The University of North Dakota’s Center for Innovation and the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation recently hosted the 2025 launch of InternGF, marking its second annual kickoff event. The program, which began in 2018, aims to bolster workforce development by connecting UND students with high-wage careers in the local region.
InternGF was established through a partnership between the Center for Innovation and the Grand Forks EDC to address regional recruitment and retention needs. The initiative offers up to $3,500 per internship to selected employers, focusing on start-ups and members of the Grand Forks EDC.
Amy Whitney, Director of the Center for Innovation, and Becca Cruger, Workforce Development Director at Grand Forks EDC, opened the event by discussing InternGF’s impact over six years. They noted that since its inception, InternGF has funded more than 148 internships with reimbursements totaling $268,000. This has resulted in a total wage impact exceeding $500,000 in the region.
UND alum Gracie Lian shared her experience as an intern during summer 2019 with Grand Forks County. “I found my internship during my sophomore year while searching for opportunities in the nonprofit public sector,” Lian said. Her experience led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration at UND.
Lian now works as a project coordinator at Grand Forks County and continues contributing to community development. Notably, 47% of participants from her cohort have remained in the region post-internship.
Karthik Balaji from Aethero highlighted how InternGF supports startups like theirs by providing access to skilled interns crucial for their growth phase. “InternGF was one of the crucial programs that helped support us through powering the research and development phase into our commercialization,” Balaji said.
Chelsea Mellenthin and Kate Larson from UND’s Experiential Learning Center concluded by urging employers to expand internship opportunities for students, including international ones.
InternGF is recognized as fostering strong connections between UND students and local businesses while enhancing economic prospects within Grand Forks. Its success stories demonstrate its role as a pipeline for talent retention and regional economic growth.
