The Lamar County Chamber of Commerce recently announced a new program they hope will give valuable work experience in Lamar County.
“I am excited to announce a program of work that I hope you find beneficial to our community,” said Chamber President Paul Allen. “Our goal is to provide groups of people the opportunity to see what business opportunities there are in Lamar County and to connect them with what their interest may be.”
The Summer Internship Program will allow employees the valuable work experiences they need to become successful in the future workforce in Lamar County.
“Hopefully, local businesses will find the intern they see as the right someone that could work for you on a regular basis.”
Allen has spent a lot of time over the past few months researching what other internship programs offer and wanted to go one step further with Lamar County.
“What we are going to do is rather unique since we are going to seek out employment for interns with disabilities as well. There is a place in our community for all that want to work but may not have had the opportunity to learn what it takes,” said Allen.
The Lamar County Chamber of Commerce is currently looking for responses of commitment or interest.
“Participating partners will be promoted by us every opportunity we get and we are very excited to be partnering with Paris Junior College and Texas A & M Commerce- School of Social Work in this new project. Let’s make this connection with our future workforce. I hope you will join us in the effort.”
If you have any questions regarding the Summer Internship Program, please contact Paul Allen at 903-784-2501.
Current Commitments / Interests to the Chamber Connect Summer Internships:
1. Paris Regional Medical Center
2. Lamar National Bank
3. Lamar County Chamber of Commerce
4. Paris Ford
5. 1st Street Media
6. Ballard Insurance
7. Paris Imaging
8. Hearts and Hands Healthcare
9. Dr. Kyle Jones
10. Downtown Food Pantry
11. United Way
12. Campbell Soup
13. Liberty National Bank
14. eParisExtra
15. AltaTerra Reality & Auction
16. Boys & Girls Club
17. Cypress Basin Hospice
18. Mulberry Creek Nursery
19. On Top of It Catering
Program of Work Pool that will be used:
1. College Students
2. High School Juniors and Seniors
3. Christian Women’s Job Corp
4. Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas
An internship will last 6-8 weeks with a minimum wage salary up to $10.00 per hour, or what your standard pay may be. The intern will work 20-40 hours per week and the business may hire more than one intern.
Students with disabilities hired through Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas can earn an income at no cost to the employer. Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas may be able to pay intern wages for eligible students. There may also be interested interns under Workforce Solutions Northeast that do not meet these eligibility requirements.
Interested interns need to go the Lamar County Chamber of Commerce website (paristexas.com) and click on the green tab that says Summer Internship Information Form. Fill out the information sheet and return to the Chamber.
Below is the preliminary timeline of events: *****Your business may differ from this timeline in all areas to best serve what your needs are*****
January: Get business interest and commitments
January: Meeting at Civic Center with interested partners
February: Job Postings
March: Application Process
AprilL Job Training Seminar-Mandatory for all interns unless out of town for college
May: Interviews
June: Start to work-The start and ending date will be up to you
