Youth Corps Urban Gateway Enhancement Program

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced the revival of the Urban Youth Corps summer program that will create employment opportunities for hundreds of young adults who will develop essential employment skills while designing and carrying out roadway enhancement projects. The Urban Youth Corps program adds another element to the Clean Up NJ campaign that helps show off New Jersey’s beauty and strengthen the economy.

NJDOT will partner with ten cities or community organizations to create supervised teams of young adults that will design landscaping, pedestrian enhancements, murals or other streetscape improvements at urban gateway locations. The teams also will develop programs to maintain their project areas in good condition.

Each project will be supported by up to $32,000 in federal Urban Youth Corps funds for salaries for up to ten young adults and a supervisor as well as equipment and supplies. NJDOT will assign a supervisor to provide guidance to all the projects statewide.

Participants between the ages of 16-25 will receive employment and life-skills training. A primary benefit to participants is gaining work experience that will help them succeed in future efforts to obtain jobs. Communities benefit from projects that create attractive gateways for residents and visitors.

Attractive and well-maintained highways, including the gateways to our cities, help promote New Jersey as a great place to live, visit or establish a business.