Christie Administration Announces $1.5M Grant to Encourage New Paid Student Internships

On Apr 28, 2017

The Christie Administration announced a new $1.5-million program through the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to increase the number of high school and college students who are engaging in paid internships at New Jersey companies. The announcement was made at the New Jersey Statewide Career and Internship Fair at Rutgers University – a public event which hosted more than 2,000 candidates and 170 employers recruiting for full-time, part-time, and internship positions in a variety of industries.

The Many Paths, One Future Internship Grant will reimburse employers 50 percent of wages paid to new interns up to $1,500. Interns must be enrolled in a New Jersey high school or college. Companies must agree to consider interns for future job openings.

“We know that work experience while in high school or college is critical to a student’s career prospects,” said Acting Commissioner Aaron R. Fichtner, Ph.D., of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. “This Many Paths, One Future Internship Grant will help employers increase the number of paid interns to bridge that gap to help more students obtain valuable job experience that will strengthen New Jersey’s future workforce.”

Companies also benefit greatly from paid internships, giving them the opportunity to identify future employees. High schools and colleges benefit from participating in these efforts by ensuring that students are better prepared for further education and future careers.

The program is focused on employers in New Jersey’s eight key industries: Advanced Manufacturing; Construction and Utilities; Financial Services; Health Care; Life Sciences; Retail, Hospitality and Tourism; Technology; and Transportation, Logistics and Distribution.

Students interested in the internship grant should contact their New Jersey high school, college or university career placement or guidance office for more information.

Businesses interested in hiring paid interns should contact their local high school or college for assistance in identifying students interested in possible opportunities.

High schools and colleges interested in participating in this partnership can contact the department at [email protected].

The internship program is part of the ‘65 by 25: Many Paths, One Future’ initiative, working to build a skilled, competitive workforce by helping New Jerseyans find pathways to careers. A collaborative effort of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, the Department of Education and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, the effort is focused on increasing the percentage of New Jersey adults who have earned an industry-valued post-secondary credential or degree from 52 percent to 65 percent by 2025.

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