Internship Program Helps Close the Circle for Local Talent

In 2022, EconAlliance engaged its first Workforce/Education Director, Alejandra Mahoney, to spearhead a new era in EconAlliance Workforce/ Education efforts in Northern Santa Barbara County.

Mahoney built an EconAlliance partnership with the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board to support the recruitment, placement and monitoring of Workforce Development Board 18-24 year old interns. These young adults are interested in gaining experience in key Northern Santa Barbara County industries and communities. By hiring, training and employing the bright minds within our communities, we keep talent local. The EconAlliance support program is called North-Start.

Our EconAlliance North-Start program is designed to prevent “brain drain” from Northern Santa Barbara County, and especially from low-moderate-income (LMI) communities, thereby retaining the local talent. In effect, this program brings vital workers full-circle, back into our communities. It connects industry partners with interested interns.

There is no cost to employers for these paid interns. This interns will be compensated by the Santa Barbara County Workforce Development Board. The support program will be funded by grants, and private funders. We are grateful for the generous contribution by Mechanics Bank for the launch.

The North-Start effort is part of a larger re-envisioning of the EconAlliance Workforce/Education Initiative to focus on career awareness, exploration, and career experience in industry. Watch for more details in the weeks and months to come.