WATERLOO a Mayor Quentin Hart is looking for money to rekindle a city-sponsored youth jobs program.

Hart is working to secure up to $100,000 by May to help provide work and job skills training for some 55 young persons ages 16 to 24.

aWe grossly need opportunity; those in the age group 16 to 24 need employment opportunities,a Hart said. Heas reached out to the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, Black Hawk County Gaming Association and others to help raise the full amount.

The proposed program would utilize Cedar Valley IowaWorks, which already has youth employment infrastructure and contacts in place through its Promise JOBS program.

It would start in late June with a week of instruction and training followed by six weeks of employment up to 30 hours per week for participants.

With unemployment topping 36 percent for youth ages 16 to 19 and at 15 percent for those 20 to 24, Hart said the program would help equip young adults with jobs skills and experience to compete in the local economy.

aMoreover, the program will diminish the negative side effects of high levels of youth unemployment such as higher incidence of vandalism, crime, gang activity and drug use,a he said.

The city has sponsored youth jobs and recreation programs in the past.

Former Mayor John Rooff started the Waterloo Mayoras Youth Initiative in 1995, which was a $250,000 program to provide summer jobs, sports camps, Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and other activities when school was not in session.

Former Mayor Tim Hurley started a new program in 2005, a $54,000 Youth Essential Skills initiative that used new revenue the city received from the Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo to provide summer jobs and educational opportunities.