(AP) -- St. LOUIS - As many as 5,000 Missouri teenagers and young adults will be matched with summer jobs in so-called next-generation industries under a plan announced by Gov. Jay Nixon and Vice President Joe Biden.

At a news conference in St. Louis on Friday, they said $30 million in federal stimulus funds will pay the salaries.

Local groups will match the young people with the jobs.

Nixon says 300 Missouri employers have already committed to hire the young people to give them job training and work experience.

The program is for people ages 16 to 24 years old.

Biden and Nixon made the announcement during the visit to the Mathews-Dickey Boys' and Girls' Club in St. Louis.

Biden spoke earlier in the day on making higher education more affordable.

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