Ohio Export Internship Program seeks participating businesses

The Ohio Export Internship Program is seeking businesses to participate in the program this summer.

The program, created by the Ohio Development Services Agency and offered at Youngstown State University and Ohio State University, matches companies with college students who have taken export-focused coursework.

“Our students can help Ohio businesses take their quality goods and services to international markets they couldn’t otherwise reach,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency.

The Agency offers participating small- to medium-sized businesses a 50 percent reimbursement for the wages of the intern. In the five years of the program, 144 student-company matches were created, resulting in more than $26 million in expected global sales and 25 full-time job offers to students.

The deadline for companies to apply is March 1. The summer internships run from May 16 through Aug. 11. Ohio companies can apply at www.eip.development.ohio.gov.

To learn more about the program, visit https://www.youtube.com/supported_browsers?next_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DG4-1vhvwc7w.

The Ohio Export Internship Program recently won the President’s E-Award, the highest recognition any U.S. organization can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.

For more information on the Ohio Export Program, contact Mousa Kassis, export assistance network trade advisor with the Small Business Development Center at YSU, at 330-941-2415 or mhkassis@ysu.edu.