GREATER LAFAYETTE COMMERCE BUILDS ON INTERN PROGRAM TO KEEP YOUNG TALENT IN REGION

With nearly half of college graduates landing in the country's 10 largest cities, GLC is betting more face time with the community can change the math

The Greater Lafayette Intern Experience returns this May, introducing college-aged interns to the opportunities and amenities available in Greater Lafayette while supporting the region’s long-term workforce development strategy.

Now in its second year, the program connects interns to the community through social events and networking as well as professional development opportunities. It is designed to complement and enhance existing employer internship and recruitment efforts, offering interns a firsthand look at what life could be like if they choose to live and work in Greater Lafayette after graduation.

The challenge is a familiar one for mid-sized Midwest cities. According to job platform Handshake, Midwest graduates send more than half their job applications to positions within the region, but the pull of larger markets is hard to compete with.

A 2024 analysis of 1.6 million graduates by commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle found that 44% landed in the country’s 10 largest metro areas, including New York City and Los Angeles. Among graduates of top 20 universities, that share jumped to 77%. For communities like Greater Lafayette, keeping young talent means making a case before they leave, ideally while they’re still here.

“We know what Greater Lafayette is. The question is whether interns get enough time here to figure that out too. This program gives them that time,” said Mikel Berger, president and CEO of Greater Lafayette Commerce. “Last year, hundreds of interns came here from all over the world, and a lot of them left thinking differently about this place. That’s the whole idea.”

The program’s first year offered early proof of connect. In its inaugural year, the program brought in more than 300 interns representing 64 different universities and 40 local employers. It also contributed to the acceptance of multiple positions post-graduation and is expected to be even more successful this year.

The Greater Lafayette Intern Experience will kick off May 29 at Purdue University’s Ross Ade Stadium. Interns will enjoy food, football and connection with peers from across the region while they learn more about the community.

Other planned activities include a tour of downtown Lafayette, canoeing and kayaking on Wildcat Creek, a roundtable between interns and employers on what it takes to attract and keep young talent and a Lafayette Aviators game at Loeb Stadium.

The internship program is part of GLC’s broader strategy to strengthen the region’s workforce pipeline and attract talent. Through initiatives like the Career+ Ecosystem, Robotics in Manufacturing and Manufacturing Week, GLC exposes K–12 students to in-demand skills and careers long before they enter the workforce.

Employers looking to enhance their recruitment efforts can register to participate at tinyurl.com/GLInternReg26. The cost is $100 per intern.

Additional information is available at greaterlafayetteind.com/summer-intern-experience