Small Business Development Center Intern

TITLE:Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Intern

LOCATION:VIRTUAL STARTING - City Heights

START DATE: September 2021 

DURATION:4 months starting; 10 - 20 hours per week  

Important Note: This is an unpaid internship.  

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. 

SCOPE OF SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER WORK: The IRC in San Diego has provided training, technical assistance, and loans to refugee, immigrants, and underserved entrepreneurs for nearly 15 years. The SBDC Intern will provide both administrative and direct service support to the program. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: Based on intern skills and experience, responsibilities may include a combination of program support, administrative/data support, and direct service: 

·Create resources for the SBDC team and its clients, such as FAQ sheets and analysis of business opportunities, through analyzing past program data and researching current trends and opportunities. 

·Assist with facilitating the City of San Diego Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program 

·Develop marketing and outreach materials, and collect success stories 

·Enter data and track outcomes through the IRC’s Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) & Neoserra databases 

·Monitor outcome pipeline for current client businesses 

·Conduct outreach initiatives to current and new clients, and assist in collecting follow up information for past clients 

·Assist with intake and support of walk-in clients, and assist clients with intake and application process for obtaining business loans 

·Provide program support for Business Women in Action program via outreach, class setup, and monitoring and evaluation 

·A good understanding of social media marketing techniques is desired. Social media require excellent writing, communication and computer skills.  

LEARNING OBJECTIVES: 

1.Gain insight into the implementation of a microenterprise program and the workings of a grassroots Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). 

2.Learn how microenterprise programs track outcomes and measure success

3.Learn about the refugee resettlement process and needs of refugee entrepreneurs.