*2026 Summer College Internship Program - Business, Finance, Marketing (economic Development Dept.)

Explore Your Potential With The City Of Hampton's Summer College Internship Program

The City of Hampton is excited to offer a unique opportunity to join our Economic Development Department as a Summer Intern. This paid professional development program allows students and recent graduates to gain hands-on experience supporting economic development initiatives, including business retention and outreach, incentive program implementation, asset management practices, and data-driven decision-making using Salesforce and other analytical tools.

Why Choose Hampton?

• Hands-On Experience: Engage with real-world projects that shape the future of economic development in Hampton.
• Mentorship: Collaborate with seasoned professionals who will guide and support your growth.
• Impactful Projects: Make meaningful contributions to the City's efforts to support business and community development.

Internship Program Overview

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Program Duration: June 1, 2026 - August 7, 2026

Rate of Pay: Undergraduate students – $16.48/hr Graduate students – $20.89/hr Internships are seasonal and non-exempt positions. Summer interns will be scheduled to work up to forty (40) hours in an administrative work week and are ineligible for overtime compensation.

As an Economic Development Intern, you will:

• Assist with the rollout and marketing of the City's Incentive Program Reimagined initiative.
• Participate in business retention and outreach efforts, including site visits, business visits, email campaigns, seminars, and proposal development.
• Assist with research, data collection, and project tracking to support economic development initiatives and departmental goals.

You'll gain experience in:

• Economic development research methods and comparative market analysis
• Developing and managing databases for public and private real estate assets
• Using Salesforce (CRM) for project management and reporting
• Understanding key performance indicators and benchmarking practices in economic development
• Professional engagement with Hampton's business community and regional economic development partners

Department Final Project: Interns will work on a department-specific project designed to improve or enhance a City service. This project will be presented at a culminating ceremony attended by City leaders, highlighting the intern's contributions and insights gained throughout the program.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

• Applicants must be one of the following:
• Current Undergraduate Student: Currently enrolled at the college junior level or higher, with an expected graduation date of 2027 or earlier, pursuing a degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Marketing & Communications, Planning or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. Candidates must be in good academic standing.
• Recent Graduate: Completed a degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Marketing & Communications, Planning or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
• Current Graduate Student: Completed at least one graduate-level semester in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Marketing & Communications, Planning, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
• College Transcripts: Must submit undergraduate and/or graduate transcripts as applicable. Current or most recent GPA must be 3.0 or higher.
• Cover Letter: Applicants must submit a cover letter expressing how their education and experience aligns with this internship and what they hope to gain from the experience. The cover letter is required as a supplement to this application, and should be in Microsoft Word format, not exceeding one page.
• References: Two (2) references - one of which must be from a current or former professor/advisor are required as part of this application. An automatic email will be generated from our 'government jobs' platform and sent to the references provided. References must be submitted within fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of your application. Applicants without required reference will be ineligible to move forward in the application process. Please be sure to remind references to check their junk/spam folder to ensure that the email request is received.
• Background Check: Must successfully pass a background check related to this position prior to any offer of employment or promotion.
• Skills and Attributes: Applicants must possess strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a strong work ethic. Punctuality, dependability, and the ability to maintain confidentiality are also essential.

Additional Information

The Economic Development will focus on supporting the City's efforts to promote business growth and community development through innovative marketing, data analysis, and research initiatives. This is an opportunity to build expertise in marketing, database management, and local government operations while making a meaningful contribution to the community.

Don't miss this chance to shape your future and make a difference in Hampton. Apply today to become part of a program that empowers emerging leaders to drive positive change!