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Council discusses Erie County youth employment program that could subsidize summer wages for ages 14–20
Summary
Councilors discussed a county-run youth employment program that a speaker said would pay $16.50 an hour for participants aged 14–20; council members asked staff to gather program details and eligibility rules before deciding how the city might participate.
During the informal portion of the Tonawanda Common Council meeting, council members discussed a county-run youth employment program that, according to a speaker, would pay participating young people $16.50 an hour and is funded with state dollars.
A council member said the program targets ages 14–20 and could be used to staff summer positions such as lifeguards or litter crews; the speaker said the county accepts applications and that participating municipalities can apply to hire candidates. The speaker also said a six‑page manual was released recently and that the state allocated $45,000,000 to the program.
Council members asked for clarifications on residency restrictions, whether wages are fully paid by the county or if municipalities would be responsible for a portion, and what roles younger participants could perform given age limitations. One council member noted the program is countywide and that private-sector employers can participate as well.
Next steps Council members asked staff to obtain the county’s program guidance and application materials and to report back at a subsequent meeting. The council did not take any formal action or vote on participation at this meeting.
Context Speakers said the program runs under state-allocated funds and that the application and eligibility specifics were still being confirmed by county officials. If the city pursues participation, details about costs, resident priority, job assignments and supervision will need to be confirmed before hiring.
