WIRED Innovation: West Michigan Internship Initiative
Innovation Champion: Cindy Brown
In April 2007, 300 leaders from around West Michigan came together to determine the most important issues facing the region. Educational attainment was identified as a top priority for the region, and it was decided the expansion of internships would be one of the best methods for retaining and expanding “talent” in the region.
The Internship Innovation has since become a statewide effort. The creation of a regional Internship Initiative in West Michigan will serve as a catalyst for reigniting our local and state economy.
A web-portal is currently under construction as the primary strategy to increase the number of students placed in internships. The web portal is intended to benefit employers, students and instructional institutions, and will serve as an internship search portal. The primary objective will be to increase the number of internships available with Michigan employers by 25,000 by the end of 2011.
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