Mayor Andrew J. Ginther along with city and community partners announced a $16.2 million investment for Columbus youth summer programming.
By transforming educational and violence prevention efforts into career exploration and job training opportunities, funding will support programming that provides safe, constructive and engaging outlets for youth to thrive this summer.
“Every young person can do something fun and meaningful this summer,” said Council President Shannon Hardin. “I got my start as an intern for Mayor Micheal B. Coleman and a summer job at Zoombezi Bay, both of which helped me earn and learn when I was a teenager.”
Money from the city’s General Fund and the American Rescue Plan account for $14.4 million of the funding, with City Council contributing the remaining $1.8 million from its Reimagining Safety Fund.
According to Ginther, over the last two years youth have experienced profound upheaval and uncertainty.
“One constant has been our commitment to empowering them with the skills, knowledge and experiences they need to enrich their minds, develop healthy habits and lead safe, productive lives,” said Ginther. “By combining federal stimulus dollars with city funding and other community investments, we are expanding the range of summer programming available to our youth and, ultimately, building a brighter future for all our residents.”
With a goal to help reduce violence across the city, the administration and City Council are reserving $7.9 million for community safety programs. Another $5.3 million will be devoted to programs that engage youth through various mentorship and educational opportunities and seek to change the narrative of violence and encourage positive social interactions. The remaining $3 million will go to workforce development programming.
“We all have a shared responsibility to help ensure the future leaders in our region are engaged in the community and prepared to enter the workforce,” said Franklin County Board of Commissioners President Erica C. Crawley. “One of the goals of the Franklin County Rise Together Blueprint is to support our most vulnerable youth by investing in pathways that will set them up for long-term success.”
Franklin County will invest an additional $6.1 million to support youth summer activities for families that meet Temporary Assistance for Needy Families income guidelines. Programming will include free day camps for elementary and middle school students and for high school students and young adults, opportunities for paid work experience along with college and career readiness programs.
For more information about summer programming partners, visit www.columbus.gov.