Nearly 2,500 students at Ohio community colleges, universities, and technical centers will benefit from
new or expanded co-op and internship programs thanks to a state investment of close to $11 million over
the next two years with matching dollars from key industries across the state. Campuses will create new
or expand existing co-op and internship programs to better serve students and businesses.
The grants are part of Governor John Kasich’s workforce development strategies to align Ohio’s higher
education curriculum with skills that are in demand by Ohio’s businesses so that students are better
positioned for jobs in Ohio after graduation. Ohio businesses benefit by getting a preview of the talent
available in Ohio.
The state funding, from casino license fees, is specifically for this purpose. Funding was awarded to 10
community colleges and 15 public or private universities that are partnering with 30 other postsecondary
institutions, including 11 Ohio technical centers. Grantees are required to match at least 100 percent
of the awarded money with private funds.
Schools will partner with hundreds of small, medium, and large businesses across the state to provide
paid and credited internships and co-ops to their students. Businesses in JobsOhio key industry sectors
or functions – including advanced manufacturing, aerospace/aviation, agribusiness/food processing,
automotive, biohealth, energy, financial services, information services/software, polymers/chemicals,
and business functions such as logistics, consulting and research and development – will hire Ohio
students as co-ops or interns.
As previously printed, Bowling Green State University will receive $650,000 to expand infrastructure to
include career-related activities in all academic programs; develop an economic development internship
model using spatial analysis to target northwest Ohio placements; and develop a business insourcing
model to provide group internship opportunities to students in this rural area.
Owens Community College will receive $240,660 to align processes across campus for internship and co-op
user-friendly participation by students and businesses; hire staff to develop and manage student,
business and faculty engagement and incentive activities; and develop a co-op and internship database
for stakeholder use.
University of Findlay and Owens Community College-Findlay will use $367,491 to build infrastructure to
provide all students with at least one work-integrated learning opportunity over the next four years;
create personalized career paths for prospective students; and enhance relationships with all partners
to address the needs of the regional economy.