Whenever the governing body of a county, city or town within this State, or the board or executive officer of any state agency or other public agency or public institution or private nonprofit organization, has any work to be done with the county, city, town, agency, institution or organization, or as a function of such agency, institution or organization, which it appears may be properly performed by 1 or more employable adults of families who receive assistance, the appropriate authority shall make application to the Department of Health and Social Services or the Department of Labor, in the form prescribed by the respective Department, for the establishment of a work project.