Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) has received a three-year grant of $802,750 from The Harvest Foundation to support the establishment of a paid internship program connecting local students with area employers. The program aims to place 100 interns over three years in fields such as advanced manufacturing and healthcare.
“Too often, students complete their education without meaningful professional relationships with employers in the area. By the time they graduate, they may already be pursuing opportunities outside of Martinsville and Henry County because they have not built any connections here. Talent retention must begin before graduation through early, real-world experience. Internships are one of the most effective tools we have to address this talent challenge,” said P&HCC President Dr. Greg Hodges.
The funds from The Harvest Foundation will allow P&HCC students to participate in paid internships with employers in Martinsville and Henry County. State funds from InternshipsVA will reimburse employers up to one half of the intern’s wages, or up to $7,500 per intern.
“Alleviating this financial burden for local employers will increase the number of students that are able to participate in paid work experiences and ultimately lead to more investment in the local workforce,” said P&HCC Assistant Vice President for Workforce & Technical Programs Dr. Colin Ferguson.
To qualify,
All participating employers must agree to pay a portion of the total wages of the intern.
Employers that have 150 or fewer Virginia-based full-time employees must apply and be approved for InternshipsVA funds for up to one half of the intern’s wage or up to $7,500 per intern. If eligible and approved for VEDP funds, these employers will also be eligible to receive another one quarter of the intern’s wages or up to $3,750 per intern through The Harvest Foundation funds, with the remaining one fourth paid by the employer.
Employers with more than 150 employees are eligible to receive up to one half of the cost of the total wages of the intern or $7,500 through The Harvest Foundation funds, with the remaining one half paid by the employer.
Students interested in completing internships must be currently enrolled at Patrick & Henry Community College, must have a high school diploma, and cannot have already completed an undergraduate degree. P&HCC students in both short-term and associate degree programs of study are eligible to participate in this internship opportunity.
The paid internship program is part of a newly reimagined Career Services Center for P&HCC. Formerly located on main campus, the Career Services Center has relocated to P&HCC’s Manufacturing & Engineering Technology (MET) Complex to offer greater accessibility to the students who will be eligible for internships. Career Services also offers students job preparation workshops, news about career events & job fairs, and job referrals & leads.
The Career Services team is available to assist students and employers during traditional business hours Monday-Friday. Amy Reed, G3 Advisor, helps students enroll in courses and build pathways toward stackable certificates and degrees under Virginia’s Get Skilled, Get a Job, Get Ahead (G3) initiative; Beth Marshall, Work-Based Learning Program Manager, coordinates job placement, resume development, and increasing student access to work-based learning experiences, including internships and apprenticeships; and Beth Knight, Career Services Director, partners with faculty, staff, and industry leaders to integrate real-world experiences into the classroom, expand work-based learning opportunities, and strengthen employer engagement. The team is committed to helping students build the skills, knowledge, and connections they need to succeed in the workforce.
For more information about Career Services at P&HCC or to make connections with a prospective intern, contact Beth Knight at [email protected] or call 276.656.5483.
