The VHEDC is entering into strategic partnership with UpTurnships beginning in 2018. UpTurnships, created in 2014,  is a nonprofit that prepares under-resourced college students for success through training, coaching and paid internships during college. UpTurnships works with area colleges to recruit candidates, prepare them for the work experience, and provides professional development and mentoring throughout the whole experience. Students receive support from experienced business professionals who volunteer as coaches and have over 330 years of business experience. 

Participating businesses benefit by extending their recruiting reach and strengthening a pipeline of untapped diverse talent. Through the new VHEDC partnership, VHEDC investing businesses will have access and hire candidates at a discounted participation fee. Typical participation fee for the business can range from $2250 to $1750. Candidates are college sophomores or juniors in a wide variety of majors including business majors (marketing, finance/accounting/economics, HR, project management, applied math/analytics, Computer Science/IT and engineering).

Ling Becker, VHEDC Executive Director expressed her excitement about this opportunity, “Finding internships and executing internship experiences can be challenging for companies. Through this new partnership, businesses will be able to recruit from a broader range of candidates and have the confidence that the student will have tremendous support. In addition, it is a great opportunity for area business to diversify their workforce with highly motivated, yet under-resourced students who are overcoming significant challenges. When the chance arose for VHEDC to be a partner, it was obvious to our board that this is a tremendous resource to offer VHEDC investors.”

Business in the Twin Cities who been partner employers include: Thrivent Financial, Sun Country Airlines, US Bank, Anchor Bank, Xcel Energy, Fabcon Precast, and more.

To learn more about UpTurnships, please attend one of our info sessions on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. Session will take place from noon to 1:00 pm and again from 3:00-4:00 pm at Peoples Bank Midwest (3585 US-61, Vadnais Heights, MN 55110). Please rsvp to Ling Becker at [email protected] if you plan to attend.

Summer 2017 article about Anchor Bank and Upturnships: https://www.anchorlink.com/news-upturnships