The Newburgh City Council entered an agreement with the Boys and Girls Club of Newburgh, Inc. for the Mayor’s Summer Youth Initiative at this past Monday’s City Council meeting.

The initiative will provide employment opportunities for the city’s youth this summer.

“I’m very proud of Mayor Harvey and the person that reached out to him, the anonymous donor, for this,” said Councilman Anthony Grice.

Mayor Torrance Harvey said that the city planned for no summer activities, but then he received a phone call from the private donor in Connecticut who was willing to offer several hundred thousand dollars to fund the initiative. The initiative’s budget was put together with Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Kevin White.

“I think it was very very appropriate for Mayor Harvey to have the Boys and Girls Club do the hiring and do all of the other programming,” said Grice.

Harvey said the financing and hiring for the initiative strictly goes to the Boys and Girls Club. Harvey said he was involved with the planning.

The initiative has hired 50 to 70 youth for the summer. Youth will work outside in groups of five in a socially distanced atmosphere.

Over 300 people applied for the initiative. The initiative’s first day was this past Monday. The initiative plans to offer guest speakers, and artistic opportunities to participants. The initiative involves various community organizations.

“I’m really grateful so that young people can learn and earn at the same time,” said Harvey.

Orange County is considering adding summer employment programs inspired by the Mayor’s Summer Youth Initiative.

After finalizing the agreement with the Boys and Girls Club, the council scheduled a public hearing for August 10 to discuss the city’s proposed actions with respect to the Community Development Block Grant [CDBG] for the annual action plan for fiscal year 2021. The council also opened a 30 day public comment period.