What is the Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps?
The Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps program was designed by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to employ 2,000 young Hoosiers to improve Indiana’s parks, trails and natural habitats. The program utilizes federal stimulus funds designated for employment and training of people 16 to 24 years old. The jobs will pay $8.50 per hour. According to federal requirements, the jobs will be for Hoosiers whose family incomes are at or below the poverty level (approximately $23,000 for a family of four). The positions will begin no earlier than May 1 and end no later than September 30, 2009. The state will place a top priority on hiring veterans and those currently receiving unemployment benefits who meet the program’s age and income eligibility requirements. Program projects are planned at about 100 DNR sites around the state and will include rebuilding 52 structures that have been closed for years due to safety concerns. There are also
