About 40 Selma youths will have the opportunity to work this summer through the City of Selma Summer Youth Employment program.

Selma City Council members and other city officials will select the names of prospective workers from a group of 258 through a random drawing today at 4:30 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall.

Here’s how the lottery will work: A city official will put all the names in a box. Each of the city council members representing eight wards will draw. The mayor and council president will draw for an equal number.

The city council allocated $10,000 for the summer work program, said Val Jones, director of human resources for the city of Selma.

Mayor George Evans sent out a plea to local businesses earlier this year, asking owners to contribute to the program. Those businesses brought in another $10,000 in donations for jobs.

“I feel like this is a good program,” Evans said. “We want to put to work as many of our young people as possible.”

The program will begin June 2 and end July 10.

Last year, the city received about 400 applications and awarded 81 jobs.

Jones said the young people will work 16 hours a week for six weeks. They are scheduled to work Monday through Thursday and will receive bi-weekly pay.