Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance (HDR) was established with the aim of revitalizing the downtown historic district into the economic and social heart of the city. Led by the board of directors and Executive Director, Andrea Dono, the nonprofit organization plays a pivotal role in shaping the aesthetics, functionality, and atmosphere of downtown public spaces while also providing essential support to local small business owners.

However, achieving these objectives requires substantial financial and human resources for both operations and programming. Like many grassroots nonprofit organizations, HDR faced a common challenge: bridging the gap between its aspirations and available resources. Although HDR had previously implemented an internship program focusing on event planning and marketing responsibilities, sustaining the program proved difficult due to funding constraints.

In a stroke of serendipity, Andrea discovered a valuable resource that helped address this challenge by covering half of the interns’ wages. While tuning in to the local NPR news station, she learned about the Virginia Talent and Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP), an initiative dedicated to collaborating with employers to cultivate internship opportunities for Virginia students, with the state’s higher education institutions playing a central role.

After collaborating with the regional coordinator based at James Madison University (JMU), Andrea applied to participate in the program and completed the requisite training modules online. She found the modules to be comprehensive and user-friendly, with assignments guiding participants through tasks such as drafting job descriptions and formulating interview questions. Covering topics ranging from onboarding to performance management, the modules would prove particularly beneficial for those new to establishing internship programs.

In January, HDR welcomed two paid interns—one focusing on events and the other on marketing—thanks to the V-TOP program.

“I definitely recommend this program. While the funding was crucial for us, the additional administrative support and the quality of the training materials were exceptional.”

Andrea Dono, HDR Executive Director

The V-TOP is rolling out regional support services for employers, students, and institutions of higher education. To explore work-based learning support in your area, simply select your county or city on the interactive map or refer to the Regional Resources section on the Virginia TOP website.