TechPoint Expands Xtern Program to Muncie

(photo courtesy of TechPoint)

Indianapolis-based TechPoint, the nonprofit growth accelerator for Indiana’s tech sector, is expanding its Xtern program to Muncie. Techpoint says the summer internship program gives students from around the country access to the city’s tech and civic leaders and provides them with paid internships at top companies.

The nonprofit says the 10-week program, which began in Indianapolis in 2014, has consistently broken application records each year.

“We are really proud of the Xtern program’s reputation as one of the country’s top internship programs for college students in pursuit of tech jobs, and we are gratified by the program’s success in placing this top talent with Central Indiana employers,” said Mike Langellier, president of TechPoint. “We are thrilled to expand Xtern’s positive impact by sharing our talent pipeline and our program’s best practices with Muncie-area employers.”

The Muncie expansion is supported by the Ball Brothers Foundation, which provided funding to initiate local programming, as well as leaders from Ball State University, the Innovation Connector, and the city of Muncie, among others.

Techpoint says First Merchants Bank (Nasdaq: FRME), LEAP Managed IT, Dannar, Accutech Systems, Deltec Solutions, Magna PowerTrain and the city of Muncie are the first employers to agree to hire Muncie-based Xterns.

“As east-central Indiana’s economic growth engine, Muncie needs ongoing access to qualified tech talent, so we are very excited that TechPoint has chosen our community to expand their highly-regarded Xtern program,” said Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour. “Local employers will gain the services of top tech talent, and the program will draw to our community an exciting group of young professionals, many of whom will discover Muncie for the very first time.”

On November 13, the nonprofit says about 165 students will interview virtually with nearly 50 prospective employers, as part of Xtern Finalist Day.