Contact: Rosemary Carole

Economic Development Liaison

(315) 798-5908

ROME – Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace, Jr. announced today that he is inviting representatives of area employers to meet on Thursday, Feb. 22, to increase internship opportunities through the highly successful Oneida County College Student Corps.

The Employer Breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. and will be held at the Beeches Restaurant. More than 50 Rome-area employers have been invited to attend. A similar breakfast was held in Utica in December. All Oneida County employers are welcome at the Beeches breakfast.

"In its first three years, we have watched the College Student Corps grow in popularity among employers and young people," Eannace said. "Because there have been so many changes in the area’s economy, we want to meet with some newer employers who may not be fully aware of the benefits to themselves and to the region from participation in the College Student Corps. We will also touch base with our employers who have supported the program and reaped its
rewards by hiring some of these bright young interns."

This innovative initiative – funded by the Oneida County Board of Legislators and Oneida County employers – matches Oneida County’s young people with summer job opportunities in the region’s revived economy.

"The College Student Corps is doing a terrific job of helping our college students understand that good jobs and exciting opportunities exist in the Mohawk Valley," Eannace said. "When you talk to employers and students who have been a part of this program, they are full of optimism and hope -- just what this region needs."

The program has grown in every year of its existence. Last year, 146 students participated, more than double the 70 who were in the initial class of 1998. There were 92 employers participating in the summer of 2000— also a record.

Students are paid $7 an hour and usually work between 25 and 35 hours a week. The summer internships last between 6 and 8 weeks. Students also participate in a labor market overview, social events and receive employment assistance after they graduate from college. The program targets college juniors and seniors. The pre-application deadline is April 1.

Pre-applications for the program can be obtained at the Office of Oneida County Workforce Development, 209 Elizabeth St., in Utica, the Working Solutions Utica One-Stop, on the Second Floor of the State Office Building in Utica, the Working Solutions Rome One-Stop, 252 West Dominick St., in Rome or on the Web at: www.oneidacounty.org.

Student pre-applications are matched with employer requests to ensure the internship is of value to students and employers.

An employer survey has shown that more than 90 percent of this summer’s employers expressed interest in hiring their interns. A long-term survey of the program’s first three years has shown that students who have been through the program said they gained needed experience in their chosen field of study that allowed them to find employment.

Employers who wish to attend can call Rosemary Carole at 798-5908 to make reservations for the breakfast. There is no charge for employers to attend.