New York awards $40 million to youth jobs program to combat gun violence

Nearly $40 million has been awarded to the next phase of the Youth Employment Program, an important role in New York State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative.

The GIVE Initiative has already proven to be effective at creating opportunities for young people and bringing down gun violence across the state according to Gov. Kathy Hochul. The most recent phase of the program — running from January 1 to June 30 — saw approximately 2,650 young people participate in the program, working at schools, libraries, restaurants, camps/child care programs, community organizations and other job sites.

Shooting incidents with injury also declined 29% through July 24 compared to the same seven-month period last year, as reported by the 28 police departments across 21 counties participating in the GIVE Initiative.

Central New York will receive $3,053,407 and the Finger Lakes will receive $3,945,970 from the state.

These funds will provide paid work and training opportunities for low-income, at-risk youth across these areas from September to June 2025.

“Public safety is my top priority, and I’ll never stop fighting to keep the people of this state safe and working to protect our most vulnerable youth,” Gov. Hochul said. “The Youth Employment Program strengthens my administration’s comprehensive approach to ending the scourge of gun violence in communities across New York State while providing at-risk youth with valuable work experience and skills that will help ensure that they have strong futures.”

The second phase of the Youth Employment Program will operate from September through June. To be eligible for the program, youth must be between the ages of 14 and 20 and have a household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which varies by household size and, for example, is $51,640 for a family of three.