Illinois Senate Republican Deputy Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) joined local students, educators, and business leaders on June 11 for the Grundy Economic Development Council’s (GEDC) Summer Internship Kick-off Breakfast, marking the official start of the 2026 Grundy County Summer Internship Program.
“The Grundy County Summer Internship Program is one of the best examples of what can happen when local businesses, educators, and community leaders work together toward a common goal,” said Senator Rezin. “These internships give students the opportunity to explore potential career paths, gain valuable hands-on experience, and build skills that will serve them well in the future. At the same time, they help local employers connect with talented young people who may one day become part of our workforce.”
Now in its 14th year, the program continues to connect local high school students with paid summer internships that provide valuable real-world experience while helping employers develop a pipeline of future talent. This summer, 22 local companies are offering more than 40 paid internship opportunities to students from Coal City, Gardner-South Wilmington, Minooka, Morris, and Seneca High Schools, as well as the Grundy Area Vocational Center.
“It is so gratifying to see our future leaders connect with our business community,” said Nancy Norton, President and CEO of the Grundy Economic Development Council. “Creating tomorrow’s workforce is fundamental for our growing community, and I am happy that the GEDC has played a part in making this happen for 14 summers.”
The internship program is a partnership between Senator Rezin, the Grundy Economic Development Council, the Grundy Area Vocational Center, and local business and education leaders. Participating students work in a variety of fields, including engineering, healthcare, marketing, accounting, manufacturing, and other high-demand industries.
“This partnership represents a massive leap forward for our students, giving them real-world work experience that perfectly complements their classroom training,” said Lance Copes, Director of the Grundy Vocational Area Center. “Working alongside Senator Rezin and the Grundy Economic Development Council allows us to expand our reach and connect young people directly with local employers; we are incredibly proud to be part of the team that helps build a stronger, more skilled workforce right here in our community.”
Since its creation, the program has provided internship opportunities to more than 320 students and has grown from just three participating companies and 12 internships to one of the region’s most successful workforce development initiatives.
The annual internship breakfast recognizes participating students and employers and serves as the official launch of the summer program. Rezin thanked the businesses that have committed to mentoring students and investing in the future of Grundy County’s workforce.