The Board of Supervisors is slated Tuesday to consider allocating $796,680 in federal relief funds provided to Riverside County to support a Hemet youth program aimed at encouraging participants to pursue fire service or related careers.
County Housing & Workforce Solutions is seeking the allotment of American Rescue Plan Act funds for expansion and further development of the existing Hemet Community Fire Cadet Program.
“It’s anticipated this program will strengthen employment experience and opportunities for recently hired youth who seek alternative career paths in public safety, or would like to reinforce college preparation,” according to an HWS statement posted to the board’s agenda for Tuesday. “The program will impact the county as a whole, as the youth (who) complete this program will have the opportunity to … become viable candidates to fill vacant public safety positions throughout the county.”
With the board’s approval, the county would enter into a roughly 30-month contract with the Hemet Fire Department to expand its Community Fire Cadet Program, offering up to 60 teenagers paid internship training opportunities, in programs that run about eight weeks long.
The contract would expire in December 2026.
“The partnership with the (fire department) will provide vocational training assistance and direct connection to established vocational training programs that offer further training and preparation to become an emergency medical technician, firefighter or paramedic,” HWS said.
The amounts slated to be paid to youth who qualify for the program were not specified.
The board appropriated $6.2 million in ARPA funds to HWS for a range of uses.
The county received $480 million in ARPA money and almost $500 million in 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act allocations.
The funds have been used for homeless and rental assistance programs, along with other social welfare efforts, but they’ve also been appropriated for capital improvement projects.