This is not a traditional desk-only experience. You’ll work alongside community development leaders, businesses, property owners, consultants, volunteers, and public-sector partners on projects that are actively shaping the future of the Mason Mile and other community development initiatives.
What You’ll Work On
You’ll support projects involving:
• Mason Mile implementation and business district initiatives
• Downtown and corridor revitalization
• Redevelopment and property research
• Community and stakeholder engagement
• Business and site research
• Project tracking and implementation
• Grant-funded projects and reporting
• Events, volunteer initiatives, and placemaking
• Presentations, maps, project materials, and communications
One day you may be researching a redevelopment opportunity. Another day you may be helping prepare for a community meeting, updating a project tracker, visiting a site, gathering information for a grant report, or supporting a Mason Mile initiative.
What You’ll Learn
This co-op provides hands-on experience in:
• Community and economic development
• Urban planning and redevelopment
• Project management
• Public-private partnerships
• Local government and nonprofit collaboration
• Community engagement
• Grant implementation
• Business district development
• Professional communications
• Real-world problem solving
You’ll gain exposure to how community development projects move from an idea or plan into implementation.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who is:
• Curious and eager to learn
• Organized and dependable
• Comfortable managing multiple projects
• Strong at research and follow-through
• A clear communicator
• Detail-oriented
• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team
• Interested in communities, development, business, planning, real estate, or public service
Students studying urban planning, public administration, economic development, business, real estate, political science, communications, geography, nonprofit management, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
Experience with tools such as Canva, GIS, project-management software, CRM systems, websites, spreadsheets, or social media is helpful but not required.
What Makes This Opportunity Different
You won’t spend the semester watching projects from the sidelines.
You’ll help research, organize, coordinate, document, and advance active community projects—and see how businesses, government, nonprofits, consultants, residents, and volunteers work together to make them happen.
The Mason Mile will be a major focus of the role, giving you the opportunity to contribute to a long-term district revitalization effort involving business development, placemaking, infrastructure, community programming, and implementation of the Make the Mile Master Plan.
If you want a co-op where your work can actually show up in the community, we’d like to hear from you.
