Business Flier to MTP2 Internships - Pollution Prevention Program

MTP2's POLLUTION PREVENTION SUMMER INTERNSHIP

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MTP2 - Montana Pollution Prevention Program
“Empowering businesses to be part of the solution, not the pollution.”

· MTP2 Interns Can Tackle Your Waste and Energy Projects

Your business may be able to address waste reduction and energy efficiency projects sooner and faster with the help of a MTP2 intern. An intern can make suggestions that improve efficiency, save money, reduce waste, or decrease regulatory compliance burden. Also, an intern has the time and creativity to research alternative equipment, procedures, chemicals, and raw materials Check out this past internship at Pasta Montana that helped PM conserve 10.2 million gallons of water and $64,000 annually. All proprietary information at your facility can be kept confidential during and after the intern project.

Additionally, your business will benefit from:

A new set of eyes looking at your waste or energy project
Your intern being mentored and guided by a Montana Manufacturing Extension Center
(MMEC) advisor
A full report and presentation detailing the intern’s work and next steps for your
company
MTP2 managing the recruiting, hiring, and training process

· Your Business only Pays for Half of the MTP2 Intern*

The full cost of a MTP2 intern project includes costs related to the student, an on-site supervisor provided by the company, a MTP2 advisor, a MMEC advisor, and a MSU professor. Students are paid $16/hour (undergrad) or $18/hour (graduate) during the 350 hours of summer employment (one week of training; 35 hrs/wk for 8 weeks; plus, a final week to develop and present findings) for a total salary up to $6,300. The interns are responsible for their housing costs for the summer. * Additional funding may be available to help cover the business' payment.

Companies interested in participating in the intern program are asked to provide an on-site supervisor as an in-kind contribution and contribute between $2,800-$3,150 to help support the intern program. These funds are used to offset project costs such as intern training and student compensation. By providing financial support to the intern program and an on-site supervisor, each company shows commitment to ensuring the success of the project.

· Is Your Business Eligible for an MTP2 Intern?

Each summer, the MTP2 intern program hires and places highly qualified students in a wide variety of food and beverage manufacturing and processing facilities to develop industry-tailored solutions for waste and energy challenges.

To qualify for the intern program, your business must be:

Located in Montana
Have a 311 or a 3121 NAICS designation (food and beverage manufacturing and
processing). Exceptions may be made depending on the business’s operations. Contact us to inquire about your eligibility.
Committed to reducing or eliminating industrial waste (air emissions, water, energy, solid or hazardous waste) and/or improving energy efficiency by:
- Developing a project idea with the intern and the MTP2 program advisors that applies to other Montana businesses.
- Performing trials to make operation or procedural improvement, such as substituting equipment or raw materials.

· Company Roles and Responsibilities

Each project requires a MTP2 Intern Project Agreement. The agreement outlines the project, sets the scope of work, and defines the research and deliverables. It highlights the roles and responsibilities of the people involved. This agreement is developed once your business has committed to an intern and then it is signed by representatives at your facility, MTP2 staff members, and MSU.

While the agreement provides greater details about each company’s roles and responsibilities for the intern project the following are general responsibilities.

The company will be asked to contribute a cost share to support the program.
Develop a work plan/timeline for the project with the MTP2 technical advisor.
Identify sensitive, proprietary, or confidential information.
Inform management and other employees about the intern and of the project goals.
Assign an internal project supervisor who will provide on-going daily supervision of the intern.
Provide appropriate safety training and supervision to the intern.
Provide the intern with tools to work, including a desk/worktable and access to a telephone, fax machine, and computer.
Pay all costs associated with and stemming from approved student work, including any approved tests, equipment or supplies needed to develop project objectives. Exceptions include student’s salary and limited travel expenses.
Facilitate employee cooperation with the intern to ensure that the intern receives the assistance or information needed for the project.
Periodically consult with MTP2 and MMEC advisors regarding project status and satisfaction with the intern’s work.
Review and evaluate the student’s findings, conclusions and proposals for accuracy, feasibility, and relation to company needs and objectives.
At your company’s sole discretion, implement cost-effective waste reduction measures identified by the student, where feasible.
Review the final draft of the project report for completeness and clarity as a proposed implementation plan for the company.
Evaluate the intern’s performance and the intern program in general at the conclusion of the project.
Provide MTP2 with feedback describing the benefits of this project.
Participate in final presentation if possible.