Through the support of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, local workforce development nonprofit CareerEdge Funders Collaborative, will be expanding its Internship Reimbursement Program for 2017. First piloted two years ago, the internship program incentivizes employers in high-demand industries to hire college interns in order for them to gain valuable work experience. Employees receive up to $1,500 if they hire an intern at a minimum of $10/hour. The program also exposes students to the workforce while helping employers to develop talent in the growing sectors of healthcare, manufacturing, IT, transportation, financial services and construction trades. CareerEdge also partners with local colleges to encourage them to embed internships in more of their programs. Last year, CareerEdge funded approximately 90 students from 40 different organizations from Tampa Bay to Sarasota. This year, in addition to the college program, CareerEdge will pilot a high school internship initiative called Career Quest for 25 low-income rising high school juniors in Sarasota County. Students receive a paid summer internship with the potential to earn $1,000, plus career awareness and financial planning training.

CareerEdge