A new workforce development initiative in Santa Cruz County is providing paid internships for underserved young adults while supporting local businesses, thanks to a collaboration between Santa Cruz Works and Digital NEST. The program, funded by the City of Santa Cruz through the California Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) grant, offers six-month paid positions for ten interns at local companies, each receiving up to $10,000 in grant funding to cover intern compensation.
The AHSC grant, part of California’s broader effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, aims to promote healthier communities by linking affordable housing with sustainable transportation and equitable economic opportunity. This internship program advances that mission by connecting local talent to local jobs, reducing commute distances, and fostering a more resilient economy. Bonnie Lipscomb, Director of Economic Development and Housing for the City of Santa Cruz, emphasized the program’s impact, stating, "This grant is a game-changer for our community. 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."
Santa Cruz Works recruits participating companies, while Digital NEST handles intern recruiting, training, and case management. Many interns come from bizzNEST, Digital NEST’s youth-powered creative agency, where participants gain paid experience in digital marketing, software development, and design through real client projects. Cathy Wright, VP of Partnerships & Innovation at Digital NEST, highlighted the effectiveness of the approach, noting, "The earn-and-learn model is a proven solution to youth employment challenges. By providing paid experience, mentorship, and credentials right in their own communities, we’re preparing young people for wealth-building careers and a more equitable future."
Participating companies and their interns include Climatize with Julian Guerrero as Video Production Intern, Nurbli with Yuliana Morales-Galvan as Software & Development Intern, X Academy with Fernanda Jordan as Marketing Intern, Mission Hill Creamery with Julian Cabadas as Marketing Intern, Siena House with Elsa Tamayo as Marketing Intern, Go Ask Alice with Melanie Kate as Social Media Marketing Intern, Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery with Edgar Robledo-Salgado as Video/Digital Storytelling Intern, Innovation Within with Jared Esquivel as UX Contractor, Clean Oceans International with Emily Ramirez as Social Media & Outreach Intern, and Senior Legal Services with Katherine Sarna as Communications Intern.
For HR vendors, this program highlights a growing trend: community-driven workforce development partnerships that create a pipeline of trained, diverse talent. By lowering financial barriers for small businesses, such initiatives enable companies to mentor and evaluate potential future employees without the upfront cost. Malina Long, Business Development and Programs Manager at Santa Cruz Works, added, "We’re thrilled by the talent and energy these interns are bringing to local companies. Their impact will ripple across our community for years to come." This model could be replicated in other regions, offering HR vendors opportunities to support similar programs or develop tools to manage earn-and-learn pathways. The partnership between Santa Cruz Works and Digital NEST represents a scalable approach to addressing youth unemployment and skills gaps while strengthening local economies.
