News from New York State Department of Labor

For more information contact: Leo Rosales, 518-457-5519

Innovative $2 Million Program to Bolster the Role of Internships Across New York State

$200,000 to Benefit Capital District Youth as Part of this New Initiative

ALBANY, NY (05/07/2008; 1100)(readMedia)-- Youth across New York State will soon benefit from a $2 million internship grant program, State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith announced today. This new internship program, overseen by the New York State Department of Labor, will serve more than 1,850 youth statewide in its first year alone. The announcement was made at Career Central, located at 175 Central Avenue in Albany. There, Commissioner Smith, Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings, and Albany County Executive Michael Breslin presented a check to Columbia-Greene Community College for $200,000 on behalf of the Greater Capital Region Workforce Investment System, which expects to serve 50 youth as part of this initiative.

This endeavor will help transform the role that internships play in the workplace. Instead of the typical “get my coffee” intern experience, these internships will provide a more meaningful transition for youth to the world of work here in New York.

State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith said, “We all want New York State to be a place that attracts and retains the best and brightest youth, and internships help young workers get excited about the numerous possibilities our state has to offer. These internships will provide our state’s youth with real-life skills to guide them on their way to fulfilling careers.”

City of Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings said, "I applaud the New York State Department of Labor for their recognition of the importance of providing our emerging workforce with meaningful employment experiences. Internships, when administered in a meaningful construct, not only provide our young people with productive engagement, but also serve as the vital link between training and the ‘real world.’ As we continue to offer opportunities for our new workers, and encourage them to consider making a commitment to the Capital Region, internships become an ever more important experiential tool."

Albany County Executive Michael G. Breslin said, “Internships are great for local companies because they get a chance to work with young, talented individuals that can help build up their business. These internships will provide many opportunities for our hard-working youth.”

Mary-Alane Wiltse, Director of the Workforce Investment Office at Columbia-Greene Community College, said, “On behalf of the Capital Region and Saratoga-Warren-Washington Workforce Investment Boards, we are thrilled to be awarded the New York State Department of Labor Internship Grant. This will be a true collaborative effort among the education, economic development and business community, and the workforce system, to create meaningful internship opportunities for both high school and college students. We look forward to helping our local students learn about the exciting career opportunities available in our region.”

Under this initiative, the State Labor Department has awarded $2 million in funds to 19 organizations from all across the state. Grantees include representatives from such entities as: community colleges, Local Workforce Investment Boards, BOCES, Chambers of Commerce, community-based organizations and business alliances.

Internship programs link academic learning with real world of work experiences and can be tailored to the unique needs and interests of the learner and employer. This new initiative targets all students enrolled at a public or private secondary and technical school who are:

• At least 16 years of age, and

• Either in their junior or senior year, and

• Have not earned their high school diploma or GED; and

All students enrolled at a post-secondary or technical institution that are:

• 16-25 years of age, and

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, and

• Have not yet completed an undergraduate degree.

To guard against placements that will give participants only a “get my coffee” experience, the program will use Learning Agreements signed by the grantee, the intern, parent (as applicable for minor students), employer, and school that describe:

• The goals and objectives of the internship, based on an assessment of the student’s career interests;

• A direct link to their internship placement; and

• The roles and responsibilities of all parties concerned to meet those goals and objectives.

• For those cases where the school can give academic credit to paid interns for participating in an internship, the learning agreement must specify the goals, milestones, or standards required in order for the school to award academic credit.

For more information, please call 1-800-HIRE-992.

A list of awardees is as follows:

Brooklyn Alliance, Inc.

$100,000

Chamber of Commerce of the City of Yonkers

$100,000

Columbia-Greene Community College

$200,000

Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego BOCES

$100,000

Dowling College, Long Island

$100,000

Finger Lakes Workforce Investment Board, Inc.

$100,000

Genesee County (on behalf of Genesee Livingston Orleans Wyoming Workforce Investment Board)

$100,000

Jefferson County (on behalf of Jefferson-Lewis Workforce Investment Board)

$94,857

Metropolitan Development Association of Syracuse and Central New York, Inc.

$200,000

Northern Area Health Education Center, Inc.

$100,000

Orange County Community College

$36,376

Pencil, Inc., New York, NY

$100,000

Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

$93,230

The Long Island Works Coalition, Inc.

$98,345

The Research Foundation of SUNY (on behalf of University at Buffalo, Career Services)

$89,620

Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

$93,165

Chautauqua Works

$100,000

Westchester Community College

$94,407

Workforce Investment Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties, Inc.

$100,000

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