InternshipsVA, a statewide program to help employers design and launch high-quality paid internships for higher education students, launched in February, Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced.

The commonwealth plans to commit $14.5 million each year to support the program’s goal of matching businesses with interns, according to a news release. The program can help employers through tailored guidance and resources, matching grants, and recruitment tools. It can also be a way for employers to connect with and learn from one another.

Small and mid-size Virginia employers can get a 50% match for undergraduate interns’ wages. Employers can post internship opportunities at no cost through a partnership with Handshake, already used by students at local universities.

“Virginia’s students need more hands-on opportunities to connect with real-world careers,” Spanberger said in the release. “InternshipsVA aims to make sure every student educated in the Commonwealth has the chance to begin and build a lasting career right here in Virginia. By partnering with businesses to give students real‑world experience before graduation, we’re strengthening a talent pipeline that will drive Virginia’s economic growth for years to come.”

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia all back the program.

Interested employers can visit vedp.org/internshipsva.

https://www.dailypress.com/2026/02/23/virginia-paid-internships/