Harmony Club has been chosen as the site for Government’s Job Corps initiative, and capital development costs are estimated at $6 million, Economy Minister Patrice Minors reported yesterday.Operating costs of the planned residential programme are an estimated $5 million to $6 million.But the programme’s cost will not fall entirely on the taxpayer as it is intended to be a private public partnership.Government plans to consult some more with the public before “embarking on an aggressive campaign to secure the funding necessary to move this programme forward”, the Minister said.A public meeting is planned for Thursday, November 15 at Bethel AME church.“Some will already be aware that Job Corps is a free education and training programme that helps young people gain self confidence, prepare for a career, earn a GED and excel in a profession,” Mrs Minors said at a press conference yesterday.“The programme employs a holistic career development training approach which integrates the teaching of academic, vocational, employability skills and social competencies through a combination of classroom, practical and work-based learning experiences to prepare young adults for stable, long-term, high-paying jobs.“This programme is being designed as a residential programme and Harmony Club, in consultation with the Bermuda Housing Corporation, has been identified as the venue.”Located in Paget, Harmony Club closed down as a resort in 2008, and was later taken over by Government to accommodate government workers from overseas.In October, the Jobs Corps Programme was described as a US initiative, offered in more than 100 centres in 48 states where it trains nearly 70,000 young people for employment each year and has earned a reputation as the premier training programme for disadvantaged young adults in America.A free programme designed to work in cooperation with employers, training providers and community organisations, Job Corps provides education and training to vulnerable young people to help them establish a career, earn a high school diploma or GED and find and keep a job.“Some of the participants will be those who have chosen to drop out of high school while others will be individuals who wish to further their education,” Ms Minors said in October. “By consistently being responsive to employers’ demands and workforce needs Job Corps Bermuda will succeed by offering exceptional vocational and academic training to students.”Participants would benefit from instruction on “business and entrepreneurship, practical work experience and community involvement” and other training, she added.