Economic Development Internship
Jeffrey A. Finkle Ohio University Economic Development Internship now accepting applications
Ohio University offers undergraduate and graduate students affiliated with the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service with the opportunity to intern at the National League of Cities (NLC) and gain practical, hands-on experience in local government and economic development issues and trends. The establishment of this internship recognized 30 years of national leadership in economic development (and retirement in 2022) by Jeffery A. Finkle, a graduate of Ohio University and University Medal of Merit recipient. Jeff Finkle is a recognized leader and international authority on economic development.
ORGANIZATION PROFILE: The National League of Cities (NLC) is an organization comprised of city, town and village leaders that are focused on improving the quality of life for their current and future constituents. With nearly 100 years of dedication to the strength and advancement of local governments, NLC has gained the trust and support of more than 2,700 cities across the nation. Their mission is to relentlessly advocate for and protect the interests of, cities, towns and villages by influencing federal policy, strengthening local leadership and driving innovative solutions.
POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Jeffrey A. Finkle Ohio University Economic Development Intern will work closely with the staff at NLC as part of a team in a fast-paced environment to help advance NLC’s mission. You will have a Washington experience that includes offering in-person work experience and building your confidence and skills to better prepare you for the workforce.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
1. Conduct Research on Trends in Inclusive Economic Development
a. Perform comprehensive research on trends in entrepreneur-led economic development, especially as they pertain to marginalized communities. This includes conducting verbal interviews with practitioners and research institutions, as well as desk-based research.
b. Collect and organize insights on innovative economic development practices that could inform NLC’s strategy and highlight areas for potential collaboration.
2. Best Practices and Case Study Development
a. Support the development of case studies that capture best practices and lessons learned from the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship (CIE) program’s engagement with 240+ cities.
b. Assist in identifying key success stories, challenges, and scalable strategies to enhance the program’s curriculum and support materials.
3. Listening Tour Preparation and Community Assessment Research
a. Help prepare and organize forums, workshops, and discussions on inclusive economic development topics. Assist with gathering
background information, coordinating logistics, and preparing presentation materials.
b. Engage with subject matter experts and city leaders to ensure forums provide actionable insights for participants.
c. Conduct background research and collect relevant community data to inform team visits and assessments.
d. Assist in planning for interviews, focus groups, and other data collection activities, ensuring alignment with the learning year goals.
4. Funding Opportunity Exploration and Support
a. Conduct research on funding opportunities that align with NLC’s goals. Prepare summaries and background information to assist in proposal development.
b. Track and organize potential funding leads and collaborate with team members to identify viable opportunities.
Interns at NLC play an integral role in the organization and are treated as such, with content-based activities significantly outweighing administrative tasks. As such, interns are expected to be self-starters and have comfort with taking ownership of projects. Summer interns are expected to work up to a 40-hour work week and commit 10 weeks of their summer to the internship.
QUALIFICATIONS: The Jeffrey A. Finkle Ohio University Economic Development Internship is available to both undergraduate (Junior or Senior status) and graduate students who have worked with or have an affiliation with Ohio University’s Voinovich School. In addition to MPA, MSES, MSSR, and Voinovich Scholars, those students who have had a current or past work placement at the Voinovich School are eligible to apply. All applicants must be Ohio University students in good academic standing at the time of application.
Students must be pursuing a field related to economic development, city and regional planning, public administration or public policy. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.NOTE: If you are a graduating senior, your last eligible date for employment in this internship is June 28th, 2025. You remain eligible for consideration of the internship but your last day in the position will be June 28th.
NOTE: If you are a graduating international student, you must have authorization to work post-graduation.
INTERNSHIP PERIOD: Summer
LOCATION: Washington, DC
SALARY: $15.00/hour (Housing and transportation is the responsibility of the intern)
STIPEND and TUITION ASSISTANCE: A $2000 stipend and travel assistance is provided but please note it is considered taxable income.
COLLEGE CREDITS: This internship is eligible for college credit with a maximum of six credits available. Intern is required to submit a weekly journal to their faculty sponsor as well as a final paper.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 31st, 2025, 5:00 P.M.
TO APPLY:
Submit the following materials via e-mail to Amista Lipot at lipot@ohio.edu :
1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. One writing sample (not to exceed 15 pages, typed and double spaced)
4. Two letters of reference
5. One completed faculty sponsor form
For questions contact Amista Lipot via email at lipot@ohio.edu or by phone at 740.597.1558.
