The Murphy administration announced Thursday a round of grant funding awarded via the Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program.

Now in its third year, the Office of Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) oversees the initiative. Funding comes from the New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

In this round, 133 New Jersey-based employers received a cumulative $2.4 million to provide 574 paid summer internships to college students. Eligible interns include those who currently attend or graduated from an in-state college or university in the last year, or are New Jersey residents attending a college out-of-state.

“Infusing our state businesses with local talent form our esteemed colleges and universities not only supports New Jersey’s innovation economy but also builds a stronger and more prosperous state,” said Gov. Phil Murphy.

Some key toplines of the Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program program include:

• Support students and graduates with opportunities paying $20 per hour and requiring a commitment of 150-200 hours over a 10-week summer period
• Summer 2024 cohort opportunities have increased 23% over last year
• Participating employers must provide a structured learning experience by assigning interns a designated supervisor who provides feedback aligned to learning objectives and goals
• This year, Career Accelerator-sponsored interns receive six months of free access to LinkedIn Learning

Employers hosting summer 2024 interns represent a wide range of industries and sectors, such as STEM, construction, energy, finance, technology, media, hospitality, retail, trade, nonprofit and more.

Experiential learning

“Through the Career Accelerator, we are making sure students gain meaningful experiential learning aligned with their academic pursuits and are removing financial barriers to participation for students typically underrepresented in hands-on, paid internships – often women, students of color, and those first in their family to go to college,” said Secretary of Higher Education Brian Bridges. “Leveling the playing field in this way generates more opportunity for all students and strengthens their college pay off.”

Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo said that paid internships are crucial for developing a strong workforce while supporting New Jersey businesses across a wide range of industries.

“By addressing the skills gap and ensuring that students are well-prepared for the workforce, we are investing to establish stronger local talent pipelines that ultimately support the economic health and continued development of our state,” said Asaro-Angelo. “Together, with our partners in OSHE, we are committed to fostering a robust and dynamic workforce ready to meet the demands of our evolving economy.”

“By investing in paid internships, we are ensuring that New Jersey’s diverse talent pool has strong incentives to develop their skills and professional networks with Garden State employees of all sizes while also getting the pay they deserve and need to thrive,” said Murphy.

More information on the program is available here and here.