Stimulus funding supports internet cafe for veterans

By By EVAN WHITE

Story Created: May 27, 2009 at 11:43 AM EDT

Story Updated: May 27, 2009 at 12:11 PM EDT

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - 20 students are hard at work at a veteran's building on Washington Street in Utica.

They are renovating a portion of the Veteran's Outreach Center to build an internet café.

Vets will be able to use the café for computer access to help find jobs - many of which have online forms that some have no access to.

The youth gain experience in a trade that some say is invaluable, whether they intend to pursue it in the future or not.

"I've always wanted to do construction, and I was walking by and saw the sign summer youth construction program I went straight in," said Xzaphier Hughlett, a 24 year old Utican with dreams of working in law enforcement.

Students are paid $7.25 per hour, and total wages are $29,000 assuming each show up for their hours, according to a project summary provided by Workforce Investment. MVCC is receiving $43,034 for three instructors positions who supervise the work.

Funding was drawn from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, commonly known as the federal stimulus package.
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