Nine organizations across the state, including St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll, will share $250,000 in grants to support youth internships this summer through a state workforce program. The awards were announced this (Thursday) morning by Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) as part of the 2026 Summer Youth Internship Program. Officials say the funding will help nearly 200 young Iowans gain hands-on experience in high-demand career fields. According to the agency, the program is designed to connect students with workplace opportunities while helping employers build future talent pipelines in industries such as health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and skilled trades. IWD Director Beth Townsend says, “The programs supported by this year’s Summer Youth Internship Grant hail from several key industries, experiences, and locations – all designed to advance forward the careers of Iowa’s next generation. I applaud the work these programs are taking on to build meaningful opportunities in our workforce, and we’re excited to see how these awards will help accelerate and strengthen recruitment efforts for the summer.” Awardees were awarded between $18,000 and $38,000 for their programs, and, in St. Anthony’s case, the hospital received $21,000. Grant funds may be used for participant wages, training resources, program supplies, and administrative costs associated with the internship programs.
