Samantha Newland, 14, of Steelville, works Monday through Friday in City Hall under supervision of City Clerk Sheila Anderson. When asked what her favorite part of her job was, Newland replied, “I like being around everyone in the office and talking to the people who come in.” She will be a freshman at SHS this fall.

Mayor Terry Palmer announced during the July 19 Steelville City Council meeting that four teenagers were hired to work for the city through the Missouri Career Center at no cost. Over the next 10 weeks, these workers will perform odd jobs and lend much-needed hands to mow grass, file papers, and accelerate the behind-the-scenes work of the city.

“These four free labor workers can work 240 hours each, and the program lasts until the end of September,” Palmer told the councilmen. “We have two that are still in high school, and they won’t get to put in all of their time, but they can come in after school to work, and we have one that will be able to work on the weekends.”

Each worker must have a different supervisor, and that supervisor must be with them at all times. City employees assigned as supervisors are Cindy Blevins, Jimmy Chambers, Tom Murray and Sheila Anderson.

According to Anderson, the workers are paid through the Missouri Summer Jobs program. This program supported by Governor Jay Nixon has helped over 7,000 Missouri youth gain work experience and career skills needed to gain a respectable job in the future. The state pays the wages and worker’s compensation costs, as well as providing assistance from local career counselors and business liaisons around the state.

To be eligible for this program, workers must be between the ages of 14 and 24, come from a low-income family based on the program’s guidelines, be a foster child, or a child with a disability.

Not only do prospective workers have to qualify for work, but the employer must qualify to receive the free labor. Palmer applied to the program several weeks ago, and the city qualified to be a part of the state grant.

If you would like more information on whether or not your child or employer is eligible to participate in the Missouri Summer Jobs Program, visit https://summerjobs.mo.gov/default.aspx or contact the Missouri Career Center at 800-638-1401.