Program Timeline:
- Internships are eligible to be completed between January 2, 2024 and September 30, 2024.
- Internship placements must be finalized and applied for through a regional intermediary by June 14, 2024.
- Employers will work with their regional intermediary to submit reimbursement documentation to the Ohio Department of Development by October 31, 2024.
Application:
- Interested employers and students will apply for the program through their regional intermediary organization before the deadline of June 14, 2024.
- Interested students or schools assisting students should reach out to their regional intermediary for assistance applying.
- Employers will be required to submit information such as Employer Name, Employer Address, intern hourly wage, and other information which may be requested by the Ohio Department of Development for the application.
Eligible Employers:
- Private Businesses in Ohio
- Non-Profit Entities in Ohio
- Educational Entities (District, Career-Technical Planning District, Educational Service Center, Higher Education Institutions) in Ohio
- Local and County Governments in Ohio
Eligible Students:
- Ohio high school students who will be 19 years of age or younger on the start date of their internship.
- Students graduating in the Spring of 2024 are eligible.
Eligible Roles:
- Interns will be expected to perform job duties similar to what is expected in an entry-level role.
- Roles focusing on software development, data, cloud and IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, broadband/5G, advanced mobility, and other in-demand technology-focused roles are eligible.
Wage Reimbursement:
- To qualify for wage reimbursement, employers must submit supporting documentation to their regional intermediary after the conclusion of the internship, proving the student was employed for a minimum of 120 hours and was paid at least $12 per hour as a W2 employee.
- Supporting documentation (such as a payroll report, pay stub, timesheet, etc.) is required to show the business name, intern name, hours worked, dates, and amount paid (gross and net).
- Wage reimbursement will occur at a two-thirds rate if an intern is documented to work at minimum 120 hours, but less than 200 hours.
- If an intern works 200 or more hours, the business will be eligible for wages to be fully reimbursed. The maximum reimbursement is $5,000 per student.
Credential Attainment Incentive:
- Employers may receive an additional $1,000 per intern if they demonstrate the intern has earned an industry-recognized credential recognized on the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program (IWIP) list by the time of the reimbursement request.
- Participating schools may be eligible to use qualifying credentials earned during internships to get $1,250 payments, per credential, through the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program (IWIP).