State tries to put local youths to work

Some state lawmakers are taking aim at youth unemployment and are pushing a new program that gives businesses tax credits for making full-time hires.

State officials joined local lawmakers at Regeneron, a biotech company in Tarrytown, to promote the New York Youth Works program. It's designed to help young people from 12 low-income communities, including Yonkers, New Rochelle and Mount Vernon, find work in the tough economy.

To entice companies like Regeneron to get involved, the state is offering tax credits up to $3,000 for every new full-time hire. "It was really important to get a program that would have some sort of long term results that still did the things that each of us needed to do in our districts, and by the same token encourage business through tax credits to become involved," says state Sen. Andrea Stewart (D-35th District).