BUSINESS NEWS
Coast River Business Journal
March 2021 • 3
Clatsop WORKS accepting applications
Paid internship program connects students to employers
Story by Emily Lindblom
Coast River Business Journal
elindblom@crbizjournal.com
CRBJ STAFF
Publisher
Matt Winters
mwinters@crbizjournal.com
Editor
Emily Lindblom
editor@crbizjournal.com
Offi ce Coordinator
Sarah Smith
ssmith@eomediagroup.com
Group Publisher
Kari Borgen
kborgen@dailyastorian.com
Advertising Director
Sarah Silver
ssilver@dailyastorian.com
Layout/Design
Emily Lindblom | Matthew Vann
NEXT ISSUE
Publication Date: April 14, 2021
Advertising Deadline: April 5, 2021
CONTACT CRBJ
Submit news:
editor@crbizjournal.com
Website:
CoastRiverBusinessJournal.com
Coast River Business Journal
205 Bolstad Ave. E. Suite 2, P.O. Box 427
Long Beach, WA 98631
Phone 800-643-3703
Coast River Business Journal is published the
second week of every month. Opinions expressed
by contributing writers and guest columnists
do not necessarily refl ect the opinions of the
Publisher. Letters to the Editor will be accepted,
and will be printed at the discretion of the Editor.
Reproduction in whole or in part without written
permission is strictly prohibited.
© Copyright 2021 Coast River Business Journal
CRBJ is part of EO Media Group
Students looking for summer work experi-
ence can connect to employers from multiple local
industries through Clatsop Community College’s
Clatsop WORKS Program. High school and col-
lege students ages 16 and older can apply now for
these paid professional internships.
Ryan Stanley, coordinator of Clatsop WORKS
as well as Cooperative Work Experience at the col-
lege, said Clatsop WORKS is a low-risk way for
students to explore different fi elds with the option
to change their minds about what they want to
pursue. For example, one student who planned
on going into healthcare ended up doing a social
media internship and loved it.
The program also includes six to eight pro-
fessional development and networking sessions
throughout the summer, done over Zoom during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders in lumber, man-
ufacturing, personal fi nance, construction and other
industries present about a variety of topics to help
students develop their workforce skills.
“I’ve been here for 10 years and it’s hard for
students to understand what opportunities are here
for them after high school or college,” Stanley said.
“We’re able to fi ll that void and create that oppor-
tunity for students in a way that complements their
skills and sets them up for success in their careers
and beyond.”
Kevin Leahy, director of the Clatsop Commu-
nity College Small Business Development Center
and Clatsop Economic Development Resources,
said the area has many more job opportunities
than when he was growing up here.
“Unless your parents owned a business or
were in government or law enforcement, there
were not a lot of career options here,” Leahy said.
“I’ve seen how much that has evolved in Clatsop
County. We have tourism but also forest products,
fi shing, medical — a lot of what makes us who
we are and we want to transfer that to our youth.”
Clatsop WORKS began four years ago and is
modeled after the McMinnville WORKS Intern-
ship Program, which connects Linfi eld College
students with internships. Leahy said the steering
committee decided to open Clatsop WORKS to
both high school and college students.
Funding comes from the local school districts,
Clatsop Community College and the Northwest
Regional Education Services District.
“It continues to grow and gives students
opportunities that are unparalleled,” Leahy said.
Leahy added the employers have been very
engaged in helping the students gain work expe-
rience and training, and the employers get a tre-
mendous return on their investment.
COURTESY OF CLATSOP WORKS
Interns tour a Hampton Lumber mill.
Several of the businesses involved in the 2020
program plan to participate again this year.
“When host employers take students on,
they get to train and develop them and can hire
them when the internship ends or after their high
school or college,” Stanley said. “We work with
as many sectors of the economy as possible to
help students fi nd work and also to fi ll gaps local
businesses are looking for.”
Student applications are accepted now through
5 p.m. April 16. One application will connect a stu-
dent to multiple businesses. The employer appli-
cation deadline is June 1 and the internships are
expected to run from mid-to-late June through
mid-August. For more information and to apply,
visit clatsopworks.com.
NEW LOCATION
SEASIDE/GEARHART
NE
W
UN
OW
• Tax Preparation • E-file • Tax Planning
• Business Services - Bookkeeping & Payroll
• Tax Audit Support & Services
• Free 2nd Look Review • Peace of Mind
• Enrolled Agent Audit Representation
• DLTC 26932 & OBTP B15100 & B14489
HIP
Our preparers are Licensed with the
Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners.
We offer Tax Identity Shield ®
A Tool to help you better protect
yourself from tax identity theft.
COME BY, CALL, OR
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY.
3003 HWY 101
SEASIDE/GEARHART
503.717.5206
R
RS
3003 HWY 101
503.717.5206
We Provide Year Round:
DE
NE
1092 Marine Drive
Astoria
503.325.1166