Chesterton, IN – The Future of Chesterton (FOC) is in need of fiscal support as well as businesses willing to provide paid, full-time summer internships six to ten weeks long. The FOC is a non-profit organization in partnership with Chesterton High School, the Town of Chesterton, and the Duneland business community to make valuable experience opportunities available for Duneland youth. In order to better engage Duneland youth, the FOC assigns a project in the form of a town issue and students present results of their research to the Town Council. Each year, these senior honor students have proven to be a valuable asset.

Past proposals include a review of the Town Manager Ordinance, best practices for the implementation of an economic development website, and an analysis of the economic impacts of Chesterton becoming a green town. The FOC hopes that by engaging the areas youth in this project, the students might give greater consideration to Northwest Indiana as a place to live and work in the future.

In order to reward those who distinguished themselves through their contribution to the project, the foundation also attempts to provide additional work experience by matching each intern applicant with a meaningful summer internship in their area of interest.

Over the past few years, several organizations have participated in the internship program. FOC has received support from The Town of Chesterton, The Northwest Indiana Times, the Duneland Chamber of Commerce, First American Management, Waretech, Inc., Lakeside Wealth Management, Centier Bank, Sand Creek Country Club, the Town of Porter, Porter Hospital, IPXI, the Oz Festival Committee, along with many others.

The FOC needs support from local businesses in order to continue its engagement of exceptional youth. The organization is currently seeking fiscal support and internship opportunities for the summer of 2011. Businesses interested in sponsoring or offering an internship can find additional information at www.futureofchesterton.org or by calling 219-983-1600, ext. 1633.