The McMinnville WORKS Summer Internship Program

The McMinnville WORKS Internship Program connects local businesses and organizations to talented young collegiate professionals through project-based internship opportunities. Internships are 9+ weeks, full-time, paid, and held during the summer. 

MEDP organizes the McMinnville WORKS Internship Program by identifying local businesses that want to host interns, advertising positions to colleges and young professionals, processing applications, and organizing summer professional development workshops for interns. 

 

 

Want to learn more about how the McMinnville WORKS Internship Program is structured? Check out this video created by past WORKS Intern, Mic Cooney. 

 

Want to learn more about the 2022 McMinnville WORKS standout data analytics project? Check out our video with interns from Swedemom Center of Giving!

 

Want to learn more about the 2020 McMinnville WORKS Summer Program ? Check out this video created by McMinnville WORKS Intern, Ivan Garo. 

 

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Host an Intern

Announcement: McMinnville WORKS Internship Program Update - January 2025

The 2025 McMinnville WORKS season is currently on hold for assessment.  To assist in connecting with local talent, we encourage you to utilize the following resources:

• Yamhill Valley Careers: A free platform developed with the regional WIN Team (Workforce Integration Network). Employers can post job and internship opportunities, and area students from Chemeketa Community College and McMinnville High School are actively directed to use this resource.
  • Visit YVCareers.com.
• Linfield University:  To recruit Linfield students directly, visit Linfield Career.
• Handshake:  If you are an employer looking for technical skill sets from specific colleges & universities outside of the immediate McMinnville area, please consider posting your opportunities there and selecting your educational institutions of choice (ie: George Fox, Oregon State University, etc.). Visit Handshake.

Please feel free to notify the MEDP office of your interest in hosting an intern by completing the application below.  We will contact you if we learn of potential candidates.

Thank you.

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Here is the application to become a Host Site. All McMinnville and surrounding area businesses are welcome to apply to this award-winning nine-week summer internship program.

Requirements to host an intern 

• Be able to hire an intern full-time at (at least) minimum wage for 9 weeks (mid-June through mid-August, duration varies by employer)
• Have an employee onsite who is willing to mentor an intern
• Have the office/floor space to house an intern
• Allow the intern to participate as paid time in the weekly Professional Development Workshops (typically 2hrs, Wednesday mornings)
• Pay a small administration fee in order to be a part of the McMinnville WORKS program

MEDP takes care of...

• Marketing all the internship positions and host companies for recruitment
• Receiving and processing all applications based on your requested skill set
• Facilitating the WORKS program including the weekly Professional Development Workshops
• Creating marketing for the program utilizing the host sites and intern projects as part of our community's "grow our own workforce" initiative

The best internships are project-based and supply interns with real-world experience that helps shape their future career aspirations. If you have any questions or need any more information, please connect with us at 503.474.6814.

Resources:  Internship Program FAQ and Host Site 101 Guide

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Apply for an Internship

Posted 5.15.25:

Summer 2025 - Direct to Business Internship Opportunities:
Phenix Solutions - Mechanical Engineer, Quality Inspector, Graphic Design Internships

 

*Announcement: McMinnville WORKS Internship Program Update - January 2025*

The 2025 McMinnville WORKS season is currently on hold for assessment.  To assist in connecting local industry with talent, we encourage you to utilize the following resources:

Yamhill Valley Careers: A free platform developed with the regional WIN Team (Workforce Integration Network). Internship Host Sites and area Employers are encouraged to post internship opportunities on this site.  Those seeking internships can load their resume, connect with employers, and get additional career development support through the resource section. Visit YVCareers.com

You may also complete the linked application below for our reference so that any offerings we learn of can be forwarded to you in the interim. 

Thank you.

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Applications to apply for the McMinnville WORKS Internship Program will open January 1 until Midnight PST on March 3, 2024.  
***After applying, Please check your spam or junk email for communications and add @mcminnvillebusiness.com to your approved email address list.

As Host Site's sign up to offer internships, a list will be linked here:
Current List of 2024 Internship Opportunities, as of 2.28.24
March 12 - May 1, 2024 is the Host Site Hiring Phase, feel free to reach out directly at this time to show your interest in their position.

Follow us on socials for updates.
Find MEDP on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.
Find our McMinnville WORKS program on Facebook and LinkedIn Group. 

 The McMinnville WORKS Internship Program has positions available ranging from marketing to engineering to sustainable agriculture and beyond. This award-winning internship gives interns not only the opportunity to complete project-based internships, but to network with other companies, fellow peers, and learn professional skills from community leaders.

How a McMinnville WORKS Internship is different

• One application gets you connected to multiple companies around McMinnville
• During each week of the program, you'll learn professional development skills from community leaders and industry specialists
• Network with a group of peers who are also in the internship program
• Get connected with businesses around McMinnville through networking activities 
• Tour manufacturing facilities and business locations around McMinnville
• After your internship, you'll be considered a McMinnville WORKS alumni with lasting connections and a resume builder

The McMinnville WORKS Summer Internship Program:

• Full-time, paid internships
• averages 10+ Host Sites each year
• averages 10-20 Internship positions in a variety of disciplines
• The program begins mid-June and ends mid-August.
• Host sites may be flexible on dates of hire. Host Sites will receive applicants in March, schedule interviews, and will notify hired interns by May.

*We at MEDP also have an internship, the McMinnville WORKS Internship Program Coordinator. This is a project manager position that begins mid-May through mid-August.  If you are an organized, out-going self-starter and want to lead the Intern Cohort through a summer of fun, learning and networking, join us!
Are you local and looking for a winter internship? We also host a part-time Program Launch Coordinator internship Jan-March.

Curious about past Internship Opportunities?

Past Program Opportunities:
Summer 2020 Internship Opportunities 
Summer 2021 Internship Opportunities 
2022 Internship Opportunities
2023 Internship Opportunities
(Agriculture, Accounting, Business, Biology Research, Computer Science, Communications, Construction Management, Data Analysis, Digital Forensics, Digital Marketing, Engineering - Civil & Electrical, Environmental Science, Fabrication Tech, Event Coordination, Graphic Design, Grower Relations, Lab Tech, Marketing, Program Coordinator, Research, Social Media Marketing, UX Design, Videography, Web Design)

Before you apply, make sure to read our 101-Guide to Searching for Jobs to learn best practices for your resume, cover letter, and interview. 

Interested in exploring other McMinnville Area Business Job Openings?

Questions? Contact us at Info@McMinnvilleBusiness.com

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History of the Program

The McMinnville WORKS Internship Program is an outgrowth of the highly successful Climax Portable Machining and Welding Systems' (Newberg, Oregon) internship program which launched back in 2008. The pilot of the official McMinnville WORKS Internship Program launched in 2013. Since the launch, the program has grown in host-sites, interns, and jobs offered at the end of the internship program. 

Want to learn where some of our alumni's journey has taken them after participating in the McMinnville WORKS program?  Enjoy this article by MEDP Internship Program Coordinator 2021, Christopher Nobles:  Where Are They Now?

McMinnville WORKS Internship Program Statistics

*2020 numbers reduced due to the onset of Covid-19, Original Host Sites offered 24 internship opportunities.

Since the beginning of the program, 40+ interns have had extended internships or been hired by a host site in the program.  

Award Winning

• 2014 - Oregon Economic Development Association Outstanding Partnership Award
• 2015 - Award for Business Education from the McMinnville Chamber of Commerce
• 2021 - IEDC International Economic Development Council Award for statewide program development Oregon WORKS based on this program.

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General Calendar and Timeline: 

To see the most current updates, check the WORKS Calendar

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Looking for more information? Give us a call at 503.474.6814