Funding awards help small businesses hire summer interns

Up to $35,000 in matching funds are available to help small companies hire WMU interns.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—For the fourth consecutive year, small businesses in West Michigan can apply for funding to help them hire Western Michigan University student interns in the science, technology, engineering and math—STEM—disciplines.

"The Small Company Internship Award Program provides matching funds to help businesses with 500 or fewer employees hire WMU students to work on STEM or STEM-related projects that are both beneficial to the company and academically relevant to students," says Lisa Garcia, director of WMU's Business Connection.

"The funds are provided through the Michigan Corporate Relations Network, a statewide network designed to connect industry to critical university talent in ways that will help the Michigan economy grow and prosper. Applications for this summer are due Monday, March 2."

WMU is a member of that network, along with Michigan State, Michigan Technological and Wayne State universities as well as the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Dearborn.

Internship funding program

Garcia says the Small Company Internship Award Program will provide up to $3,500 in matching funds for a company to hire an intern for summer 2015. Companies may apply for funding for up to two interns from either one or two schools in the Michigan Corporate Relations Network. However, the maximum award for a company is $3,500 from each school providing an intern.

WMU has $35,000 to disperse this year, Garcia says, enough to support about 12 to 14 internships at the recommended rate of at least $12 per hour. She adds that there are few restrictions on who can apply, but the program is targeted toward companies in Allegan, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties that would like to hire a WMU intern.

To apply for funding, download the 2015 application at wmich.edu/businessconnection/hire and email the completed form by March 2 to Lisa Garcia at lisa.garcia@wmich.edu.

For more information about the Small Company Internship Award Program, contact Garcia at lisa.garcia@wmich.edu or (269) 387-6004.