Internship funding is available to technology-based businesses and state and local agencies offering paid internships. Preference will be given to smaller businesses and employers seeking interns to fill technical and creative roles that require science, technology, engineering, and/or math (STEM) skills.
To be eligible for MTIP funding assistance, the employer, internship position and intern hire must meet the requirements below:
Eligible EMPLOYERS
Employers applying to receive funding support from MTIP must:
- Submit a MTIP Application along with a paid, technical internship position for review and approval.
- Be located in Maryland.
- Be in good standing with the state of Maryland (check here).
- Be a technology-based business, or a state and local agency offering a technical internship.
- Employ an intern who meets the MTIP funding eligibility below.
- Participate in an online employer orientation (new employers only)
- Complete a short post-internship evaluation.
Important note:
- A “technology–based business” is defined as a commercial or an industrial enterprise engaged in the application of scientific knowledge to practical purposes in a particular field.
- Federal government agencies and public and private colleges and universities are not eligible for funding.
- If approved for MTIP funding, employers may be reimbursed up to 50% of an intern’s wages and up to $5,500 annually per intern ($3,000 for the first semester and $2,500 for subsequent semester).
Eligible INTERNSHIP POSITIONS
Employers must submit an internship description for review and approval by MTIP administrators.
Eligible internship positions must:
- Position description must be technical in nature.
- Have an identified staff member who serves as the intern’s supervisor and mentor.
- Include a substantive project for the intern.
- Provide a minimum of 120 hours of work per semester (over 8-15 weeks in the fall, winter, spring, or summer).
- Interns must be paid at least the current state minimum wage per hour on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis.
- Interns must be put on the companies payroll as a W-2 employee (excludes independent contractors).
Important note: If an employer has already selected an eligible candidate for an internship position and the intern has just started (2 weeks or less) or has not yet begun, the employer may still apply for MTIP funding. The employer does not need to re-advertise the position but is still requested to submit the opportunity for review.
Eligible INTERN HIRES
Employers seeking MTIP support must employ an intern who meets one of the four descriptions below:
- Current college student, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, who is attending a Maryland higher education institution.
- Current college student, with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, who is Maryland high school graduate attending a higher education institution outside of Maryland.
- Graduate (within 12 months) of a Maryland higher education institution.
- Maryland resident, with a 2 or 4-year degree, who has been honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, The National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces within the last 18 months.
Interns who are funded through the program will be required to:
- Attend an online intern orientation (new interns only).
- Provide documentation to verify that they qualify for MTIP (unofficial transcripts).
- Complete a post-internship evaluation.