Join our Roundtable: Proving Your Value - Measuring & Reporting on Oct 10, 2-3 pm EST. Add to your calendar 
Join our Roundtable: Proving Your Value - Measuring & Reporting on Oct 10, 2-3 pm EST. Add to your calendar
Interns can be a powerhouse of innovation and bring fresh perspectives to downtown districts. They can be the vibrant future of downtown district teams, bringing new ideas and energy.
A well-crafted internship program not only enhances your district's projects but also prepares the next generation of community leaders. Here's why creating a successful internship program is crucial:
Grab a copy of our Intern Task Tracker Template spreadsheet to monitor your intern's tasks and progress.
The first step towards creating a successful internship program that provides the most value to both the intern and your district is to create a basic framework.
Use these questions as a guide to set up the internship program.
Establishing whether the program will be comprehensive with multiple positions or a more focused initiative helps in better planning and resource allocation.
Determine whether the interns will be offered financial compensation or academic credit. Paid internships can attract a wider pool of candidates and ensure that interns from diverse socio-economic backgrounds can participate. Offering university credit can incentivize students to apply and provide additional benefits for their academic growth.
This decision affects scheduling, workload distribution, and the level of engagement interns can have with district projects, initiatives, and activities.
Establishing a structured and transparent application and selection process is essential for attracting the most qualified candidates. Downtown districts can leverage online platforms, collaborate with educational institutions, and conduct interviews to assess candidates' skills, experience, and alignment with the district's goals.
Designating responsible personnel within the downtown district to oversee the internship program ensures effective coordination, mentorship, and support for interns.
Whether it's urban planning, economic development, marketing, or events management, matching interns with relevant departments maximizes their impact and learning opportunities.
A targeted recruitment strategy may involve promoting internship opportunities through online channels, social media, university career centers, and local community networks. Engaging with educational institutions and attending career fairs can also broaden the reach of recruitment efforts.
Evaluation methods may include regular check-ins with supervisors, performance reviews based on predefined goals and objectives, and opportunities for interns to reflect on their experiences and professional growth.
Evaluating interns' contributions helps recognize their achievements and ensures mutual benefits for both interns and the downtown district.
Once you’ve created the framework of the Internship program, the next crucial step is to create a structure.
Here are a few simple ways to structure your program.
Engaging Orientation
Employee Manual
Introduction to Staff
Set Expectations
Training Support
Intern Appreciation Events
Team Integration
Performance Evaluation
Provide a comprehensive orientation session for interns, introducing them to team etiquette, expectations, and the district's work culture. This sets a positive tone for their internship experience.
Equip interns with a copy of the district's employee manual to familiarize them with policies, procedures, and guidelines essential for their role.
Facilitate introductions between interns and staff members, both in person and through email or other communication channels. Building connections fosters a sense of belonging and encourages collaboration.
Set clear expectations by outlining interns' schedules and tasks for their first week. This clarity helps interns feel prepared and confident in their roles from the get-go.
Provide necessary training and resources to help interns acclimate to their roles and responsibilities efficiently. This could include technical skills training such as using a CRM, project-specific knowledge, or mentorship opportunities.
Organize special events or activities to express appreciation for interns' contributions and motivate them throughout their internship. Recognizing their efforts fosters a positive and rewarding experience.
Encourage interns to actively participate in team activities, meetings, and brainstorming sessions. Involvement in collaborative efforts not only enhances their learning but also strengthens team cohesion.
Follow the pre-agreed framework for evaluating interns' performance, providing regular feedback and opportunities for reflection. This structured approach ensures interns understand their progress and areas for growth, contributing to their professional and personal growth.
Remember, for many interns, this may be their first work experience. They’ll need support and mentorship. Encourage them to experiment and explore, and prepare them to embrace both success and failure. This is your chance to develop the next generation of placemaking professionals.
We've compiled a handy list of tasks for each department in your district that interns can work on to maximize their skills while contributing significantly to your efforts.
Website Management
Social Media
Graphic Design
Content Marketing
Special Events
Update business directory listings on your website. If you're using District360’s website integration feature, you can automatically update your website listings using District360.
Update event listings on your website.
Track website analytics and generate weekly reports.
Publish social posts.
Track and analyze social media engagement metrics.
Design promotional materials & brochures. There are several free tools, like Canva, that provide free templates.
Shoot photos and videos.
Help maintain and innovate creative initiatives in downtown.
Set up and send email and text message templates to communicate with stakeholders, committees, or boards using District360. Learn more about sending emails from District360.
Add contacts from District360 to the email platform (Mailchimp, Constant Contact) or vice versa.
Write blogs and press releases. Having your interns write your blogs can add a layer of authenticity and put a youthful spin on your communication.
Help plan and execute special, seasonal, fundraising, and pop-up events. Record and track event details such as attendees, donors, stakeholders, vendors, donations, and expenses with District360 Major Initiatives.
Conduct post-event surveys and analysis with District360.
Assist with event promotions.
Assist at events, interacting with and assisting the public and guests.
Conduct public asset inventory and condition reports and upload them to the District360 Public Assets module database. (Refer public asset video link)
Create and send stakeholder satisfaction surveys through District360 and analyze the responses.
Conduct bike parking inventory audits and update the results in District360.
Research successful wayfinding systems in other cities to optimize downtown signage.
Identify potential projects by researching and developing case studies of activation ideas in urban areas.
Assist in researching, developing, monitoring, and benchmarking streetscape, placemaking, and events.
Assist with the development and implementation of a Homeless Outreach Survey.
Update vacancy listings in District360 (ensuring the broker is listed and marketing materials are attached).
Conduct an audit of street-level & tenant businesses and update Accounts and Contacts in District360.
Collect data and research on women-owned, minority-owned, or locally-owned businesses and categorize these accounts in District360.
Assist with tracking and updating economic development KPIs in District360.
Research ideas and strategies for creating small business incubator space.
Ideate on pop-up market event themes and conduct feasibility studies.
Research community and crowdfunding development projects.
Update stakeholder information such as Property, Account, and Contact. information on District360. Use District360’s List View feature to identify gaps in the data. Check out our List Views tutorial here.
Update Board and Committee Member information in District360. Help manage Board and Committee Meetings and record minutes. Use District360 to track attendance and send pre- and post-meeting communications and surveys.
Help publish annual and other reports.
Distribute gifts and promotional packets to stakeholders.
Answer phones, greet visitors, and assist with other administrative tasks.
Curate and update data in District360 to track neighborhood indicators.
Draft policy memoranda and attach the document to District360.
Review reports from think tanks and other downtown districts to develop a list of key neighborhood indicators to track.
Assist with grant writing.
Design a dashboard to track trends and patterns.
Grab a copy of our Intern Task Tracker Template spreadsheet to monitor your intern's tasks and progress.
Amidst numerous success stories from various districts, here are a few examples.
Interns have the potential to offer great support to downtown districts, providing extra hands and minds, enhancing community-building efforts, and contributing fresh perspectives.
Witnessing former interns secure jobs or excel in their careers due to their experiences in the district is immensely rewarding.
Let's continue hiring interns and fostering mutual learning and growth together!
