Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Governor Culver Announces 60 New Internship Awards To Link Iowa Students To The Workforce
State Support Aims to Provide Career Pathways for Small-to-Medium Sized Iowa Firms and Create "Brain Gain" in Iowa
DES MOINES – Today, Governor Chet Culver and the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) announced 60 Iowa Student Internship Program Awards for 26 Iowa biosciences, advanced manufacturing and information technology businesses across the state to link college students from Iowa universities to internship opportunities in small and medium sized Iowa firms.
"Maintaining Iowa's skilled and educated workforce is a top priority," said Governor Chet Culver. "These internship awards will link young Iowans to the state's unlimited career opportunities, help Iowa companies to recruit their future workforce and create 'brain gain' in Iowa."
"The goal of the program is take full advantage of Iowa’s college student 'brain gain' by transitioning college student interns to full-time employment in the state upon graduation," said IDED Director Mike Tramontina.
In December 2007, Governor Culver convened the first-ever Governor’s Workforce Summit at the Polk County Convention Center. To gain a wide range of input, several participants from both the pubic and private sectors met to discuss efforts to recruit, train and retain workers in Iowa. In January 2008, the Generation Iowa Commission released recommendations to recruit and retain young Iowans to the state. Among their recommendations was public and private support for internship programs.
The study by the Generation Iowa Commission showed that Iowa is 6th in the nation, and number #1 in the Midwest, in college student “brain gain” migration. This means while just over 4,000 Iowa high school students leave the state for college, more than 12,200 out-of-state students come to Iowa for college – a “brain gain” of 8,200 young people.
Internship Awards
Company, City, County , # of Internships Awarded
AG Partners L.L.C., Albert City, Buena Vista, 1
Global Reach Internet Productions, Ames, Story, 2
Renewable Energy Group, Inc, Ames, Story, 3
EnSoft, Ames, Story, 3
Beeline Company, Bettenforf, Scott, 1
Future Health, Inc.,Carroll, Carroll, 3
Genencor, Cedar Rapids, Linn, 3
J-Tech Associates, Inc, Cedar Rapids, Linn, 1
Kingland Systems Corporation, Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo, 3
TeamQuest Corp., Clear Lake, Cerro Gordo, 3
Innovative Software Engineering, L.L.C., Coralville, Johnson, 3
Fidlar Printing Co., Davenport, Scott, 1
Alliance Technologies, Des Moines, Polk, 3
Ken Bratney Companies, Inc, Des Moines, Polk, 3
Quality Consulting Inc., Des Moines, Polk, 3
Eagle Point Corporation, Dubuque, Dubuque, 1
McClure Engineering Co., Fort Dodge, Webster, 3
Pharmacom Corporation, Iowa City, Johnson, 1
Positech, Laurens, Pocahontas, 1
ESCO Automation, Marion, Linn, 3
ESCO Energy Services, Marion, Linn, 3
Carver Pump Company, Muscatine, Muscatine, 3
Progress Casting Group, Inc, New Hampton, Chickasaw, 2
Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, Riceville, Howard/Mitchell, 1
Cisco, Inc, W. Des Moines, Polk, 3
MediNotes, W. Des Moines, Polk, 3
Eligibility and Award Information
The deadline for businesses to enroll in the IDED program has been changed to "open." The program is available to
Iowa based companies that meet all three of the following criteria:
- Fewer than 500 employees, with a significant portion employed within the state of Iowa engaged in one of the targeted industries of biosciences, advanced manufacturing or information technology.
- Offer internships to students of Iowa community colleges, private colleges, or regent institutions.
- The intern must be involved in a substantive experience in one or more of the following areas: research and development; engineering; process management and production; product experimentation and analysis; product development; market research; business planning and administration.
Summer internships will last a minimum of eight weeks (averaging no less than 30 hours per week). An eligible student must be within two years of graduation and enrolled at one of Iowa’s community colleges, private colleges or regent institutions. Eligible companies can apply for support for up to three internships. Program funds are available for summer 2008 internships.
A business must provide matching funds of at least one dollar of non-state monies for every one dollar received from the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). The maximum award shall not exceed $3,100 for any single internship or $9,300 for any single business.
For more information, visit http://www.iowalifechanging.com/business/innov&comm.html.