednesday.

        Gov. Bob Taft announced a $1 million grant to the Youth Employment Initiative, a new effort to provide summer and year-round jobs for Cincinnati young people.

        Organizers hope to raise more than $2 million for this year's program. The city is providing $300,000, while business and community leaders have pledged more than $350,000. The remaining funds are being sought from the federal government, local and state grants and private foundations.

        The program hopes to create 2,400 jobs.
       “This funding will ensure that hundreds of area young people get the opportunity to have critically important, first-job experience this summer,” said John E. Pepper, chairman of Procter & Gamble Co.and head of the group of community leaders that created the initiative.

        Gov. Taft said he was “very pleased to be able to demonstrate the state's, and my personal, support for this effort.”

— Dan Klepal

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