Lone Star was created in 2000 to offer our growing network of CDCs the ability to:

• Count on additional staffing possibilities with student interns currently training in CED

• Create a pool of qualified candidates with experience in the CDC field

• Offer "hands-on" experiential training to a potential future employee of a CDC

• Begin establishing relationships with universities and colleges for recruiting, research and other collaborations

TACDC recognizes that in order for organizations to increase their capacity, they must be able to recruit qualified professionals who truly are dedicated to improving their communities.  The students participating as Lone Star intern candidates have this kind of personal commitment to CED.  For the 2010 summer program, TACDC will be working with the University of Texas as well as other state colleges and universities to place undergraduate and graduate students with CDCs in Texas.  Undergraduates will be recruited from fields of study ranging from business administration to political science and must have completed at least 60 credit hours to be eligible for the program.  Graduate students have been recruited, in the past, from the Architecture School's Community and Regional Planning Program (CRP), the LBJ School of Public Affairs, and the Graduate School of Business, all at UT Austin, and the Bush School of Public Policy at Texas A&M, to name a few.  TACDC continues to expand student recruitment to other universities and colleges throughout the state and country.

The Lone Star program is TACDC's effort to provide college and graduate students the opportunity to gain work experience in the CED field and be exposed to the issues Texas is facing in affordable housing, economic development and neighborhood revitalization.  Students participating in Lone Star will be placed for a 10-12 week full-time paid summer internship with a Community Development Corporation (CDC) in Texas.  Lone Star provides marketing to over 400 colleges and universities in the US, and a screening process to match potential interns with the appropriate Host CDC for consideration.  Each Host CDC will provide the intern additional support through an internal sponsor/mentor and will be required to complete a report detailing the projects undertaken during the internship.  Lone Star recommends a minimum stipend of $4,000.00 (400 hours @ $10/hr) for undergraduate interns and $4,800.00 (400 hours @ $12/hr) for graduate interns.

TACDC has more than doubled the number of Lone Star interns to be placed at CDCs throughout Texas. We need your support to make this program a reality. Registration forms for organizations seeking a student intern, as well as for students seeking an internship are available on our website after December 1st and by calling our office. We are asking that organizations participating in the TACDC Lone Star Internship Program to create a 10-12 week summer scope of work that will provide students the opportunity to offer a meaningful contribution to the organization. TACDC will conduct the matching process and screen candidates for the best placement possible. Organizations will have the opportunity to review student resumes and interview candidates before a final selection is made for the summer.

The TACDC Lone Star Internship Program assists member CDCs serve low-income Texas families by building their capacity to develop appropriate programs and deliver additional services.