Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance

Michigan Economic Development Corporation sets new record with nearly 600 college students participating in 2024 STEAM Ahead summer internships Michigan is proactively working to ensure college students and recent grads see a long-term future in the Great Lakes State, exemplified through the STEAM Ahead internship program as research shows that internships strongly influence a recent graduate’s decision on where to work and live. The MEDC's decision to rebrand earlier this year its celebrated STEM Forward program to “STEAM Ahead” — streamlining the employer-reimbursement structure, increasing its financial incentives and incorporating new internship roles that live at the intersection of arts and science, technology, engineering and math careers such as front-end web developers and industrial designers — is achieving record-setting results. The MEDC’s new and improved STEAM Ahead program has successfully funded over 570 summer internships during the first half of 2024. Since launching in 2021, the program has averaged 275 interns during a calendar year. The program’s evolution to STEAM Ahead reflects the MEDC’s effort to be more inclusive of careers such as GIS, architectural engineering, CAD design and sound engineering as well as elevate the role these careers can play in Michigan’s priority talent industries, with an emphasis on electric vehicles (EV), semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. More than 150 companies are participating in STEAM Ahead this summer, including 107 new employer partners. Approximately 43% of Michigan’s STEAM Ahead interns are working at large companies like Nexteer Automotive and Magna, while 20% are working for medium-sized businesses and approximately 37% are working for small and startup businesses. MEDC research shows that internships strongly influence a recent college graduate’s decision on where to work and live. “We are creating top talent here in Michigan, but that’s not enough,” said MEDC Director of Higher Education Partnerships Ava Attari. “We must also be proactive to retain our young professionals and ensure that experienced talent can continue to thrive in Michigan.”   Key features of the STEAM Ahead program include: A one-to-one match from MEDC of up to $4,000 toward full-time interns (21-40 hours per week) and $2,000 toward part-timers (20 or fewer hours per week). A reimbursement payment model that allows businesses to pay their intern directly and seek reimbursement from MEDC. Eligible students include those currently enrolled at any Michigan school or Michiganders attending school out of state as well as recent graduates (within a year of graduation). Companies must pay their interns at least $15 per hour. Internships can range from eight to 12 weeks in length per semester. Any size company is eligible so long as it is a legal entity  Companies must submit a one-time application to MEDC. Requests for fall can be submitted starting Aug. 12.

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