Economic Development & Tourism Intern

The City of San Luis Obispo is looking for passionate, creative, and hardworking individuals to assist with marketing and promotional programs as part of the Economic Development and Tourism team. This position will gain valuable tourism industry and municipal government experience through hands‑on marketing and business promotion projects and interactions with City advisory bodies, departments, contractors, businesses, and strategic partners. Interns will report to the City’s Economic Development & Tourism Manager, and while responsibilities will depend on experience and interest, they can expect to gain first‑hand experience in:

• Research special projects related to real property development, business and entrepreneur vitality, placemaking and promotion, or talent development and attraction
• Social media content creation for small business testimonials: photo, copy, and video, and editing
• Business newsletter content preparation and audience management
• Graphic design projects (Canva)
• Data analysis and report writing for economic development research projects
• Conducting market research, including mid-week visitation and length‑of‑stay initiatives
• Developing marketing content and collateral that brings the "Live the SLO Life" brand to life
• Coordinating communications with hotel members and strategic partners
• Supporting trade and media requests and familiarization tours, and assisting with Business Retention and Expansion outreach to the local business community
• Maintaining a website and managing a photo/video library
• Updating  with seasonal imagery, events and other content as needed
• Supporting community and constituent engagement, including efforts to foster resident sentiment and a welcoming, inclusive environment
• Building your network of professional contacts
• Working in an office environment, applying teamwork and project management skills
• Initiating and carrying out other tasks/special projects as needed

• Currently pursuing or have recently obtained an undergraduate or graduate degree in journalism, political science, marketing, communications, tourism, business, public policy, city planning, or a related field
• A genuine curiosity about how local government, destination marketing, economic development, and community engagement all connect — and a desire to see it firsthand
• Comfort with Microsoft Office Suite and Canva, with an eye for clean, polished content
• A knack for research and turning data into insight
• Confident, clear communication — you can write for an audience and speak up in a room
• A self‑starter mentality: you take initiative, juggle multiple projects, and hit deadlines without needing to be asked twice
• Sharp organizational skills and an eye for the details that make good work great
• Maturity and professionalism to thrive in a fast‑paced, real‑world office environment
• A positive, can‑do attitude that makes you someone people want on their team
• The confidence to own a project independently — and the collaborative spirit to help the team hit shared goals

The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative workplace where diverse perspectives are valued and every team member is supported in doing their best work. This internship offers remote work flexibility to accommodate academic schedules, along with genuine opportunities for professional growth, skill‑building, and network development throughout the program.

The Economic Development & Tourism Internship program runs year‑round. Please indicate availability and preferred duration of internship in application. We are looking for availability to work 15- 40 hours per week.

The Intern classification series is used Citywide to introduce the City to students as a…