The Student Internship Opportunities Initiative is run through the Chamber of Commerce with grant money from the New York State Department of Labor. The grant has funded the operation and administration of the program which is staffed by one full time Internship Coordinator and one part time administrative assistant.

The purpose of the grant is to work with for-profit businesses to create internship opportunities for high school and undergraduate college students. Our hope is that through these internships students will see the tremendous opportunities available at local businesses and look to put their knowledge to use in our community after graduation.

We are very excited about the opportunities this grant will provide not only for our local businesses but also for students and our local community. We hope that you will have the need for an energetic, skilled student in your workforce at some time over the next year and will look to us for help filling that need. The internships can be as little as 10 hours per week for six weeks, which need not be consecutive, or they can be much longer.

Your business may need someone with great computer skills to update your website, a marketing major to create a new look for your advertisements or just a helping hand to get a major project started. Our student population is not only a wealth of knowledge and skills but is also a large customer base. Their interactions with your business will get your name, and your brand, both as service or product provider and as an employer, out on local campuses and in their home towns. These students are eager to put their knowledge to use and with your willingness to make them part of your team and your guidance they can help your business flourish.

Businesses will hire these students as regular employees and must pay at least the minimum wage of $7.15 per hour. Our staff will work with you through every step of the process, from creating a job description to recruiting and selecting interns, during the internship and through to the final evaluation, to insure that the goals of the internship are met and that it is a positive experience for all involved parties

We have two staff members working on this Internship Program. Jessica Myers, the new Internship Coordinator, is a recent graduate of Cornell University, and Alta Logan, the Administrative Aide, is a graduate of the University at Albany, who splits her work time at the Chamber between member services and the internship grant. Both Jessica and Alta grew up in Tompkins County and know the area and its businesses very well.

Help us help you to grow your business and our local workforce by giving real work experience to these talented young students.  Please fill out the inquiry form below or call us at the Chamber 273-7080 or email Jessica Myers at Jessica@tompkinschamber.org