Commissioners to support 19th First-Time Youth Wage program

ALBANY — Tuesday morning, Linn County Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker agreed to support the 19th year of the Linn County First-Time Youth Wage Grant program.

The commissioners agreed to subsidize employers $3 per hour for first-time teen employees, ages 14 to 19. Youth work in a variety of jobs, from local restaurants to farming operations. In recent years, 21 employers hired 46 young people, who worked almost 10,800 hours.

County Treasurer Michelle Hawkins said the program has reimbursed employers from $20,000 to $40,000 per year. To qualify, businesses must hire eligible employees between May 1 and September 30. The employee must be legal to work in the United States and a resident of Linn County.

Qualifying businesses must employ 35 or fewer employees and the young people must be first-time employees, who have not previously worked for the individual business. An employer can hire up to three youth at any given time and receive a maximum of $1,500 per new hire, or $4,500 total. Employers have until November 14, 2025 to submit a request for reimbursement.

The Board of Commissioners supports this program through the county’s share of Oregon Lottery income.

For more information, call Courtney Leland at the Linn County Board of Commissioners office at 541-967-3825, extension 2129, or visit https://www.linncountyor.gov/businessdevelopment/page/youth-wage-grant.

In other business, the commissioners:

• Approved a request by Roadmaster Wayne Mink to purchase a MowerMax Prime Mover from ATMAX Equipment Company for $285,879.80.
• Approved an Intergovernmental Agreement amendment with the State of Oregon and the City of Millersburg for improvements of the Cox Creek, Waverly Drive Bridge project. Although it is under the jurisdiction of the City of Millersburg, Linn County is administering the project. The amendment updates language, adds right-of-way and increases the funding amount. It increases federal funds available from $482,209.02 to $4,339,188.46. Millersburg is responsible for reimbursing Linn County for all remaining costs in excess of federal funds.
• Approved a $694,868.92 construction contract between Linn County and North Santiam Paving for the 2025 Overlay Project.
• Delegated authority to Roadmaster Wayne Mink to purchase paving services for the asphalt overlay on Bond Road from North Santiam Paving Co. for $78,798.
• Approved an amendment to a contract with the InterCommunity Health Network for the Maternity Care Management Program. IHNCCO will pay Linn County $15,456.08 per month (not to exceed $184,473) from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
• Approved a cooperative agreement with the Regional Accelerator and Innovation Network (RAIN).
• Approved an Outdoor Assembly Permit for the Albany Rifle and Pistol Club. A two-day event, with up to 1,500 people per day is planned in early August.
• Were informed by Juvenile Director Torri Lynn that in March, two young people from Benton County were held for five days; 26 youth from Linn County were held for 300 days; one young person from Lincoln County was held for one day; and one young person from Marion County was held for 11 days. There were 44 referrals and there are 160 young people in the Probation Unit, with 19 considered high-risk. The Victim Advocate made 104 contacts.
• Announced that the 2025-26 Budget Hearings will be held starting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 28 through Friday, May 1, at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center, 3700 Knox Butte Road. The meetings are open to the public.

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email: apaul@co.linn.or.us.