Duluth's understaffed parks and some of its disadvantaged youths will both benefit this summer from federal stimulus money.
The city of Duluth's Workforce Development Center has been given just over $500,000 from the Department of Labor to help place up to 130 people ages 14 to 24 in various work programs through the next two months, with just less than half working for the city of Duluth.
Some will do many of the same duties that temporary workers did before they were laid off last year, said Tom Kasper, the city's lead parks maintenance worker.
For Kasper, the help will be welcome.
"They'll be helping to maintain the parks, from mowing to assisting with a variety of operations of city government," Kasper said.
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Matt Gregorich, 18, will be one of those who benefit. He's spent the last three years doing temporary summer work for the city, mostly helping to maintain parks. After city budget cuts, his summer job was anything but certain.
