TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Troy students now have the opportunity to be a member of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce thanks to a partnership with the Sorrell College of Business.

According to the Economy Policy Institute, the unemployment rate for college students post-graduation has been increasing since the post-pandemic boom in job opportunities in 2022 and 2023. The Pike County Chamber of Commerce is looking to lower that number for Troy students with its new student membership.

“It’s very important to make sure these businesses know just how strong these students are coming out of college and how they can be of benefit to them,” said Bethany Grimes, president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. “While it is so wonderful that Troy has so many businesses and industries that have veteran employers that have been doing it for 25-30 years, it is still so important to bring in fresh and new ideas.”

OTHER NEWS: University panel explores opportunities and challenges of AI

The membership offers all the perks of a typical membership, like networking opportunities, workshops, lunch-and-learns, and job boards, but for the price of $25. That is much lower than the $100 individual price and up to $975 business rate, which is determined by the size of the company and number of employees.

“We’re not looking at it as a way to make more money in our membership budget,” Grimes said. “We’re looking at it as a way to truly provide these students with these hands-on opportunities.”

It’s beneficial for the business and Pike County as a whole, too. Grimes wanted to draw more attention to local businesses after her own internship and job search experiences in college.

“Naturally I went to Montgomery because it was a bigger city, it was easier to find opportunities, and I really didn’t know where to go in Pike County to find opportunities locally,” Grimes said. “So our chamber of staff and board of directors is making it our mission to invest in the students that want the assistance that we can provide and make sure they know everything we have here in Pike County.”

Student membership applications are available now to anyone with a valid student ID. The Chamber will also be creating a resume book full of student members’ resumes that they can give to employers looking to fill internships, part-time positions or full-time positions. They hope it will put student members at the top of employers’ minds.