Peekskill Youth Bureau seeks staff additions as grant funding shifts; launches Rise Up pilot

Tuesday McDonald, executive director of the Youth Bureau, presented program priorities and a personnel request tied to grant variability. She asked the council to consider adding a full-time senior office assistant and a youth employment worker; McDonald said several programs rely on grants and that some grant-funded positions have no municipal salary component. She reported six active grants (including Project Elevate, Investing Kids, SYEP/SYETP and others), noted Project Elevate is due to sunset in December unless renewed and requested modest increases in operational lines (e.g., $5,000 for part-time staffing and $2,000 for other youth expenses).

Council members questioned which positions are grant-funded and which would be city-funded, why recommended figures differed from requested ones (the recommended budget reduced the senior office assistant to a 0.5 FTE to balance the tentative budget) and whether grant writers or other supports should be considered. Program staff described a new pilot, 'Rise Up,' intended to provide boot-camp-style workforce supports for ages 18–24 while the city seeks grant round renewals; staff reported past W Day outcomes—21 participants enrolled in the last cycle with about 85% gaining employment—and said follow-up services continue. McDonald and staff emphasized collaboration with community partners to stretch resources.