The Albany County Legislature’s annual Summer Internship Program is returning this year with assistance from the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club and other community partners to allow youths, ages 16-18, to gain on the job training and the necessary skills to compete for future employment opportunities.

In addition, the Legislature has been working with the Department of Children, Youth and Families to provide youth services this summer to assist where schools and regular camp programs have been unable to because of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Request for Quotes (RFQ) has been issued seeking interested parties who can safely provide these programs.

“At the urging of our Legislative Black Caucus Chair Bill Clay, I called on our Commissioners for Human Resources, Recreation and Children, Youth and Families to help us put a program in place to get young people back to work in their own communities,” Albany County Legislature Chairman Andrew Joyce said. “This partnership with the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club is a critical first step in addressing the violence in our city.”

“We are also calling on individuals who can implement community oriented, restorative programming for our youth. If there are groups or organizations that can provide this service in a safe manner in a COVID-19 environment, we are inviting them to join with Albany County and draw on the resources available to do just that,” Joyce said.