"In the past year we have succeeded in getting 64 young people into employment and our team are currently engaging with over 160 young people," Hazlehurst said.
""We want to make sure every young person in our district has every opportunity to reach their full potential, and this programme will help do this."
Jackson told Hawke's Bay Today the funding was a long-term investment.
"We are going to be charting the progress of the funding to see how they go. This is for the next two years but we are in this for a long-term investment because these communities have been a long time without resourcing and funding.
"National had talked about funding these sorts of projects and didn't fund them. They've been crying out for funding for some time."
The funding, stretched over two years would support more than 500 young people aged 15 to 24, their communities and local employers, to develop pathways into employment, education or training for Hawke's Bay rangatahi at most risk of long-term unemployment.
"We are talking sometimes about young people who are coming from intergenerational unemployment, from dads and grandfathers who have drug problems - that's what we're talking about. And so, we have to show extra care, extra support and extra patience.
"This is not a case of simply matching unemployed youth to available jobs. Ensuring the necessary level of pastoral care to support our rangatahi and their whānau, on what is often a long road leading to employment, is critical.
"Employers also need support above what they can provide directly themselves to take young people into jobs. He Poutama Rangatahi seeks to provide that support to employers and take a chance on investing in young people."
In addition to $460,000 to expand Hastings District Council's Connector Model
programme, which employs specialists to build relationships with employers, local youth and whanau, the Government would also contribute $258,000 to Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga's Takatū Youth Mentoring Programme to enable 140 rangatahi to gain driving qualifications.
The Hikoi4Life Trust and Les Hokianga's award-winning WorkFit programme would also receive $765,000 to scale up existing support to get young people physically and mentally fit for work, while about $194,000 would go to the Development Hub to provide a work readiness programme to support 36 young Māori and Pasifika women including solo mothers.
"A young person in employment is not only critical for the future prosperity of Aotearoa, but is a positive role model for their whānau and to the tamariki that follow in their footsteps.
"Ensuring our rangatahi are supported into sustained employment strengthens our
communities, improves living standards and reduces child poverty."
More funding could be expected in the coming months, he said.
He also acknowledged the past work of former Mayor Lawrence Yule in helping the district's young people.
