Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has honored three Virginia businesses as the state’s top employers for interns, recognizing companies that offer high-quality paid internships through the InternshipsVA program.
Overhead Solutions Group of Norfolk won in the small-business category. Triple Point Security of Blacksburg took the mid-size award, and Atlantic Union Bank of Richmond was named the top large employer.
Winners received their awards at the 2026 Virginia Education and Workforce Conference, the governor’s office said in a news release. The Virginia Chamber Foundation organized the conference. Its partners were the Virginia Business Higher Education Council, the Virginia Business-K12 Partnership and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.
Roughly 500 people attended. They came from businesses, colleges, public schools, government and workforce and economic development groups to discuss how Virginia can grow its supply of skilled workers.
Employers from different regions also received two other honors. The Innovative Employers Award recognized exceptional internship programs, while the Inspiring Employers Award went to established programs with a long record of preparing interns for careers.
“You are helping students see a future for themselves in Virginia.”
Spanberger said the paid positions and professional connections the companies provide also strengthen their own workforces.
Commerce and Trade Secretary Carrie Chenery called internships “one of the most powerful ways” to link classroom learning with the skills employers need. Education Secretary Jeffery Smith said the honored companies are showing students how their schooling can lead to careers in Virginia.
Labor Secretary Jessica Looman said work-based learning succeeds best when employers, educators and workers collaborate. Jason El Koubi, president and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, credited the winners with expanding opportunities for Virginians.
InternshipsVA started in February 2026 under Spanberger. It helps businesses build or grow paid internship programs, and it gives them design advice, recruiting tools and training. Qualifying employers can also get matching grants.
Since its launch, the program has worked with more than 700 employers and partners and trained more than 500 employers to set up internship programs, the governor’s office reported. Its matching grant has supported 845 internships at more than 290 employers.
The state also formed a statewide recruiting partnership with Handshake, which the governor’s office described as the first of its kind. Business Facilities Magazine recently gave InternshipsVA a 2026 Economic Development Organization Award, recognizing it as an innovative economic development program.
