Kane County having trouble giving away free money

Money for nothin' and jobs for free. But so far, Kane County businesses aren't jumping to get in line for millions of federal stimulus dollars targeted at providing summer jobs for 14- to 24-year-olds.

The Kane County Department of Employment and Education is eager to give local businesses with summer job opportunities the money to pay for those positions. The county hopes to place at least 300 people in summer jobs with the money. But so far, even in tough economic times, not enough local businesses have signed up to take the free federal money.

Illinois will receive about $53 million in federal stimulus money to create jobs for those 14- to 24-year-olds from now until Sept. 30. Illinois workNet centers in suburban Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties will dole out about $8.7 million of that total to area employers looking for temporary summer help. The stimulus dollars will pay all the wages for the workers, including the July 1 minimum wage increase to $8 per hour.

Dee Reinhardt, who oversees the program for Kane County, said youths who have applied to be placed through the program are having good luck landing summer jobs in positions ranging from engineering internships to photography assistants, teacher's aides, local not-for-profits and general office work. Some 190 businesses have already signed up for the program, but Reinhardt says the county really needs some more work sites in areas like Elgin and Carpentersville to apply for the free money.

"The employers who are providing work sites are really excited about this possibility," Reinhardt said. "It's giving them some extra help to accomplish a few projects that they may not otherwise have the manpower to accomplish."

Reinhardt said some of the difficulty in getting businesses to sign on may, ironically, be a result of the poor economy. The summer jobs cannot be used to replace a full-time slot with cheaper labor, that may include filling openings created by layoffs. That said, the county is doing everything it can to provide appropriate employees to businesses who apply. In other words, the county won't give a business a 14-year-old if the job it's looking to fill really requires someone 18 or older. Indeed, the county is also hoping more 18- to 24-year-olds apply for summer jobs through the program as unemployment climbs.

Workers and businesses interested in the program can get more information and apply by calling (630) 208-1854, or visiting kcdee.org.