Job training fund approved for internships

A bill that allows certain companies to apply for job training grants to hire college students for paid internships received final approval May 11.

LB386, introduced by Elk Creek Sen. Lavon Heidemann at the request of the governor, allows a company eligible for benefits under the Nebraska Advantage Act to apply to the state Department of Economic Development for job training grants to assist in hiring interns for newly created positions.

Grants will be limited to the lesser of 60 percent of the cost of the internship or $5,000 in distressed areas of the state, or the lesser of 40 percent of the cost of the internship or $3,500 in non-distressed areas.

A qualifying business will be eligible for a maximum of 10 internships in any 12-month period and will be limited to five job-training grants per year at any one location. An intern must be enrolled full time in an approved college or university program.

The department may allocate no more than $1.5 million in fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13 from the Job Training Cash Fund to the internship program.

Senators voted 43-0 to pass LB386.