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Bloomington seeks $300,000 for local internship program aimed at youth facing employment barriers
Summary
House File 11‑30 would provide $300,000 from the workforce development fund to expand the Bloom & Bloomington Internship program serving youth ages 16–24; committee members heard that demand outstrips spots and laid the bill over.
The committee considered House File 11‑30, a proposal to appropriate $300,000 from the workforce development fund to support Bloomington’s Bloom & Bloomington Internship program, which connects youth ages 16–24 who face barriers to employment with local employers for paid summer internships and year‑round supports.
Kim Bergren, Bloomington community development director, said Bloomington hosts roughly as many jobs as residents and that the program exposes young people to career paths across manufacturing, government and professional services; employer partners listed included Seagate, Polar, TKDA and YMCA partners. Weston Afton, who coordinates the local program, said the initiative doubled intern slots this year from 15 to 30 and received 118 applications — indicating demand significantly exceeds supply.
Committee members asked about local versus state funding shares and program costs; testimony indicated much of the local municipal support has been staff time, and employers pay intern wages. Representative Coulter, the bill author, said the appropriation would help make the program permanent and expand slots and employer partnerships.
The committee laid House File 11‑30 over for further consideration in a future omnibus bill.
