Chamber Receives Grant to Support Technical Internships at Area Companies

The Greater Akron Chamber assisted 38 area companies in hiring college interns or co-op students majoring in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). Companies and students were recruited this past fall, started in January 2010 and will work through May. There are a limited number of opportunities for Summer Semester which starts in mid-May. Priority is given to companies that have not used interns before, or recently laid-off interns, and that are located in Summit, Portage and Medina Counties. Employers will be reimbursed for a portion of the student’s wages paid through federal grant funds received by the Greater Akron Chamber.

The program provides employers with assistance so that students can engage in on-the-job training experiences with area companies. Employers benefit by having qualified college students contribute to solving problems and working on specific projects requiring their academic knowledge. It enables businesses to train their future workforce and eventually hire interns into the respective firms as full-time employees after the student graduates.

Employers are encouraged to apply by contacting Diane Euchenhofer at (330) 237-1244 or euchenhofer@greaterakronchamber.org by Friday, April 19, 2010.

Program funding is made possible through a grant of $286,899 with support from Congressman Tim Ryan and the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. The grant funds are approximately 41 percent of total program costs.

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