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United Way of Greater Union County partners with Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders to provide 200 Jobs for Youth

Press Release from the United Way

Partnership with Freeholders includes new summer employment program as part of Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados’s “Moving Union County Forward” youth engagement initiative;  and widens involvement with nonprofit agencies, educational institutions and local businesses.

United Way of Greater Union County (UWGUC) has partnered with the Union County Freeholder Board to create 200 jobs for youth. 

Summer employment has already been established and secured in industries such as information technology, hospitality, construction, health sciences and retail.  “By providing these job opportunities and training, we are assisting our youth with the opportunity to gain experience in a job sector they may choose as a career while also receiving financial compensation in the future,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The Freeholder Board is proud to be sponsoring this program through United Way and we look forward to continuing this in the future.” 

This program, known as the Youth Employment Pathways Program (YEPP) is designed to help youth secure employment, attend college and/or obtain occupational certifications. In the first part of the program sponsored by the Freeholder Board, the jobs initiative assisted 60 youths in the Spring to find employment. 

YEPP is funded by a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant, and to continue coordination of the Youth Employment and Training Consortium (YETC).

YEPP provides services year-round and is designed to ensure youth, both in school and out of school and, who are between the ages of 14-24, are provided with the resources they’ll need to meet career goals and on-the-job training experience. “We are happy to continue this initiative of bringing together all of our resources to strengthen our community and to help young people reach their goals” said James Horne, President and CEO at United Way of Greater Union County.  “Our work to help strengthen Union County includes youth employment services that help give young people real-world opportunities to learn and grow”.  The YEPP 

UWGUC works with nonprofit agencies, educational institutions and local businesses to ensure youth obtain and gain access to employment opportunities in Union County that will make them marketable in a competitive labor force. The program includes career planning, education and training and work experience.

Agencies located across Union County included in the YETC are: the Urban League of Union County, Community Access Unlimited, Plainfield Action Services, Homefirst, Inc., the Elizabeth and Plainfield School Districts, the Plainfield Library, Second Street Youth Center, the Arc of Union County, E’town Housing and Community Development Corp, Workforce Advantage and the Union County American Job Center. 

For more information about YEPP, please visit uwguc.org/yepp or call 908.353.7171.

About United Way of Greater Union County (UWGUC) United Way of Greater Union County provides critical resources to children and families in need throughout greater Union County, North Plainfield and South Plainfield.  The organization works to improve lives and build strong communities, by focusing on key areas in education, income stability, health and family strengthening. UWGUC is a pre-eminent community-based leader, partner and investment choice in these communities.  More information about United Way of Greater Union County’s work in the community can be found online at www.uwguc.org.