Nineteen regional nonprofit and commercial entities have been selected to host Grove City College students in the Fall 2025 cohort of the E+I Fellows program.
Interest in this Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation (E+I) program, which provides paid student interns at no cost to the host organization, continues to accelerate, according to Emma O'Toole '23, E+I community manager and organizer of the E+I Fellows program.
“We were thrilled to receive an incredible 109 applications from local organizations across the region. With a competitive acceptance rate of just 17%, the response highlights the growing enthusiasm and momentum behind the program. This surge in interest reflects its expanding impact, and it is exciting to see the program grow," O’Toole said.
Under the program, E+I pays interns $25 per hour and places them with nonprofit and commercial entities that have a positive impact regionally through social innovation or economic opportunity but lack resources to hire traditional interns or employees to increase capacity and continue to grow. This fall, the College will fund 22 interns.
Since 2024, the program has provided 97 internships for students while supporting 54 regional businesses across nine counties in the Western Pennsylvania region, and two counties in Eastern Ohio, with some businesses participating in multiple cohorts.
In addition to the interns’ labor, hosts get help creating a detailed project plan to maximize the value of the placement for both the organization and the students involved. The E+I Fellows program is funded by a grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and an anonymous donor.
Grove City College students met with prospective employers at Preview Night on Sept. 4 in the Morledge Great Room of Rathburn Hall on campus.
The organizations selected to host E+I Fellows this fall are:
- Autology AI – Helping businesses harness AI through consulting and automation solutions.
- Built to Exit – Empowering business owners to custom-tailor the exit of their company on their own terms.
- Coalition for Christian Outreach – An interdenominational campus ministry.
- Cornerstone Prep – A classical, college-prep high school.
- Deep Freeze Skating Club – A community-based athletic program offering private lessons and support for figure skaters and adult skaters.
- FASTSIGNS Pittsburgh North-Wexford – A professional signs and graphics company boosting brand awareness through custom signage solutions.
- Fresh Cut Prints, LLC – Creating custom wedding stationery and return address stamps.
- Garage at Living Faith – A regional nonprofit providing affordable car repairs to everyone in Western Pennsylvania.
- Genus Research Group, LLC – Delivering innovative education and workforce development solutions across military, youth, and educational settings.
- Grove City Police Department – Provides 24/7 police coverage for the Borough of Grove City.
- Hardly – Software for career support service providers.
- Hugh & Honey – Creating high quality, comfortable, and eczema-friendly one-piece children's pajamas.
- Joy in the Journey – Supporting children and families as they navigate challenging medical journeys.
- Neighborhood Community Development Fund – Providing financial support and technical expertise to revitalize low-income communities in Allegheny County.
- Northside North Shore Chamber of Commerce – Promotes, connects, and supports the growth of Pittsburgh’s Northside businesses.
- Pittsburgh Coastal Energy – Early-stage startup developing electric devices powered by ocean waves to deliver reliable, continuous energy to subsea systems.
- St. Barnabas Health System – Offers senior care living and support services.
- The Blessing Board – Provides donated household furnishings at no cost to individuals and families in need.
- The Pittsburgh Project – Shares hope, empowers youth, and builds community in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Startups, small businesses, and nonprofits who may be interested in applying for the Spring 2026 cohort can visit gccentrepreneurship.com/future-interest-form to join the interest list.
For more about the Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation, visit gccentrepreneurship.com.