AHSC: Hire a Local Intern at No Cost

Apr 9

AHSC Program Opens for Santa Cruz Businesses

Finding qualified talent is one of the biggest challenges facing local businesses — and paying for it is another. A new program from Santa Cruz Works is solving both problems at once.

The Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Workforce Development Program is now open to Santa Cruz County companies looking to bring on an intern. Thanks to a grant recently approved unanimously by the Santa Cruz City Council, participating employers can receive up to $5,000 to cover the cost of a 10-week paid internship — meaning you get the talent, without the expense.

A Win for Business, A Win for Youth

The program is a collaboration between Santa Cruz Works (SCW) and Digital NEST, a nonprofit that has spent over a decade bridging the digital divide in underserved agricultural communities across California. Together, the two organizations are connecting young professionals ages 16–24 from underserved areas of Santa Cruz County with regional employers who are ready to mentor the next generation of local talent.

Importantly, companies aren't simply assigned an intern — they retain full authority to interview and select their own candidate. You choose who joins your team.

Removing the Barriers

Paid internships have long been out of reach for many startups and small businesses. The cost of bringing on an intern — even a part-time one — can be a dealbreaker, especially for lean teams. The AHSC grant changes that equation entirely. With up to $5,000 available per placement through a structured 10-week program, the financial barrier disappears.

"It levels the playing field for residents who have faced systemic barriers to employment, while also eliminating cost concerns for businesses that want to mentor and grow local talent," said Bonnie Lipscomb, Director of Economic Development and Housing for the City of Santa Cruz.

Build Your Team. Strengthen Your Community.

This is more than a subsidy — it's an investment in the local workforce pipeline. Santa Cruz Works connects more than 11,000 entrepreneurs, job seekers, and businesses across the region. Through its job skills clinics, career events, and partner networks, SCW is positioned to match the right intern with the right company.

Spots are limited. Local companies interested in hosting a paid intern are encouraged to apply now at bit.ly/iopsantacruz.

Related Articles

Program Overview & Background

Santa Cruz City Council Approves AHSC Workforce Development Grant — The unanimous vote that launched it all — and why city leaders called it a smart, sustainable investment in Santa Cruz's economy.
AHSC Internship Opportunity Program — Everything employers need to know: eligibility, how matching works, what to expect from Digital NEST interns, and how to apply.
Santa Cruz Gets the Jump on Affordable Housing — The bigger picture behind the AHSC grant — how Santa Cruz is tackling its housing and economic opportunity mandates head-on.

Program in Action

AHSC Grant Fuels Paid Internships for Santa Cruz Youth and Local Businesses — Digital NEST's full report on the first cohort, featuring all ten interns and the local companies making it work.
2025 Unwrapped: Santa Cruz County Innovation Year in Review — How the AHSC paid internship program fit into the broader story of Santa Cruz's innovation economy in 2025.

Meet the Interns

Meet AHSC Intern: Julian Cabadas at Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery — A local artisan business and a Digital NEST intern find the perfect fit in this behind-the-scenes spotlight.
Meet the AHSC Interns: Elsa Tamayo at Siena House — How one marketing intern is helping a nonprofit serving homeless mothers amplify its mission and reach younger donors.

For Employers