January 15, 2026
As part of the MoveUp Ohio initiative—funded by the U.S. Department of Labor—Future Plans sponsored 18 paid work‑based learning internships across the Great Lakes Corridor during the summer of 2025. These internships served as meaningful stepping stones for young people actively exploring and refining their career paths and continue to inform this work now carried forward through the GRIT Project.
Real‑World Experience, Real‑World Impact
Through hands‑on experiences in fields such as construction, excavating, drafting and engineering, social media and marketing, community relations, and youth programming, students gained valuable skills beyond the classroom. From learning how to read blueprints and use CAD software to managing digital marketing campaigns and engaging with community stakeholders, interns developed:
- Professional communication and teamwork experience
- Technical and trade‑specific skills
- Project management and organizational abilities
- Increased confidence in workplace environments
- Greater clarity around long‑term career interests
These experiences provided more than short‑term employment. Interns built professional networks, strengthened their sense of purpose, and gained practical insight into what meaningful work could look like after graduation.
Thank You to Our Partners
Future Plans is deeply grateful to the employers and organizations that opened their doors and invested in the next generation of Ohio’s workforce during the MoveUp Ohio project. Partners included:
- B&M Farms
- City of Toledo Parks and Youth Department
- Dose Aesthetics
- First Tee of Lake Erie West
- Fisher‑Titus Medical Center
- Greater Sandusky Partnership
- Lourdes University Athletic Department
- MetroParks Toledo
- Ohio Gas Company
- Stantz Construction
- WEDCO (Williams County Economic Development Corporation)
- WGTE Channel 13
Their mentorship, time, and commitment helped shape early career experiences for young people and contributed to a stronger, more skilled regional workforce.
A Lasting Impact
The MoveUp Ohio project concluded in late 2025, but its impact continues. These work‑based learning internships demonstrated how strategic partnerships between employers, educators, and workforce organizations can create transformative outcomes for students. Today, those lessons live on through the GRIT Project, where Future Plans continues to expand access to career exploration, work‑based learning, and pathways to opportunity across Ohio
