Shambre Murray, 21, has worked for three months as a patient service representative in the legal department at Intermountain Healthcare. She said young people have a great opportunity "not just to get any job out there" but to have a career.

Aubrey Taylor, 21, has worked in construction for about a year. "It's very important to know how to live your life and grow up a little," she said. "It makes it a little easier on yourself, with maturing and financially. When you have responsibility, you're going to be prepared for it."

Several others praised the new program.

"Now is the time to invest in our future," said Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon. "Utah's business is tied to Utah's youth."

Lane Beattie, president of the Salt Lake Chamber, said the program will benefit both businesses and young people. "What a wonderful opportunity it is for us to be able to see young men and young women who have a desire to do those things that are most important, and, yes, we do have an opportunity to do some mentoring in the right way," he said.

Palmer DePaulis, director of the Utah Department of Community and Culture, said his agency will work with youths and their parents to meet the governor's goals.

"Many of our youth do not have all the advantages that some of us have had, don't know how to network, don't know how to get into a job, land that first job," he said. "This is an effort to reach out to kids, to help them to learn those skills and abilities and show some leadership, to give some mentoring, and give some training."

Huntsman said jobs "provide the direction and the dignity and the self-worth and the skills that are important, particularly to our young people today."

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