Reporting Public Policy

A Reporting Project of the Kent State University School of Media and Journalism

City of StreetsboroFall 2022 StoriesFinance Dept. Internship

Streetsboro’s Finance Department creates new opportunities for college students

Julianna Garganta , , , , ,

Beginning with the Spring 2023 semester, the Streetsboro Finance Department will offer a paid internship position for college students around Ohio.

Proposed and passed during the city council meeting on Monday, Nov. 28, this competitive opportunity will be the first internship program the Finance Department has ever established.

Streetsboro’s Finance Director, Matt Miller, said this is their chance to give back to the community and allow collegiate candidates to gain experiences within the professional workforce before they graduate.

Matt Miller, City of Streetsboro’s Finance Director. Photo courtesy of Miller.

“There’s not as many accounting students going into the field, it is the simple economics of supply and demand. It can get competitive for there to be enough interns to fill the available slots all over local governments. So, putting this on any resumé speaks volumes,” said Miller.

For 15 weeks, which will occur during the spring, summer and fall semesters, students will intern with the department for 20 hours a week and are expected to be paid $16 – $18 per hour while also obtaining credits for graduation requirements.

Students will not be given difficult workloads during their time. They will learn how an accounting cycle works, what an office environment looks like, how to co-exist with professional individuals and more.

With a college student on staff, those in Finance believe it will be a “win-win” situation, allowing them to tackle harder issues while intern(s) become more aware of their surroundings, in a way that school does not prepare you for in government.

Local government has a lot of variety to it, unlike a single business. Departments such as parks and recreations, income tax receipts, utilities, finance, permit revenue, etc. give individuals the chance to have a new experience on the job each day.

“I remember when I was in college. I had many different internships and took away a great deal of knowledge. Our hope with this new position is to serve and give back to our community, which is an avenue we have never pursued before,” said Miller.

Glenn Broska, the Mayor of Streetsboro. Photo courtesy of the City of Streetsboro website.

Mayor Glenn Broska has been “very excited” about the creation of the program since information and the overall internship goals were brought to his attention by administration.

As a 36-year resident of Streetsboro and serving as mayor for his [current] third term, Broska appreciates when young adults show interest in their aspired careers and learn for the future.

Although it is open to all colleges in the surrounding areas, Miller and his team used Kent State’s schedule as a planning guide. This includes the 15-week timeframe, allowing days off for spring break, and 300 hours of work within finance which will equivalate to 3 credit hours towards graduation.

Julie Field, Streetsboro City Council President Ward 4. Photo courtesy of Heritage Classical Academy. 

Having been in collaboration with the Career Center at Kent State, the Finance Department assumed since the college was 10 miles down the road, they would more than likely get Kent students applying for the internship. Other Streetsboro officials were also in agreement.

“I think we all like the idea of having a young college student to have an opportunity to come into our city and take part of an internship program and learn some things. I am a teacher as well, so the hands-on experience is beneficial,” said Julie Field, the President of Council for City Council Ward 4 and second grade teacher Heritage Classical Academy in Peninsula.

With final plans nearing completion, college students who are interested in the new internship position created by Streetsboro’s Finance Department can find more information and applications on Handshake and the city’s website.

 

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