CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Since its launch in January 2017, the Generation West Virginia Impact Fellowship program has tripled its growth.
Generation WV announcing the beginning of its third year of the campaign to attract and retain young West Virginia professionals to jobs in the state, Wednesday at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
“We are so excited,” said Natalie Roper, executive director of Generation WV. “Applications are open for the third year of the Impact Fellowship. We have 26 fellowship positions this year for the program.”
At its launch, the Impact Fellowship program had seven fellowship positions with five host companies.
Wednesday marked the beginning of the application process to 15 host employers onboard this year with Generation WV. The minimum qualifications to apply is a two or four year degree. The deadline to apply is February 3.
“We partner with employers across the state to connect them with qualified employees across sectors,” Roper said. “Impact Fellows work four days a week, making a minimum salary of $31,000 a year with full benefits and then they volunteer in the community every Friday. Its a one year program but the goal is that this is connecting young people and employers to opportunities that are much longer than that one-year program.”
The sectors include non-profits, government agencies, private companies in technology, manufacturing, and higher education. Host companies participating in year three of the Impact Fellowship are American Benefit Corporation, Alpha Technology, CAMC, Core10, Just Transition Fund, McKinley Architecture and Engineering, Motion Masters, NGK, Quality Insights, Service Pump & Supply, Solar Holler, Terradon, Unlimited Future, West Virginia Community & Technical College System, and West Virginia University.
“Through this program, we are showing there are real job opportunities available when we connect qualified people with the great jobs that are here, people are able to succeed and stay in the Mountain State.
“This program has a 70 percent retention, so 70 percent of our fellows are staying in the state post the conclusion to this program.”
Three Impact Fellows spoke at the news conferences on their experiences and how the program has changed their lives. Roper and Kinsey Walker, the Fellowship Director of Generation West Virginia addressed the crowd. Charlie Dennie, VP of Government Relations and Special Projects at Alpha Technologies spoke on why they have partnered with Generation WV.
Since launching in January 2017, the program has created 43 jobs and has received nearly 500 applications.
“I am most proud of being able to really generate new jobs in West Virginia and really show that there is a true opportunity here,” Roper said. “Too often we hear that there aren’t jobs here and we are so proud that through this program we are creating more opportunities. More diverse, quality opportunities that are really turning into careers so people can stay and succeed in the Mountain State.”
Prospective applicants can learn more and must apply by February 3 at WeImpactWV.org.