Purpose

• Establishes funding to support the SciTech internship program run by the Minnesota Technology Association. The goal is to provide paid STEM internships for students, helping connect them with Minnesota-based small for-profit companies and increasing participation among women or other underserved populations.

Main Provisions

• Funding and administration
  • The general fund provides $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $1,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 to the commissioner of employment and economic development for a grant to the Minnesota Technology Association.
  • The grant program is administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development and targets the SciTech internship program.
• Program scope and participants
  • The SciTech internship program offers STEM internship opportunities to two-year and four-year college students and graduate students in their fields of study.
  • Internships must be paid and occur with small for-profit companies located in Minnesota that have fewer than 250 employees worldwide.
• Financial support to employers
  • Grants to selected hiring companies cover 50 percent of the wages paid to the intern, with a cap of $3,000 per intern.
• Equity and inclusion
  • The program must work toward increasing participation among women or other underserved populations.
• One-time appropriation
  • This funding is a one-time appropriation and not described as ongoing funding.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new, targeted funding program rather than modifying existing statutes. It provides a one-time, specific appropriation to support the SciTech internship program and does not establish ongoing funding or new program mandates beyond the described grant structure.

Implementation and Beneficiaries

• Beneficiaries include Minnesota STEM students (two-year, four-year, and graduate students) and Minnesota-based small for-profit employers seeking interns.
• Administration is handled by the commissioner of employment and economic development in coordination with the Minnesota Technology Association.

Practical Impact

• Increases paid internship opportunities in STEM fields for students.
• Encourages workforce development by supporting small Minnesota companies with wage subsidies.
• Aims to diversify participation in STEM by prioritizing women and other underserved groups.

Relevant Terms - SciTech internship program - Minnesota Technology Association - STEM - paid internships - two-year college students - four-year college students - graduate students - small for-profit companies - Minnesota - fewer than 250 employees worldwide - general fund - commissioner of employment and economic development - grant - 50 percent of wages - cap at $3,000 per intern - one-time appropriation - women - underserved populations