Leslie Sieck, Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development at 91ֱ�� and Executive Director of Tri-State Development, said the pilot program aims to connect students with communities and community leaders within the region.  Through direct participation in Tri-State Development task forces and meetings, students will work alongside leaders who are making important decisions and steering vital conversations in economic development focused decision-making.

“Interns in the program will also compile research and present their findings in a variety of ways, including through blogs, infographics, and whitepapers,” she said. “They will have the opportunity to take what they learn and create content for social media and engage their peers and community members in advocacy for what they discover and for what becomes important to them.”

About Tri-State Development

Tri-State Development at 91ֱ�� is a collaborative effort formed in April 2022 to support the region by cultivating collaborative relationships, promoting interdisciplinary problem-solving, fostering the expansion of academic-organization-industry initiatives, and developing an environment for collective impact to address the current and emerging political, economic, and social challenges in the region. Through a $1 million donation from philanthropist Thomas A. Oakley, the initiative reaches 36 counties throughout northeast Missouri, southeast Iowa, and western Illinois.