Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Youth Corps will hire 12 additional people next summer thanks to funding approved on Wednesday by Great Outdoors Colorado.

The GOCO board voted to disperse $500,000 in lottery funds statewide to local government and open space organizations for critical outdoor recreation and land conservation projects that will enhance Colorado’s trails, parks, open spaces and wildlife habitat. The BCYC will receive $20,093 of those funds for local projects in support of the City of Longmont’s Button Rock Preserve Watershed.

The funding results in 12 jobs for young people in Longmont to help with much needed forestry work, noxious weed removal and fire prevention activities at Button Rock Preserve.

Statewide, local governments will receive a total of $250,000 and open space organizations will receive $250,000 to hire youth corps to implement land stewardship projects.

“This is good news for our youth, who gain valuable transferable skills and get a great outdoors experience,” BCYC program manager Judy Wolfe said. “And it’s good news for our community and environment, which can reap the benefits of our young people’s dedication and hard work for generations to come.”

About Boulder County Youth Corps
The BCYC provides opportunities for Boulder County youth to develop a sense of community involvement through personal accomplishment, teamwork and service to the County. BCYC delivers the most ambitious and highest quality entry-level work experience available to Boulder County youth. It provides an experience of excellence by recruiting and training a staff committed to accomplishment through hard work, respect for people and the environment, and belief in an ideal that work can be fun. We ensure the betterment of our community by providing work opportunities for youth that contribute to the legacy of Boulder County while providing a proving ground for young leaders that challenges them to inspire the youth entrusted to their guidance. More information is available at www.bouldercounty.org/youthcorps.

About Colorado Youth Corps Association
The CYCA is a statewide coalition of 10 accredited youth conservation corps that employ and train youth and young adults on land, water and energy conservation projects. Youth corps is a proven strategy for engaging young people in service to their communities and stewardship of their environment while cultivating valuable skills to meet the challenges of the 21st century. For more information about CYCA or the statewide youth corps coalition, visit www.CYCA.org.

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