Image provided by Alexis Harmon, Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce

WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – A $25,000 grant from the Stamm Koechlein Family Foundation will help expand paid internship opportunities for Wayne County high school students.

The grant was awarded to the Chamber Center for Excellence, a charitable organization affiliated with the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce. The funding will support the Chamber’s Student Future Success program, which connects high school students with employers throughout the county for work-based learning opportunities.

“This grant will help remove a financial barrier for nonprofit organizations that want to provide meaningful work experiences for students but may not otherwise have the resources to offer paid internships,” Shawntel Baker, Director of Employer Engagement, said in a press release.

Through the grant, nonprofit organizations participating in the Student Future Success program are now eligible for funding to help offset the cost of employing high school interns.