Bloom in Bloomington

Mission

Bloom in Bloomington strives to support and grow a more diverse, and accessible workplace for our community by matchmaking young people with employers in local government, nonprofit, and private sectors.

Vision

Bloom in Bloomington dreams of a world where employment disparities are eliminated, our workforce reflects the diversity of the community and young people of all identities can feel seen by their government and be empowered to reach their full potential.

Core values

• We draw on the insights and opinions of people with different backgrounds and perspectives to inform our work.
• We seek out partnerships with employers who are aligned with our mission and vision.
• The lives and voices of young people matter in the ways we shape Bloom in Bloomington.
• We serve as the catalyst that works to eliminate employment disparities in our community.
• Our work is guided by an urgency to create brilliant results and a better future for our young people.

Program overview

Bloom in Bloomington is a summer youth workforce development program that matches young people ages 16 – 24 with summer internship experiences within the city of Bloomington. The program aims to provide young people with opportunities to explore career paths from a wide variety of employers, build valuable work experience, and develop leadership skills. 

The City of Bloomington recruits both interns and employers and matches them based on interests for an 8 or 12-week summer internship. Interns are attending school or living in Bloomington and typically still exploring their career options. Employers are private, non-profit, or government organizations with offices based in Bloomington that are committed to working with the community, supporting young people, and building Bloomington’s future talent pipeline. Employers pay the interns directly as temporary employees of their organization. The City of Bloomington provides programming and support to interns throughout the summer.  

Bloom in Bloomington internship program

Young Adult Internship

• May 26, 2026 - August 14, 2026
• This 12-week paid internship is designed for young people aged 18 – 24 who are not in high school but live in and/or attend college in the City of Bloomington.
• Orientation sessions will be held prior to the start of the internship on the week of May 11th.
• The internship includes a required 4-hour Leadership Institute session every other week that provides personal and professional development.
• Pay rate: $20/hr

High School Internship

• June 22, 2026 - August 14, 2026
• This 8-week internship is designed for young people aged 16+ enrolled in a high school in the City of Bloomington.
• Orientation sessions will be held prior to the start of the internship on the week of June 8th.
• The internship includes a required 4-hour Leadership Institute session every other week that provides personal and professional development.
• Pay rate: $15/hr

Recruitment considerations

Additional considerations are given to applicants who experience barriers to employment, such as dropping out of school before receiving their diploma or GED, being the first in their family to complete high school or college, or expect a family contribution of $0 towards college expenses.

Key dates (dates are subject to change through end of 2026)

• Employer applications open, October 30 – January 15, 2026. Employer applications are reviewed as they are received.  
• Intern applications open, January 15 – March 6, 2026  
• Intern application review, March 9 – March 27, 2026
• Intern interviews, March 30 – April 13, 2026
• Matching and placements, April 16 – 24, 2026
• Young Adult Internship start date, May 26, 2026
• High School Internship start date, June 22, 2026
• End-of-Year Celebration, August 13, 2026

Orientations and Leadership Academy Descriptions

Interns will attend career readiness training prior to the start of their internships. They will learn skills such as professional etiquette, resume building, and how to use basic office software.

High school interns are expected to attend the Leadership Academy on Fridays during their internship program. The Leadership Academy provides skill building opportunities such as public speaking, networking, and racial equity training. Employers are expected to pay their interns for participation as this is a professional readiness program.

Celebration Ceremony

A graduation ceremony will be held the evening of the last Thursday of the internship on August 13th. Employers, supervisors, family, friends, and all of the interns are invited to attend. The ceremony will be held at Bloomington Civic Plaza (1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431).

Intern applications will be accepted from January 15 through March 6, 2026. City of Bloomington staff will review qualified applicants, conduct first round interviews with candidates, facilitate introductory meetings with employers, and coordinate matching the interns with supervisors. Interns will have initial orientations prior to the start of their internships to learn professional etiquette skills such as requesting time off, dress code, appropriate use of cell phones, and basic software skills.

• Employer applications will be open October 30, 2025 through January 15, 2026
• Intern applications will be open January 15, 2026 through March 6, 2026

2026 Employers

• Coming soon!

2025 Employers

• Bloomington Minnesota Travel and Tourism
• Bloomington Public Schools' IT Department
• Larkin Hoffman
• Polar Semiconductor
• Seagate
• TKDA
• Walser Automotive Group
• Wilderness Inquiry
• City of Bloomington - Assessing Division
• City of Bloomington - Building and Inspection Division
• City of Bloomington - City Clerk
• City of Bloomington - Community Development Department
• City of Bloomington - Community Outreach and Engagement Division (COED)
• City of Bloomington - Communications
• City of Bloomington - Housing and Redevelopment Authority
• City of Bloomington - Information Technology
• City of Bloomington - Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
• City of Bloomington - Parks & Recreation (Parks & Natural Resources)
• City of Bloomington - Planning Division
• City of Bloomington - Port Authority (Economic Development)
• City of Bloomington - Public Works (Administration and Solid Waste)
• City of Bloomington - Purchasing (Financial services)
   

2024 Employers 

• Larkin Hoffman – Law
• Mall of America – Leisure & Hospitality Sector
• Artistry - Non-profit/Arts
• City of Bloomington – Communications Division
• City of Bloomington – Public Works
• City of Bloomington – Housing and Redevelopment Authority
• City of Bloomington - Assessing Division
• City of Bloomington – Office of Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging
• City of Bloomington – Police Department
• City of Bloomington - Port Authority
• City of Bloomington - Sustainability