A major corporation’s sponsorship of the Global Impact STEM Academy not only secures help for the school but also provides a boost to local efforts to bring more businesses and jobs here.

Bob Evans Farms on Monday became the first company to announce a partnership with the academy, which will open in fall 2013 and focus on agricultural bio sciences through food, fuel and fiber industries.

“Companies that have started and grown in Ohio are a tight group, so to have (Bob Evans) endorse their part in the curriculum speaks volumes,” said state Sen. Chris Widener.

But the company’s sponsorship also speaks to businesses looking to locate in Springfield.

“The food industry is at the top for us, so (Bob Evans) gives us huge credibility in marketing Springfield for jobs,” said Mike McDorman, president and CEO of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

After Bob Evans chairman and CEO Steve Davis and Widener announced the partnership Monday, McDorman called a prospective business in Arizona to tell them about the science, technology, engineering and mathematics school and Bob Evans’ support.

Bob Evans will be critical in developing the school’s curriculum, which Widener said will be completed by December so that officials can market the school to parents in January.

“Our focus is on curriculum and internships, and that could lead to some scholarships in the future,” said Davis.

He said the company will have its vice president of human resources as well as people from Bob Evans’ training department on the curriculum committee. Davis said the company will borrow from its Bob Evans management training program at the University of Rio Grande that it developed this spring.

He said supporting the school is important to give students more career prospects.

“Young people get this, they know there’s careers and opportunities, and they need to have an inroad,” Davis said.

The company will plan internship opportunities around its area locations, Davis said, including restaurants, the new transportation center at Airpark Ohio, the corporate office in Columbus and even local suppliers. Davis mentioned Gordon Foods and Millard Refrigerated Services as local companies Bob Evans works with that could provide internships.

Davis acknowledged the company will have to make customizations for high school-aged students.

The internships “will be very entry level because this might be the first job for some of these students, but I’m confident we can always make the program more difficult if we find some really talented students … or if this is not their first job,” he said.

Davis did not say if the company would make a financial contribution to the school.

The non-profit academy will be in the former South High School. It will be the first school of its kind in Ohio and one of only five such schools in the country, officials have said.

In conjunction with the company’s announcement Monday, Davis also paid a visit to the Springfield Rotary Club to talk about the company’s impact statewide and locally. Bob Evans pledged to invest $165 million in Ohio over several years, including $5 million at the Springfield transportation center currently being built.