Chamber & Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) has received a grant in the amount of $66,524 in collaboration with Stafford Technical Center (STC). The work-based learning and training program grant is provided by the Vermont Dept. of Labor. The funding will support student stipends to work in career fields for which they have received training at STC and align with the needs of local businesses and industry. This grant provides funding to focus on the retention of our local young talent, continuing the successful partnership between CEDRR and STC. The opportunity begins May 1 and extends to Dec. 31, 2024.
The program is delivered by a work-based learning coordinator, a licensed educator at STC, in collaboration with CEDRR business partners. The work-based learning coordinator will identify students, develop employer and employee training plans, oversee student placements, and evaluate performance. Interns will receive payment for hourly work performed, options for transportation, and necessary tools and workplace supplies.
This internship opportunity is for Rutland County students between the ages of 16 and 19.
“STC serves students throughout Rutland County, primarily in their junior and senior year of high school, offering technical programs with practical experiences that come with college credit and/or industry-recognized credentials,” said Melissa Connor, Stafford Technical Center director.
This internship opportunity is for Rutland County students between the ages of 16 and 19 who have been at a disadvantage to participate in workplace readiness due to transportation and employer financial burdens associated with hiring part-time new employees. The grant will be the conduit for connecting the next generation of a local skilled workforce to employers who are experiencing a significant workforce shortage.
Specific interest areas will be targeted, including healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, childcare, public safety, law enforcement, plumbing, electrical, and construction. Students from technical centers trend towards working locally, especially if early career connections are made with employers that are of high interest and skill, leading to high paying jobs.
Cooper Babbitt, CEDRR operations director, said, “CEDRR uses collaboration, creativity, and ingenuity to create a regional economic climate conducive to business growth by recruiting talent and businesses of all kinds, growing and retaining employers, while creating a bridge to community and cultural organizations, which promote healthy and vibrant neighborhoods and enhance the quality of life in Rutland County.”
