Elk Grove Village will put you to work

While other towns are trimming staff, Elk Grove Village is actually offering part-time public works jobs to help people navigate a tough economy.

The Elk Grove Stimulus Temporary Employment Program, which was unveiled by Mayor Craig Johnson at Tuesday's village board meeting, will provide 23 temporary positions to applicants with at least five years of experience in construction or related fields.

Residency in Elk Grove is preferred.

Program employees will work two days a week for up to 15 weeks, assisting the public works department with new and ongoing projects associated with the transition to the new village hall, as well as seasonal work that runs from spring through fall.

The program will begin in May.

During that time, employees can use the other three days of the week to look for work or train for future employment.

Johnson said the workers will be able to collect their full unemployment compensation.

"This program is not meant to be a job replacement," he said. "It is meant to be temporary assistance to carry them through this tough time while they're looking for another job. it's to give them a little hand up."

Positions will pay $10.50 an hour but will not include benefits. The program is funded by a one-time $60,000 transfer from the village's general operating fund.

For more information, contact the village's human resources office at (847) 357-4020.

Johnson said residents have been contacting village officials, looking for work.

He read a letter he received from an unemployed carpenter looking for a job with the village. The carpenter wrote, "I'm a hard worker, and I like hard work. I like to earn my money. I like to dig holes, do cement work, clean toilets, wash windows, floors, whatever it takes to support my family and to pay my bills."

The village's public works department recently had an opening for a janitorial position. "As of today, over 500 people applied for that one job as a janitor here in the village hall," Johnson said. "That sends a very loud and clear message that it is tough out there."

Johnson credited the village's fiscal stability for making the program possible.

"The village has done remarkably well over these tough times. We have stayed very strong financially."

He also made it clear that with the addition of temporary employees, "This is not going to replace any jobs."