RADFORD -- The federal government helped Katelynn Cowan pay a few household bills this summer with the money she received to ready McHarg Elementary School for the coming school year.

But first, of course, the 17-year-old had to buy a new cellphone and get a haircut. She's heading into her junior year at Christiansburg High School and has to look good, too.

Katelynn and three of her schoolmates spent the summer tidying up the elementary school.

They're among the group of about 120 14- to 24-year-olds from across the New River Valley who took summer jobs funded by the Summer Youth Employment Program stimulus package.

Locally, the students are supervised by Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, which received a $295,000 federal grant through the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Investment Board.

Across Virginia, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act poured about $11 million into work-force boards this summer. The students working earned $7.25 an hour, tax free, in the hopes that they'll get a life experience while spending their money.

Goodwill runs work-force programs for youths annually. Without the stimulus boost, it would have hired only about 84, said Linda Matthews, vice president for work-force development. Instead, the extra federal money helped put 120 young workers into schools, government offices and private industry, Matthews said.

"A lot of employers said they couldn't work with us," she said. "With the economy, they said they needed to give the employees they had the hours."

But school systems that cut back on custodial staff this summer welcomed the students. About 25 percent of the 120 youths are in schools in Radford, Floyd County and Pulaski County, Matthews said.

"They really get to see the other side of the school, the job that it takes to get the schools ready," she said.

At McHarg, where Principal Rob Graham had to reorganize his school setup because third-graders will attend the new Belle Heth Elementary School, students such as Katelynn were invaluable. They helped teachers clear out classrooms, rearrange furniture and paint.

Like most first jobs, it's taken some adjustment.

"It's a job. Some things are better than others," said D.J. Hendricks, a rising junior at Radford High School. D.J. and her brother, Alexander, both have worked at McHarg since the second week of June.

"They're just learning what it's like to work," said Josh Green, building supervisor at the elementary school.

He's been their boss for the past eight weeks, and he said he's watched the students grow into workers.

"They probably won't have an easier job than this," he joked.

Green said he teaches them their daily duties, but he also wants them to follow their own direction this late in the summer.

Sometimes it works. When they're distracted -- with cellphones or visitors -- it doesn't.

"It's OK. They're allowed to have fun," Green said.

Lois Davis, a case worker in New River Community College's Workforce Development program, said the students' experience has been about more than making money and doing a job. It's also teaching them "soft skills" -- how to work together, get to work on time, show proper hygiene.

Goodwill Industries subcontracted with the college and Davis co-taught a weeklong class introducing students to the work-force culture.

"This is good for these kids. A lot of them have never had a job before," Green said.

David Redding, a rising junior at Radford, said he's already seen where he might struggle in the real world.

"I honestly didn't know we needed to be here at 7," he told Green. He showed up Monday closer to 9 a.m.

"I have learned to try to be on time," David said.

David and his co-workers have also learned that while they might not like the work, the paycheck makes it worthwhile.

Each of the summertime custodians said they have started to apply for other jobs at grocery stores, fast-food chains and restaurants to keep up their income.

Although this summer's pay has been tax free and they understand that others aren't likely to be the same, they're ready for the work.

"I like money a lot," David said.