The Montgomery Regional Chamber celebrated the culmination of the 2026 FuelAL River Region Summer Internship Program on Thursday, July 30, bringing together interns, employers, community partners, and regional leaders to recognize a summer of professional growth, meaningful connections, and experiences across Central Alabama.
Held at the Prattville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center at Capitol Hill, the celebration luncheon provided an opportunity to recognize the students who participated in this year’s program, thank the employers and community partners who invested in their experience and reflect on the importance of developing and retaining the next generation of talent in the River Region.
FuelAL is a state-wide talent development and retention initiative connecting college students with employers, career opportunities, and communities across Alabama. This year’s FuelAL River Region cohort included 33 college interns representing 22 employers and 19 colleges and universities from across Alabama and beyond, reflecting the broad network of students and employers investing in the future of our region’s workforce.
Throughout the summer, interns gained hands-on experience with local employers while stepping outside of the workplace to connect with business and community leaders, explore key industries, and experience the people and places that make the River Region a place to build both a career and a life.
Their summer began with Welcome Night at Montgomery Whitewater and included networking at the Chamber’s 60 Minute Coffee, Montgomery Biscuits baseball at Dabos Park, a performance of Chicken & Biscuits at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, a behind-the-scenes industry tour at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, and a community service awareness experience with the River Region United Way. Interns also connected over golf and dinner at Eagle Golf Simulators in Millbrook and joined Leadership Montgomery for the Intern Connectors Luncheon at the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
Together, these experiences gave interns opportunities to build relationships beyond their individual workplaces while gaining a broader understanding of the industries, organizations, attractions, and communities that shape the River Region.
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