2026 Public Administration - Local Government Summer Intern
Confidential
Posted: January 30, 2026
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Quick Summary
The MORPC Local Government Summer Internship Program provides the opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to obtain practical work experience with a local government within MORPC’s 15-county region to prepare them for possible careers in public service.
Required Skills
Job Description
The MORPC Local Government Summer Internship Program provides the opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to obtain practical work experience with a local government within MORPC’s 15-county region to prepare them for possible careers in public service. MORPC coordinates the recruitment and placement of students to match each host’s request; hosts make the final hiring decision and provide an hourly wage. Interns work for a host for a minimum of 16 hours to a maximum of 40 hours per week for a 10- to 14-week period, which means there are both part-time and full-time positions available. The summer 2026 internship program will begin on May 12th and will end on August 14th.
Interns gain applicable knowledge to enhance classroom learning by working with current government professionals throughout Central Ohio and acquire insights into the services provided by a regional planning commission. Interns also can attend monthly commission meetings as well as special MORPC-sponsored events and are paired with a MORPC staff member to serve as their mentor during the summer internship program.
Previous Public Administration interns have gained experience using ArcGIS, Legistar, PDF Exchange, Municode, Canva, Microsoft 365, and other software programs on the job. Specific past assignments include:
Leading a park redevelopment project and applying for grants to help fund said project
Assisting with a local government’s stakeholder engagement process by creating a community survey to send out to residents and collect feedback on for the planning process
Collecting and analyzing residential data, such as home values of houses in floodways
Planning and creating materials for engagement events within a community, such as the City of Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival
Preparing a city for MORPC's Sustainability Program certification process and creating a Pollinator Garden Application
Assisting Mayor/senior staff with communication, community relations, and policy research
Presenting summaries to City Council on proposed updates to City Code, conducting legislative research, and completing other duties as assigned
Qualifications
Students must meet the following requirements:
30 hours of completed college coursework
Interest in public service careers
GPA 3.0 or higher (preferred)
Legally eligible to work in the United States
Reliable transportation to and from work
Attend a Central Ohio college OR attend other college and have access to local housing
Benefits
All MORPC internships are paid opportunities! Pay ranges between $15 to $20 per hour depending on the host.
Additional benefits include practical work experience, mentorship, and exposure to services offered by a regional planning commission.
Please apply online at http://www.morpc.org/careers/ or you may mail a resume to:
MORPC Attn: GA-11-26
111 Liberty St., Suite 100
Columbus, OH 43215
www.morpc.org
No phone calls please.