New One Up Internship Program Accepting Applications for Employer Hosts
The new One Up initiative launched by Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), Inc., in collaboration with its network of nine Community Action Agency workforce contractors in the region, is accepting applications from regional employers to be an internship host for current and/or recent college graduates in a variety of career fields.
Employers accepted as a One Up host will provide internship opportunities for current college students or recent graduates in Eastern Kentucky for up to 480 hours of real-world work experience. One Up will cover the costs of interns’ pay up to $10 per hour. Once the internship period is complete, employers have the option to offer full-time employment, for which One Up could provide additional training assistance.
Additionally, the Eastern Kentucky Workforce Innovation Board (EKWIB) will recognize selected hosts as a One Up-certified employer.
“We’re extremely excited to officially launch One Up in the EKCEP service area,” said Michael Cornett, EKCEP deputy director for employer engagement and program operations. “One Up will provide opportunities for employers to fill gaps in their workforce needs now, while possibly also finding their next great hires who are already on the post-secondary path to certifications and degrees demonstrating they have the skills these employers need.”
EKCEP is currently working to add to a growing community of employer partners interested in hosting a One Up internship. Current employer hosts include Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), Dajcor Aluminum, Logan Corporation, AdEast, and Bit Source.
Bit Source is a web and app development firm located in Pikeville, where two participants recently completed internships as part of One Up’s pilot program.
“Having provided internships for too many years to count, the structure that One Up provided simplified the entire process and brought a continuity that I didn't realize was lacking,” said Bit Source President and Co-Founder Rusty Justice. “Our workload was reduced and the learning opportunities for our interns increased—everybody won! The potential for this program is great, and I believe it is an important tool for us as employers to use to help slow the brain drain and grow our businesses. I highly recommend it and encourage everyone to participate.”
One Up works to match the skills needs of area employers with the career interests of current college students and recent graduates that get those students real-world learning opportunities and the potential for employment if a solid match is made in an internship experience.
“One Up is structured to ensure that we’re working with potential internship host employers first to chart out the best possible experience for interns, and that they’re gaining meaningful, real-world work experience,” Cornett added. “College students, and sometimes even folks who have recently graduated or earned a new certification, don’t always have ways to get into a new job. One Up provides that synergy between service providers, employers, and interns to provide the opportunity to earn a wage while learning about a new trade, and hopefully an eventual transition into employment.”
The official launch of One Up comes on the heels of a successful pilot program over the summer of 2021, during which four interns completed the program, with three returning to college to complete their studies and one advancing to full-time employment. A fifth participant will continue with the One Up internship while simultaneously working to complete his degree at Morehead State University.
“Our pilot this summer demonstrated that One Up works for both the employer and the intern,” Cornett said. “We believe this model will continue to pay dividends for our businesses and the workforce, and we’re ready to begin immediately accepting applications for new internship employer hosts.”
EKCEP is currently looking to fill several openings for internship hosts within its 23-county service area. Internships should fall within one of the following sectors:
Business service
Customer Service
Energy
Healthcare
Information technology
Manufacturing
Transportation
Interested employers can apply online at ekcep.us/employer.
To learn more about One Up, visit ekcep.org/one-up, or call 606-438-1011.
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. The agency provides an array of workforce development services and operates the Kentucky Career Center JobSight network of workforce centers, which provide access to more than a dozen state and federal programs that offer employment and training assistance for jobseekers and employers all under one roof. Learn more about us at http://www.ekcep.org, http://www.jobsight.org and http://www.facebook.com/ekcep.
