In a world demanding practical skills and work experience, young Americans face a significant opportunity gap. Research from American Student Assistance shows that while 79 percent of high school students desire work-based learning experiences, only 34 percent know of such opportunities, and only two percent engage in hands-on career learning during high school.
At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, we're addressing this gap through our Employer Provided Innovation Challenges (EPIC) initiative. EPIC connects businesses with students to tackle real-world challenges, offering a scalable alternative to how work-based learning opportunities are traditionally stood up, which are often limited in number and accessibility.
Drawing on our extensive network, EPIC delivers impactful learning experiences that immerse students in real business challenges. We're setting a new standard for experiential, skills-driven learning across high school and post-secondary education, building a pipeline of innovative, job-ready talent for employers.
Our EPIC pilot emphasized the power of collaboration between businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations nationwide. At our Summer 2024 Meeting, the EPIC network shared successes, explored ideas, and heard from students and partners on the impact of work-based learning opportunities in communities.
The highlight of the event was hearing from three student teams who tackled real business challenges:
Clinton College and Comporium: Enhancing Retail Experience
In Rock Hill, South Carolina, we partnered with the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce to connect Clinton College students with Comporium, a local telecommunications and security services provider. Students were challenged to enhance the buyer experience for young adults (18-29) at Comporium's newly renovated flagship store. They applied classroom knowledge to conduct competitor analyses, create SWOT analyses, and develop innovative solutions. This project provided Comporium with fresh insights while equipping students with valuable experience in market research, customer service, and business strategy.
Lenawee County: Bridging Industry and Education
In Lenawee County, Michigan, we united local chemical companies with students from LISD TECH Center through our partner, Lenawee Now. The challenge: rebranding the chemical industry as a safe, progressive career choice. Over eight weeks, students developed a digital marketing campaign for the Lenawee County Chemical Collaborative, gaining hands-on experience in market research and digital marketing. This collaboration addressed workforce challenges in the chemical sector while opening students' eyes to exciting local career opportunities.
San Diego Business Solutions: Streamlining Film Permits
In San Diego, we facilitated a partnership between the San Diego Regional Economic Development Council, San Diego Workforce Partnership, and The Basement at the University of California San Diego to create a user-friendly film permit application website for the county. Over 20 weeks, students from diverse academic backgrounds applied design thinking and web development skills to streamline the permitting process, aiming to boost San Diego's competitiveness as a filming location. This project equipped students with real-world experience in project management and stakeholder engagement, demonstrating how cross-sector partnerships can solve community challenges while preparing the next generation of problem-solvers.
EPIC brings together classrooms and businesses, helping students gain real-world skills while solving authentic business problems. We're growing our network of partners to give more students these chances. By doing this, we're not just getting students ready for jobs – we're helping create the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers for our communities.
A special thank you to our EPIC partners and sponsors:
- Funders: American Student Assistance and Walton Family Foundation
- Technology Partner: Riipen
About the authors
Sydney Lewis
Sydney Lewis is associate communications manager for education, workforce, resilience, and thought leadership at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
