AHSC Internship Program Highlight
The Santa Cruz Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Workforce Development Grant – in partnership with Santa Cruz Works, Digital NEST, and the City of Santa Cruz, helped to create the AHSC 2025-2026 Internship Opportunity Program aiming to create opportunity for young adults, especially those who live in disadvantaged census tracts, entering the workforce and stimulate the local economy by providing local businesses with fresh talent.
The six-month paid internship program places interns with 10 local businesses, each receiving $10,000 to compensate their interns. The program removes the barrier to entry for young adults who cannot work an unpaid internship and for employers who may struggle to pay for an extended internship.
Santa Cruz Works profiled 6 interns from the 2025-2026 program to learn what they feel they have gained from their internships thus far. Melanie Kate at Go Ask Alice and BizzNEST, Yuliana Morales-Galvan at Nurbli, Emily Ramirez at Clean Oceans International, Julian Cabadas at Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery, Elsa Tamayo at Siena House, and Jared Esquivel at Innovation Within. The interns have helped boost productivity among the overall staff while gaining necessary experience in their fields of choice.
Santa Cruz Works accepted and reviewed applications from employers, while Digital Nest provided targeted outreach to local residents (ages 18-24), initial screening of candidates, and provided a pool of qualified applicants for employers to review.
“This grant is a game-changer for our community,” said Bonnie Lipscomb, Director of Economic Development and Housing for the City of Santa Cruz. “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. It's a smart, sustainable investment in the future of our economy.
Internships are a vital part of entering the job market as a young adult, allowing employees to gain experience and employers to utilize fresh ideas and provide mentorship. Yet, many businesses struggle to host interns due to the cost barrier. With programs like this one, businesses and interns can contribute to their local economy, reduce commute times, and create healthier communities, without that barrier to entry.
