CRDA To Contribute a $398,400 Grant to Support ‘Leaders in Training’ Program
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ (June 15, 2021) – At its monthly Board Meeting today, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) Board of Directors approved a fund reservation for a $398,400 grant to fund the Leaders in Training (LIT) eight-week program during the summer of 2021.
The 2021 L.I.T. Summer Youth Employment Program is a workforce development initiative that started in 2019 whose goal is to hire 210 Atlantic City at risk youths ages 14 to 18 years old. This eight-week program will run from July 5th to August 29th and will operate Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 2pm. at a rate of $15/hour per youth participant.
“Roughly a third of Atlantic City’s population are youths. This program expands access for our youths to have an opportunity to participate in a high-quality summer workforce development program,” said CRDA Board Chairman Robert Mulcahy. “Since starting in 2019, the Leaders In Training program has led to the placement of youth in careers paths that would not have been possible had this program not existed.”
This collaboration expands on the work previously done via CRDA grant funding over the summer of 2020 and spring of 2021, with CRDA committing approximately $520,000 collectively and the programs serving 300 youth over the course of those two programs.
“Our youth is our future and we must make critical investments into programs that will develop their skills sets in preparation for their entry into the workforce,” said CRDA Deputy Executive Director Rosa Farias. “The L.I.T. program currently administered through the Turning Point Community Development Corporation is a wonderful example of the cooperation and partnerships with great stakeholders such as the HardRock Casino Hotel and Joe Jingoli.”
The total project cost for this initiative is $605,262. The Hard Rock Casino Hotel as well as the Casino Association have committed to paying for the remaining outstanding funding amount for this initiative.
This initiative is also a Collaboration between the City of Atlantic City, Atlantic City Public Works, Atlantic City Police Department, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the Fellowship of Churches, the Atlantic City Housing Authority, O.N.E. program, Empowerment Tools Coalition and the Atlantic County Council of Youth Programs.
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About the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
The only agency of its kind nationwide, the CRDA has used Atlantic City casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents since 1984. Under the 2011 Tourism District Act, the Authority’s mission evolved from statewide projects to becoming the state’s key economic development agency for Atlantic City. CRDA’s expanded responsibilities now include land use regulation, tourism marketing and clean and safe initiatives. The CRDA also oversees Historic Boardwalk Hall (the leading entertainment venue of its size in the country) and the Atlantic City Convention Center. In total, CRDA has invested nearly $2 billion in more than 400 projects statewide, of which $1.8 billion has been invested in Atlantic City, spurring business investments and expansions, and creating permanent jobs in the process. For more information about CRDA and our projects, visit www.njcrda.com, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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