High school and college students in Missouri will be getting some internship help from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Vice President Joe Biden and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon recently announced the creation of the Next-Generation Jobs Team, a $25 million internship program to help match 3,000 youths ages 16 to 24 with internships in high-tech fields, according to an article by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Some of the biggest employers across the state have already signed up to participate in the internships, including:

• BJC HealthCare - the largest employer in St. Louis with 23,000 workers
• Analytical Bio Chemistry-Laboratories, Inc. - based in Columbia, manufactures human and animal pharmaceuticals
• Burns & McDonnell - a sustainable design and engineering firm located in Kansas City
• Watts Radiant - a thermal energy company located in Springfield

In addition, several utility companies and electrical cooperatives across the state will be providing internships. The Missouri Hospital Association and the Missouri Biotechnology Association also are working the state to recruit other employers for the program.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development's local Workforce Investment Board will provide mentors to help youth identity career fields they may be interested in and place them with appropriate employers. Interns will be paid through the stimulus funding.

“This is exactly the type of program the Recovery Act was designed to support, and we look forward to seeing a thorough report on its success later this year,” Biden said in the article.

Students at California Polytechnic State University will soon be able to learn about and work with cutting edge technology and procedures while securing paid internships. Click here to learn more about internships.

The State of California recently received a $1.4 million grant that will allow students to learn about stem cell research techniques. While Cal Poly will begin teaching the techniques in the fall, about 10 students will be placed in summer internships at research laboratories throughout the state. Those interns will be working with embryonic stem cells, according to an article by The Tribune.

The grant is part of a $16 million award in stem cell research funding to The California State University system, and is from an almost $3 billion bond for stem cell research approved in 2004. About 10 other CSU campuses also received money.

The funding will allow around 10 Cal Poly students to participate in internships each year for the next three years. The research centers the students will study at include the Salk Institute in San Diego, the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla and UCSB.

Applications for internships will be evaluated by a Cal Poly faculty committee and certain students. The university will use grant money to pay the interns for their work.

Cal Poly also plans to offer three new classes that teach stem cell research techniques without actually partaking in actual research. The courses are in cell transplantation, tissue engineering and biomedical imaging. The classes and internships are targeted toward students studying biological science, bioengineering and animal science.

One region in the State of North Carolina is doing its part to help people prepare for entry level jobs.

Whether the economy has forced you to switch career fields and start from the bottom, or if it's your first time searching for a job, a lack of training will prohibit your chances.

Goodwill Industries Southern Piedmont is offering four educational training programs to help potential workers get the training they need. According to an article by the Charlotte Observer, the programs offer basic skills employees need to get a job in a specific field.

“To gain an entry-level position, it's very beneficial for someone to have at least minimum hands-on training in their targeted industry,” Bo Hussey, vice president of marketing and communications for Goodwill of the Southern Piedmont, said in the article.

"If someone is trying to change careers and get into any of these fields, they can receive that hands-on training in our programs in addition to job search assistance," Hussey continued.

Those looking to gain experience must participate in an interview process before enrolling. All the programs are free and paid for by donations. These sessions will help with resumes, mock interviews and preparing a job search strategy.

Training is as follows:

• Banking and customer service - Training involves work with banking services and products and customer service training. Classes take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for nine weeks. The next program takes place April 27 to June 25 and registration ends April 17.

• Construction skills - Training helps individuals find entry level work in the construction industry and is taught by credentialed instructors with Central Piedmont Community College. The program also provides an OSHA state safety certification. Classes take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for three weeks. The next session takes place May 4 through May 26 and registration ends April 24.

• Hospitality and tourism - Training includes and overview of the industry, including work with banquets, customer service and hospitality reservation software, as well as hands-on training. Classes take place from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for six weeks. The next session is April 20 through May 28 and registration ends April 9.

• Customer service call center - Trains people in basic skills to work in the customer service call center industry. Training is interactive and teachers workers how to improve custoemr relationships. Classes take place at the Gaston County Job Connection in Gastonia. The next session is April 13 through May 8.