RELEASE: South Bend – Elkhart Regional Internship Program – Employer Enrollment Now Open
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (October 17, 2025) – Applications are now open for employers to take part in the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Internship Program. Companies access a strong pipeline of local college students and student-employer engagement opportunities, while receiving a partial wage reimbursement to reduce the cost of hosting an intern.
“The Regional Internship Program is about more than just connecting students and employers – it’s about building the next generation of our region’s workforce,” said Bethany Hartley, President and CEO of the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership. “By investing in young talent and providing real-world opportunities here at home, we’re strengthening the pipeline of professionals who will drive innovation, growth, and community impact across our region.”
Participating employers will receive a weekly updated list of student candidates that can be narrowed by qualifications. Currently, one-third of students have a grade point average of 3.75 or higher. The top industries students are looking to gain experience in are business, data science, and IT/cyber security, with business, computer science, and engineering as the most common student major.
The Regional Internship Program was established with support through Lilly Endowment Inc.’s LIFT grant. Now in its fifth year, it has paired more than 100 interns with 54 different companies in the region, in a variety of skill sets and industries. During the summer semester, students and employers have the opportunity to participate in connect events, including activities such as South Bend Cubs games, business networking and more.
According to Chad Hartzell, Vice-President of Human Resources at Barletta Boats, two of the most valuable things to come from participating in the internship program was “Our leadership team seeing the value-add that Interns can provide to our business and building credibility with young talent across the region.”
Eligible companies must be located in Elkhart, Marshall, or St. Joseph counties.
For more information, and to apply as a business, click here. For more information on student applications, click here.
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About the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership
The South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership seeks to unify and collaborate so that together, the communities across the region to work together to achieve what cannot be done individually. For more information about the Regional Partnership, visit SouthBendElkhart.org.
Media Contact
Liz Folkerts
South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership