Young adults throughout Ohio, including 39 in Athens County, went to work this summer for a federally funded program in an attempt to improve state parks and Ohio's economy.
The Recovery Conservation Corps, fueled by stimulus dollars, operated through Hocking College to employ 18- to 24-year-olds to work on outdoor projects at Strouds Run State Park in Athens County and Burr Oak State Park in Perry County.
Most workers earned $7.39 an hour and some received college credit, said Nick Claussen, community relations coordinator for Athens County Job and Family Services.
Applicants also had to be unemployed or work for low incomes to qualify for the jobs, Claussen said.
Claussen said the jobs benefited both Athens County and the workers because they allowed them to do public service work that's going to benefit everyone and at the same time make money and gain good work experience.
The jobs were especially useful to those studying natural resources, providing workers with skills such as first aid administration, he added.
All the participants I talked to were extremely happy with it. They got work experience and they enjoyed the people they were working with
Claussen said.
The program has boosted the local economy as well, because employees purchased boots and materials from local businesses, said Sue Pepper Warga, social program coordinator for the Athens County Job and Family Services.
There have been local businesses that have definitely benefited off of the program and the participants themselves because it's a work experience for them - it's something that also puts money in their pocket Warga said.
Thirty-six young adults also worked at Burr Oak State Park in Glouster to restore trails, clear up re-growth and restore a collapsed amphitheater, said Mike Powers, park manager of Burr Oak State Park. He added that the budget could not have allowed such repairs without the extra stimulus money and workers.
It was one of those things we know needs to be done
but as far as priorities
we didn't have a lot of personnel to do it
Powers said.
Powers said that although workers from Morgan County have completed their jobs for the summer, the state park still has 10 workers from Perry County helping with park restoration and maintenance.
Springer said that although youth are usually hired through programs within the Perry County Job and Family Services, she was able to employ more workers due to stimulus money.
It was funny. It happened very quickly. Of course
we thought we were going to have very limited resources as far as being able to work with youth
Springer said.
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