Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger recently signed a law creating a Virginia State Internship coordinator position, designed to improve how students and recent graduates gain workforce experience through state agencies. 

In 2019, Virginia established the Innovative Internship Fund and Program to expand paid and credit-bearing internships statewide, reinforcing the commonwealth’s commitment to workforce development. The new role builds on that foundation, as does the Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership, which helps connect students and government agencies with these opportunities.

Then in 2023, the Department of Human Resource Management, in partnership with the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia and V-TOP, created the COVA Internship Connection Pilot, which uses the V-TOP system to help agencies recruit interns.

The legislation aims to centralize internship outreach, streamline application processes and provide agency support, making internships more visible and accessible to all students, including those from under-resourced schools and students with disabilities.

The legislation strengthens data collection and program tracking to measure internship results and enhance Virginia’s long-term workforce development," reports Virginia Mercury.