Internships create lasting connections between students, business, and regions; more than of half of young people who participate in an internship become full-time employees where they intern. The Intern Nebraska Grant Program (InternNE) provides financial assistance to businesses who create new internships in Nebraska.
Intern Nebraska Changes
Intern Nebraska (Intern NE) is the state’s unique internship program that provides financial assistance to businesses that create new internship positions. Grants can cover up to 50% of the cost of an internship for eligible projects, or up to $5,000 per internship. In 2016, the Legislature passed and the governor signed legislation that enhanced Intern NE by eliminating the residency requirement and allowing high school students in the 11th and 12th grades to participate.
By participating in Intern NE, students obtain valuable experience, while businesses develop potential future employees. There are currently no training dollars available for Intern NE. One of this session’s budget adjustment bills, LB945, creates the Intern NE Cash Fund to ensure that internship grant funds are kept separate from job training dollars, thereby ensuring more transparency for the popular workforce program.
(The bill utilized provisions from LB1055.) Any existing funds intended for Intern NE are to be transferred to the new Intern NE Cash Fund. In addition, LB945 transferred the unobligated balance of the Nebraska Progress Loan Fund to the Intern NE Cash Fund on or before July 15, 2018. LB945’s emergency clause meant it took effect immediately after receiving the governor’s signature on April 4, 2018.
To learn more about how to apply for grants: http://www.neded.org/program/intern-nebraska/
