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Internships create lasting connections between students, employers, and regions; more than half of young people who participate in an internship become full-time employees where they intern. The internNE, Powered by Aksarben initiative, previously recognized as the Intern Nebraska Grant Program (InternNE), connects students and employers from across the state, providing a unique opportunity for students and employers to co-invest in the future. Interns gain valuable work experience that will help them in future careers, while successful internships help employers develop leaders of tomorrow. The program also provides grants to employers that create new internships in Nebraska.
The internNE, Powered by Aksarben initiative is a new public-private partnership between the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) and the Aksarben Foundation. InternNE has been managed by DED for more than 10 years and DED continues to manage the InternNE grants process, including the award and reimbursement process. Through this new public-private partnership, the Aksarben Foundation has created an elevated internship experience that builds engagement between interns and their employers as well as between interns and their community.
The Aksarben Foundation supports employers in internNE through:
● Direct support, facilitation, program marketing and outreach to employers, ensuring participation of eligible employers in the grant program.
● Aid to employers in structuring elevated internship experiences that meet or exceed student expectations.
● Targeted recruitment that heightens student interest in Nebraska-based internships.
● Support to communities in providing engaging programming that better connects students to employers and communities.
