More than 200 youth of Selma will earn extra money this summer through the 2016 Summer Youth Employment Program.

The deadline to turn in applications was May 5 and Saturday marked the job lottery, which determined who would be picked to fill open position.

Selma City Council members drew 20 names of youth who live in their respective wards from a bucket.

In addition, Selma City Council President Corey D. Bowie pulled 23 names and Selma Mayor George Evans pulled 24.

According to Program Coordinator Venecia Eaton, there were 390 people who applied for the program, but 177 did not attend the lottery, which was mandatory to be placed in the program.

Eaton said although a lot of applicants didn’t show up, she was glad to be able to help the youth that did come.

“It went well. The applicants who showed up and stayed the entire time got hired,” Eaton said.

The intake process, which informs youth where they will be placed for the program, started Monday.

“We’re in the process of seeing how we will place youth now. They are filling out paperwork, and we’re sending it to the state because we must have a worker’s permit for them,” Eaton said.

The program will be offered for eight weeks. The employment period will be split into two four-week sessions. The first will start on June 7 and end on June 20 and the second will start on July 11 and end on Aug. 8.

All employees will work 16 hours a week from Monday through Thursday. They will be paid $7.25 per hour.

Eaton had an original goal of hiring 250 people and said she is excited that the number of youth hired for the employment program was about that many.

“I’m ecstatic. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to hire 200, but we have hired about 250 youth,” Eaton said.

“This will keep them out of the streets and give them a chance to work for their own money.”