One Bermuda Alliance MP Cole Simons has questioned the need for an in-house, residential Job Corps initiative in a small country like Bermuda.Economy Minister Patrice Minors this week announced Harmony Club in Paget as the site of the Government initiative.The former hotel, which now falls under the remit of the Bermuda Housing Corporation, will continue to house police officers and the offices of the Hustle Truck programme.It is estimated the private public partnership will cost about $6 million to develop and between $5 million and $6 million to run each year.Yesterday, Mr Simons called for a breakdown of those costs.“If in fact Government was committed to this programme, funds would have been allocated in the Budget for 2012-2013,” he said. “My question is, have they examined other options before making a capital commitment?”He added: “The PLP Government is on their dying bed and I see no real need to have residential care for this type of programme in a country that is only 21 square miles.“The onus is on Government to provide clarity on this issue, but I don’t think the housing aspect is needed in Bermuda.”He also questioned why other facilities like the old Berkeley Institute or the building that formally housed Bermuda College in Prospect, Devonshire, were not considered an option.Job Corps is a free education and training programme designed for young people to earn a GED and vocational training simultaneously to equip graduates with the skills for employment.There are a total of 125 Job Corps centres across the US, each based in a campus-like setting with dormitories for students.Said a Government spokeswoman: “It is envisaged that Job Corps will have both a residential and non-residential component.“The Job Corps concept recognises that there are risk factors which are characteristics in the community, family, and an individual’s environment that are known to increase the likelihood that a student will engage in problem behaviours. Job Corps is designed to remove students from non-productive environments and to provide support and rewards.”She continued: “The programme welcomes ‘at risk’ youth and to counterbalance inherent challenges associated with this group, Job Corps offers ongoing mentorship, counseling, career coaching and training to support its learners.”A public meeting is planned for next Thursday at Bethel AME Church.