My advisor, and personal hero, Dr. Kay Long, gave me a couple of leads where she thought I might find myself some different types of internships. I had it narrowed to marketing, crisis communication, and anything else. Ha! So then, I did what the typical me does. I emailed all of those contacts and went with who emailed me first. Luckily, I can't imagine a better internship.
Steve Foster of the Upshur County Development Authority had a 'small' project that could use an intern or two. Apparently, last semester another intern, and friend of mine did some asset mapping of the area. She found that over 30 local artisans were featured in Tamarack, West Virginia's most prestigious art gallery. The opportunity that we have here is that some space has become available to open our very out artisan co-op on Main Street Buckhannon.
The internship includes everything from creating by-laws, to developing a website concept and PR plan to designing the layout for the studio. Steve says it is about as close as you can come to starting your own business as you can without actually starting one. Again, I have been blessed that I will have help of another intern and a great friend, Jaclyn Randolph. Our professor, Dr. Kevin Lee, has also been proactive in helping with the brainstorming sessions. He suggested a weekend roadtrip visiting different artistic towns that have similar co-ops. Currently, the only one that I am familiar with is Poplar Forest that had been located in the Flatwoods Mall. This co-op did not work-- but there is thought to be many reasons they didn't, and Steve has throroughly researched why it will work in our town... and I totally agree!
I think that this has huge promise in this town. First, this town seems like one you would see on a television show. It is more than a small college town. It is a town that is continually looking to improve the town, economy and quality of life. While West Virginia has this reputation, and seems to be experiencing what Governor Manchin describes as the 'brain drain,' where our young and brightest are leaving the state, many students are finding jobs here in this community.
I will continually update how the work is going. I think this is going to be both a fun and rewarding experience.
