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You are here: Home / News / Akua Opoku completes internship with the City of Columbia Heights

Akua Opoku completes internship with the City of Columbia Heights

Posted by MNEDF on August 29, 2018

Akua Opoku recently completed her summer internship with the City of Columbia Heights.  This is what she had to say about the experience:

This internship was the most fruitful professional experience I’ve ever had. Not only was it a great learning and professional experience, but it genuinely sparked an interest for a career in economic and community development.

This internship gave me the opportunity to be the co-creator of the City’s first ever Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) program. I was able to collect and design the list of businesses for Central Ave, develop a business survey and the distribution process, and create a new business welcome packet.  Through developing the BRE Program, the Façade Improvement Grant Program was born in partnership with the EDA and the Columbia Heights’ Police Department. In co-creating this program I’ve been able to learn how to create a program application, market for a program, conduct business outreach, and how to be a lead for a City program.

Not only did I gain experience co-creating the BRE Program, but with other areas in the Community Development Department. I conducted research on single lot sale programs in Minnesota and the Midwest, analyzed data, and compiled a memo for the EDA on how the City can better improve their program in the future. I also worked with the City Planner to go over and make improvements to the Design Guidelines for business as well as go through the zoning approval process for a HyVee store and gas station coming to the City which increased my knowledge on planning and zoning.

I felt like a true staff member as I attended and participated in City Council meetings and work sessions, EDA meetings, and development review committee meetings. I was able to gain a sense of different roles in city government through informational interviews with the City Manager and different Directors of various departments like human resources and public works.  I am truly thankful for my supportive supervisor and department as well as my first exposure to the economic and community development field.

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