When it comes to local government, we often hear the same story. Too much to do, and not enough people to help out. But that’s changing in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls, thanks to some college interns.

A nine-week program gives college students a chance to learn how local government works through hands-on experience in one select city each year.

Kris Boppel and Zoe Monahan are just two of eight Wittenberg University internship students who’ll be spending a big chunk of their summer in the Chippewa Valley.

"It's definitely a great experience, especially to see how different communities work, especially in another state,” University of Oregon graduate, Zoe Monahan said.

The students will help with everything from filing zoning requests to updating employee policy manuals and even digitizing county maps.

"This is something that doesn't happen all the time,” Eau Claire County Administrator, Tom McCarty said. “It's a good opportunity. It really is, I think for both the students and our communities."

McCarty says the students will be helping the county and the city of Chippewa Falls work on various projects that may have been sitting on the shelf for awhile.

"It's a benefit for us as an employer to have some students that have an interest in local government and maybe specific areas to assist us in getting projects completed or an analysis done that we might not otherwise have staff available to do."

Faculty Advisor, Dr. Rob Baker says the internship program also gives the students a chance to make a positive impact in our community.

"These are projects that are significant projects, they're challenging, they need to be done by the community,” Dr. Baker said. “The community just can't get to it."

And while this internship will help boost the students’ resumes, both Boppel and Monahan say they realize the experience itself will help them in the future.

"Even if I don't go into the public sector, this will help me figure out how things work and how to get things done,” Wittenberg University senior, Kris Boppel said.

Wittenberg University has set up a web page for anyone interested in following the students’ work. You can find that site by clicking on “featured links” at the top of your screen.

The eight students will be in the Chippewa Valley until July 27th.