A $500,000 grant will allow 200 low-income West Contra Costa students to get employment training over the summer and academic help in the next school year.

The "Bridges to Success" grant comes from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds through the state's Employment Development Department. It is being matched with another $500,000 from local sources — $400,000 from the city of Richmond and Contra Costa County, and $100,000 from Chevron.

The funding is focused on low-income kids who are