More than 100 local teenagers and young adults are taking part in special programs this summer that give them the opportunity to earn a paycheck and gain valuable work skills, while also helping local businesses and organizations, according to a news release from Athens County Job and Family Services.

The majority of these teenagers and young adults are taking part in the Summer Employment Program, which is being coordinated by the Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action Program (HAPCAP) and Athens County JFS.

ACJFS also operates a separate youth employment program through its federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) activities each summer. This summer, 32 teenagers and young adults are taking part in the WIA program, the release said.

For the HAPCAP/Athens County Job and Family Services Summer Employment Program, 71 participants between the ages of 14 and 24 were hired to work between June 11 and Aug. 31, although many will have to leave the program early when school starts.

Federal funding set aside specifically for summer employment programs pays the salaries of all of the participants, and also pays for educational activities, community service projects, free lunches and gas vouchers to help the participants get back and forth to their work sites, the release said. The participants work between 30 and 40 hours each week.

“They gain real-world work experience,” said Jessica Stroh, who is helping to coordinate the program for HAPCAP.

The participants also learn about things such as the responsibility involved in having a job, the need to show up on time ready to work, the importance of smiling to co-workers and customers, the understanding of how to interact with a boss, simple things like shaking people’s hands and dealing with them professionally, and even dealing with co-workers. The participants also had to go through an interview process to help match them up with the right employers, the release said, and this was another good learning experience.

Taking part in the program also gives participants the opportunity to look more closely at different jobs and careers they may be interested in. All of these benefits are in addition to the opportunity to earn a paycheck all summer.

“I’m saving up for college,” Ember Moran, 15, of Millfield, said in the release. She said she hopes to study culinary arts at Hocking College, where she is also hoping to earn a scholarship. Moran said she likes the work she’s doing, and said it’s a good first job.

Chelsie McKee, 19, is also enjoying working in the program, the release said, and is using the money she is earning to pay off bills and student loans.

“I really love it here,” McKee said. The Chauncey resident is working on earning her pharmacy tech certificate at Tri-County Adult Career Center. She explained that she has a lot of different job responsibilities in the summer program, and is thankful to be working.

In the release, Stroh said that McKee and Moran are both doing outstanding work, and said she’s pleased that so many local businesses and organizations are working with the teenagers and young adults this summer. Many of the employers have the participants working on a variety of jobs in order to help them learn about different types of work. Capstone Management, for example, even has a staff member specifically working with the summer employment program kids.

“They are really focusing on helping them build their skills,” Stroh said.

Businesses and organizations from all across the county are taking part in the work program this summer. These employers include ABC Chiropractic, ACEnet, ACRE, the Athens County Dog Shelter, Athens County Habitat for Humanity, the Athens County Recycling Center, the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, Athens Head Start, Athens Public Transit, Capstone Property Management, the Chauncey Water Department, Circle Round the Square, the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD), the Coolville Public Library, HAPCAP, the Glouster Police Department, Hocking College, Jacksonville Ceramics, Kasler’s Country Kitchen, the Ohio University Recycling Center, Plaid Butterfly, the Recycled Wardrobe, Sycamore Run, Tish’s Treasures, Trimble Local Schools, the village of Amesville, the village of Glouster, the village of Jacksonville and the village of Trimble.

On Tuesday, Aug. 14, HAPCAP will hold an end-of-the-summer celebration for the Summer Employment Program participants. The event will include an awards ceremony at 10:30 a.m., lunch at noon and special activities held throughout the afternoon.

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Offices and Business Support Services to meet your needs.

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Offices and Business Support Services to meet your needs.

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Offices and Business Support Services to meet your needs.

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Offices and Business Support Services to meet your needs.

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Offices and Business Support Services to meet your needs.

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Alexis Radcliff and Heather Thompson of Stages Early Learning Center.

Stages Early Learning Center, housed on the grounds of the former River Valley Community School on West Union Street, will be the new addition to the revamped Alexander Elementary School building, now dubbed Center Albany. The plan is to open the doors of Stages Albany on Aug. 20, pending an inspection with the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services.

“We’re a little nervous,” said co-owner Heather Thompson. “That’s expected when venturing into a second site. But it’s wonderful to have people trust you with your company and have faith in your excellent care. It’s sort of a pat on the back.”

The number of students will depend on the outcome of final licensing, but Thompson anticipates having room for 14 early preschoolers, 24 preschoolers and 16 school-age kids. Due to building code limitations, the new center will serve children ages 2 1/2 to 12. The Athens center takes children as young as 6 weeks old.

Last summer, Center Albany Ltd. purchased the old school building in Albany from the village for a sum of $206,000. Capstone Property Management, of Athens, then took over management of the former school, which closed in 2004 after a new building was constructed. Soon after, Capstone Manager Bob Prebe approached Thompson and co-owner Alexis Radcliff about the idea of opening a facility there.

“We conducted an exhaustive search around the area,” Prebe said. “We selected them as the focus of our attention. We felt their mission and methods were top-notch. We’re very happy to see them there.”

The new facility will partner with Albany Cafe, another tenant in the building that opened in the old school cafeteria earlier this year. The cafe will offer hot and cold breakfast as well as lunch and afternoon snack for the center.

“We think that’ll be a big plus with the parents,” said Radcliff. “I’m a parent myself. I know I’m always running around trying to get lunches packed. We’ll be able to take that piece off the parent.”

Students will also have access to the stage and gym, which will serve as the center’s indoor gross motor skills area. The construction of a 6,000 square foot outdoor play area is currently in the works. The Wells Public Library, located in front of the school, will serve as an added resource for both the children and the teachers, Thompson said.

Stages hit a nerve on the need for childcare in the area, and the business has grown with the demand. When Thompson and Radcliff first opened their doors in 2007, their business took up just four classrooms. Two years ago, they expanded to include another floor, doubling their size. Still, nearly every one of their classrooms has a waiting list.

“And who knows, maybe in a couple years, we’ll be ready to expand again,” Radcliff said.

In addition to the childcare center and cafe, the other tenants of Centre Albany include Sound Health, the Athens-Meigs Educational Service Center, village government offices and the Albany seniors group. Capstone just installed fibre optic Internet connection, which Prebe said will be the “fastest Internet connection in the area.”

“It’s a wonderful mix of children, seniors and other adults,” Prebe added. “This is meant to be a community center and business center, all in one.”

asmedley@athensmessenger.com

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