By Alex Paul
Albany Democrat-Herald | Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 12:00 am
The Linn County Summer Youth Wage Grant program met its goals in 2007, according to a report given to the Linn County Board of Commissioners.
Keith Miller, director of the Linn County Business Development Center, reported that in 2007, some 33 companies qualified for the program. Nine were farms. In all, the businesses employed 85 young people.
"Last year, we got the numbers we had hoped to reach when we started the program," Board Chair Roger Nyquist said. "We've gotten all kinds of feedback from small business owners and from Linn County youth who were out there learning job skills and work ethics."
Nyquist said funding comes from the Oregon Lottery's economic development program.
"We're the only county that I know of that targets a portion of those dollars to small business," Nyquist said.
In 2007, participating companies received $44,348 in grant compensation. To qualify, a company must have fewer than 35 employees and certify they meet all Federal and State youth labor laws.
The program was established in 2006. The county agreed to provide employers with $2 per hour for each young person hired age 16 to under 21. Employers could qualify for up to three employees and the maximum rebate from the county was $1,000 per youth.
In that first summer, 15 companies qualified, of which six were farms. 33 young people qualified and the county paid $18,290.
In February, the commissioners approved supporting the program for another summer.
This summer, the maximum age will be 19, but the minimum age will be dropped from 16 to 14. Miller said several employers reported that 14 year olds are interested in working and would like to participate in the program.
"They're easier to train and they stay longer with the employer during their high school years," Miller noted in his report. "In 2007, a couple of exceptions were made to allow companies to qualify 14 and 15 year olds when they had a Bureau of Labor and Industries permit to do so. In 2008, employers wanting to hire 14 and 15 year olds would be required to have a Bureau of Labor and Industries permit to do so."
The commissioners have set a maximum expenditure of $75,000 for the 2008 program, which will run from May through October.
The following information is the participating company, number of qualifying youth and the amount of the grant received: First United Methodist Church, Albany, 1, $976.50; South Albany Community Church, Albany, 2, $971.50; Safe Haven Humane Society, 1, $549.50; A&W Restaurant, Sweet Home, 5, $2,671.40; Tech Edge Mfg., Sweet Home, 1, $382.66; ET Construction, Brownsville, 4, $745.50; Yahoo Deli & Mart, Lebanon, 3, $1,039.08; Short Subjects, Brownsville, 2, $424.40; Davis Glass, Albany, 1, $728.50; N. Tolman, D.M.D., Lebanon, 1, $107.76; Quiznos, Lebanon, 3, $2,471.02; Malpass Wholesale, Harrisburg, 1, $681.50; Malpass Farm, Harrisburg, 1, $961; Glenn Miller Seed, Lebanon, 3, $2,026.90; Cook Family Farm, Albany, 2, $1,180; CB Distributing, Albany, 1, $180.64; 7 Eleven, Lebanon, 1, $353.30; Dan-Dee Sales, Sweet Home, 3, $1,068.50; Sunshine Espresso, Sweet Home, 2, $486.10; Valley View Logging, Sweet Home, 1, $209; Crystal Valley Decorating, Albany, 1, $256.50; Grover Cleaning Service, Albany, 1, $372.66; Merrill Group, Lebanon, 2, $1,335.50; Figaro's Pizza, Lebanon, 3, $2,108.10; O.K. Feed, Sweet Home, 1, $385.02; Fraga Farms, Sweet Home, 1, $298.20; Dairy Queen, 3, $2,534.08; A Grooming Place, Albany, 2, $1,554; Langmade Enterprises, Albany, 1, $216; Tangent Seed, Tangent, 2, $837; Main Street Coffee, Brownsville, 2, $1,730.16; Blue Moon Farm, Lebanon, 1, $392; Agricultural Drainage Corp., Tangent, 2, $1,306; Crossroads Deli, Tangent, 2, $1,815.96; KUHN Cinema, Lebanon, 2, $443.50; Pill Box Health Center, Lebanon, 1, $328.10. Total 33 businesses; 22,174 hours worked by 85 qualifying youth. $44,348 total in grants.