Columbia must repay $215,000 for summer program

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The city of Columbia must repay the federal government nearly $215,000 because of improper record keeping in a summer youth program in 2000.

The State newspaper reported (http://bit.ly/NNLrNE) the fine has been ordered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The penalty had been proposed at more than $680,000. It was reduced after the city produced records about jobs created in the summer program.

The program was supposed to employ about 400 teens for the summer but the federal agency said it could find no payroll records. The city was able to verify the employment of about 160 youths.

The program involved a pizza restaurant that later closed.

The federal program is designed to help low-income borrowers start businesses and create jobs in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

___

Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com