Description

The City of Faribault Community and Economic Development Department seeks a motivated and detail-oriented Economic Development Intern to assist with various initiatives supporting local businesses and economic growth. This position offers an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in economic development, focusing on business retention, expansion, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development.

Examples of Duties

Key Responsibilities

Faribault Sustainable Development Initiative

Data Collection and Analysis: Conduct in-depth research on sustainable development opportunities, including renewable energy projects, eco-industrial networks, and green business clusters.
Partnership Development: Identify and engage potential partners, such as universities, private sector leaders, and non-profits, to support the initiative's goals.
Reporting and Recommendations: Prepare reports and presentations on findings, offering actionable recommendations to align development initiatives with Faribault’s sustainability objectives.

Business Retention and Expansion (BRE)

Coordinate and Schedule Visits: Organize and maintain a structured schedule of visits with small and large businesses in Faribault to assess their needs and provide support.
Preparation and Reporting: Develop materials for BRE meetings and produce detailed reports summarizing findings, trends, and actionable recommendations.
Feedback Documentation: Systematically collect and analyze feedback to identify common challenges and potential opportunities, informing economic development strategies.
Survey Design and Data Analysis: Create, distribute, and analyze surveys to gather quantitative and qualitative insights into business needs, challenges, and opportunities. Leverage data to inform program development and policy recommendations.
Action Implementation: Support the rollout of action items resulting from BRE visits, collaborating with stakeholders to address business concerns and improve retention rates.

Entrepreneurship Development and Support

Program Coordination: Assist in designing and managing initiatives that support entrepreneurs, including workshops, mentorship opportunities, and access to funding resources.
Resource Promotion: Actively promote local, state, and federal resources available to entrepreneurs, ensuring awareness of grant programs, loans, and technical assistance.
Outreach and Relationship Building: Build strong relationships with emerging and established entrepreneurs to better understand their needs and provide tailored support.

General Economic Development Support

Economic Analysis: Research and analyze data on local and regional economic trends, industry growth sectors, and workforce needs to inform planning efforts.
Communications Support: Draft newsletters, social media content, and outreach materials to keep stakeholders informed and engaged with economic development activities.
Team Collaboration: Work with department staff on additional projects and initiatives, providing insights and operational support to advance Faribault’s economic priorities.

Qualifications

Typical Qualifications

Current enrollment in a bachelor’s or master’s program in any field
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage with a diverse group of stakeholders.
Must have completed at least 1 statistics course and 1 economics course
Preferably has completed a research methods course but not required.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Preference for candidates with language skills in Spanish and Somali
Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks.
Familiarity with economic development principles or community engagement is preferred but not required.

In accordance with City policy and applicable law, the following deductions may be made from your payroll checks:

Federal and State withholding for taxes, Social Security, Medicare, pre-tax life insurance, garnishments, etc.
Statutorily required PERA contributions (Public Employee Retirement Association).
Insurance premiums for health, life, dental, STD, and other elected coverages.
Elected contributions to deferred compensation, H.S.A. funding, and flexible benefit programs.
Elected contributions to credit unions or other banks.

City of Faribault

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Economic Development Intern