JSDC Internship Reimbursement Program a success – Jamestown Sun

Editor’s note: This story and accompanying photo are advertorial content in the 2025 “Moving the Community Forward” special section of The Jamestown Sun. 

JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp.’s Internship Reimbursement Program has been a success, according to Alyssa Looysen, business development director for JSDC.

Looysen said 43 interns have participated in the Internship Reimbursement Program since it launched in 2021. Half of the interns participating come from the University of Jamestown, she said.

Jamie Czapiewski, operations coordinator at JSDC, said those who have participated in the program include apprentice electricians and accounting and marketing interns among others.

Looysen said interns get experience in their fields for higher education and the employer is also reimbursed for the intern.

Looysen said some of the interns who participated in the JSDC program have stayed in Jamestown.

“We’re hoping to connect more interns here in the future to get them more involved in the community, get them knowing all that Jamestown has to offer,” she said. “We’re just trying to really connect them with our community and helping them feel at home here.”

She said a networking event could help interns and others learn about different community groups and service clubs.

“Things like that where they can connect with people who are close in age to them that are also trying to build their network and get connected in their community and serve the community,” Looysen said.

The JSDC launched its Intern Reimbursement Program in 2021 to help increase the number of local internships and assist Stutsman County employers in workforce recruitment and retention. The program is open to employers in Stutsman County.

The program contributes up to $3,500 to reimburse employers that hire university or college students to assist in payroll costs. The program allows employers to get half of the internship reimbursed.

Employers are required to pay the intern at least $15 per hour.

The employer and internship position must be located in Stutsman County. Interns must be juniors or seniors or within two years of completing their program.

Employers cannot receive reimbursement for the same intern for more than one round of funding.

The internship does not have to be for academic credit but it is encouraged.

The JSDC meets quarterly to award eligible employers. Specific dollar amounts will be determined for each application selected at that time.

Applications must be signed by the employer, potential intern and an academic adviser. The application should be sent to

[email protected]

for consideration. The JSDC Board of Directors will review and approve the applications.

Applications for the Internship Reimbursement Program are available at

.

Masaki Ova joined The Jamestown Sun in August 2021 as a reporter. He grew up on a farm near Pingree, N.D. He majored in communications at the University of Jamestown, N.D.