BANGOR — The city of Bangor is partnering with Husson University and the University of Maine in launching a new internship program that aims to provide students with hands-on experience and boost economic development in the city. 

The city hopes the program will help create a workforce pipeline for students, and keep them working in Maine long after they graduate. 

"This internship program represents our commitment to building Bangor's economic future through strategic partnerships and workforce development," said Biguita Hernandez-Smith, Economic Development Officer for the City of Bangor. "By embedding students directly in our business incubator environment, we're providing experience that benefits both the students and our local economy." 

Students will be working on a variety of projects, including a small business retention campaign, and an effort to promote Bangor’s Foreign Trade Zone Number 58. 

“The ability, for us, to be able to connect with businesses and provide students with authentic learning opportunities really helps ready them for their professional careers,” said Husson University President Lynne Coy-Ogan. “And it gives [the students] a strong perspective as they continue to work through coursework and develop knowledge to be able to contribute that to benefit the local community.” 

The internship kicked off Wednesday with a handful of U.S. and international students working out of the Bangor Innovation Center. 

University of Maine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy was one of several speakers to address the first students to take part in the program during the event. 

“We’ll be very interested in watching what you work on, and how you make progress and how you find resources and people to achieve all of this,” said Ferrini-Mundy. “What a great resource for the city and for the region, and to bring learners and fantastic interns into the process. Delighted to be a part of it.” 

According to the city of Bangor, the program will utilize a hybrid model, allowing students to balance in-person collaboration with remote work.