What is the Regional Internship Center
of Southwestern PA?

The Regional Internship Center (RIC) of SWPA has been created with the help of the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board to increase the number of internships and to create a centralized internship system in the region. The RIC actively works with employers, assists them in developing internship programs and connects them to potential interns and regional colleges and universities. Due to generous support from Heinz Endowments, The Richard King Mellon Foundation, and PA Stay Invent the Future, all services provided by the RIC are free to students and employers.

In a region where there is a potential pool of over 100,000 students,
current efforts result in the placement of less than one percent in internships. Internships are an opportunity to create a competitive advantage for the
region by leveraging the number of students and the knowledge they bring
to employers. By connecting students with area employers and providing
them with work experience, they will be more inclined to stay in the region after graduation.

The RIC serves employers in the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong,
Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence,
Mercer, Washington, and Westmoreland, as well as the Panhandle of
West Virginia. The RIC is supported by forty-four educational institutions in the region, and operates as a central point where students can connect to internship opportunities.