New Internship Program for Summer 2026

Last summer, IVEDC successfully assisted 20 businesses and organizations in Imperial County navigate the K16 Region Talent Pipeline Verified program to host interns. These internships created vital connections between education and local workforce, offering students hands on experience while giving companies access to emerging talent. By aligning academic learning with industry needs, these opportunities provided students with valuable career insights, enhanced their skills, and helped them build lasting connections in their communities.

As we move forward, internships are transitioning to the Imperial Regional Alliance Internship to Career Program. While the process will be different, our commitment remains the same. These internships continue to be a win-win for both businesses and students, addressing workforce gaps and positioning Imperial County as a hub for innovation and talent development.

The Internship to Career Program offers a streamlined process for local businesses to host interns, with added support to ensure a smooth transition for both students and employers. This new initiative will continue to enhance internship experiences, helping students gain practical knowledge while contributing to real-world projects. As businesses engage with the program, they will be helping shape the future workforce while filling important talent gaps within the region.

We urge businesses to take full advantage of this transition and continue supporting our local students through the Imperial Regional Alliance's Internship to Career Program. By participating, you'll contribute to economic growth, innovation, and the development of the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals.

Industry - The Continued Importance of Your Partnership

Local industry leaders remain crucial in shaping our workforce. Hosting interns through this new program will continue to give businesses the opportunity to:

• Connect with the next generation of professionals

• Bring fresh perspectives into your organization

• Nurture potential long term employees

• Strengthen the region's economy

• Ensure a steady flow of skilled talent

Employer Working Groups

An Employer Working Group addresses shared workforce needs among employers which aims to communicate the collective demand and strengthen the local pipeline of talent in Imperial County.

The Employer Working Group will identify barriers and challenges in securing talent in the sectors of Agriculture, Clean Tech and Manufacturing, with additional sectors being included in future editions.

Representatives from academia will be involved to learn about how they can develop curriculums commensurate to industry needs identified throughout the process. Industry representatives will stay engaged with academia to ensure that curricula stay relevant to their on-going needs.

Talent Demand Report

The Talent Demand Report is a culmination of data collected in our Employer Working Groups within the sectors of Agriculture, Clean Tech and Manufacturing. This report does not aim to reflect the needs of all employers in Imperial County but to outline important skill requirements for talent. By sharing this information, we hope to identify a list of skills that employers agree are crucial for talent to be successful in their roles.

Summer 2025 Interns