The Texas Workforce Commission marked National Intern Day by highlighting the Texas Intern Network and announcing more than $1.3 million in grants to expand paid internship opportunities across the state, according to a July 30 news release from the agency.
The Texas Intern Network is a free platform serving as the state’s one-stop shop for internships, offering paid and academic-credit opportunities statewide, TWC said. The network’s conference series has registered nearly 3,400 interns since 2022 and now includes AI-powered interview preparation and resume tools featuring expert-led video lessons, a realistic interview simulator, and coaching opportunities.
“Internships are one of the strongest investments we can make in the workforce of tomorrow,” TWC Chairman Joe Esparza, himself a former intern, said in the release. “By creating work-based learning opportunities, we’re giving students the competitive edge they need to enter the workforce with the skills and experience employers are looking for.”
TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III said the network focuses on paid opportunities “that allow students to earn while they learn,” adding that the new AI tools help ensure every student has the resources to build a professional foundation. Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett noted the platform gives businesses a statewide way to build “a motivated talent pipeline” to meet staffing needs.
This year, the agency awarded eight grants totaling more than $1.3 million to local workforce development boards through the Texas Internship Initiative, according to the release. The boards will use the funds to foster new paid internships for students, recent college graduates, and transitioning service members, preparing young Texans for careers in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, education, and other targeted sectors.
The Texas Intern Network grew out of a recommendation to Governor Greg Abbott by the Tri-Agency Initiative, which includes TWC, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the agency said.