After a successful Intern Hutch summer program in 2012, the Community Development Division of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is making preparations for 2013.
This year, the Chamber is offering local businesses a place to post opportunities for free via the webpage www.internhutch.com. Internship opportunities will be marketed to colleges throughout the region in hopes of attracting quality talent to Hutchinson and Reno County.
Community Development Coordinator, Bailey Stiggins, said she hoped the website would allow students to see the diverse job opportunities Reno County has to offer. She hopes to attract students who are both Reno County natives and outsiders with the postings.
“We’re working to eliminate the brain drain,” Stiggins said. “We’ve invested a lot in the students who grew up here and we want them to continue with their education and then return to live and work in our community. We have to give them a reason to want to do that, and a connection to a job is a pretty good carrot.”
Businesses are encouraged to post summer opportunities as soon as possible as students will be looking to solidify summer plans. Stiggins said the page would be promoted to college campuses throughout the month of March and beginning of April.
Although www.internhutch.com will begin with advertising summer internship opportunities, the webpage will be available year-round and will be utilized by Hutchinson Community College, and other area schools to help connect students to career-related experiences.
The Intern Hutch summer connection program will continue in 2013 after serving 17 participants in 2012. This program is designed to connect college-aged summer interns with activities and people in Reno County, and to show them the high quality of life there is in Reno County for a young professional.
Stiggins hopes to see Intern Hutch grow and evolve, and she hopes to make Hutchinson a premier destination for young talent.
For more information about Intern Hutch, contact Bailey Stiggins, 620-662-3391, baileys@hutchchamber.com