News Release

May 2, 2008

Iowa DOT approves 2008 Urban Youth Corps grants

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa Department of Transportation has approved grant awards for five groups in association with the Urban Youth Corps (UYC) program. The grants were awarded to Dubuque County Conservation Board; Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (Wabash Trace Nature Trail); Mahaska County Conservation Board; Mayor’s Youth Empowerment Program (Iowa City); and Trees Forever (Linn County). Youth in these areas of the state that are interested in working for one of the sponsors should contact the sponsor group directly.

Funded through a combination of federal dollars and local match, Urban Youth Corps program seeks to provide transportation-related employment and training opportunities to youth between the ages of 16 and 21 who face barriers to employment, and to accomplish meaningful and productive improvements to transportation facilities.

Examples of eligible transportation-related work projects include pedestrian and bicycle facilities; pedestrian and bicycle safety and educational activities; acquisition of scenic or historic easements and sites; scenic or historic highway programs including tourist and welcome centers; landscaping and scenic beautification; historic preservation; rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures or facilities; conversion of abandoned railway corridors to trails; inventory, control, and removal of outdoor advertising; archaeological planning and research; environmental mitigation of runoff pollution and provision of wildlife connectivity; establishment of transportation museums; and other similar projects.

For more information, go to http://www.sysplan.dot.state.ia.us/Urban_Youth_Corps.htm or contact Rebecca Law, Urban Youth Corps program manager, at 515-239-1738 or rebecca.law@dot.iowa.gov.