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Contributed by Rachel Beld, CEO, Vista Chamber of Commerce  As Chamber professionals, we’re always thinking about workforce development, how to support our members while creating real opportunity in our communities. A few years ago, our team at the Vista Chamber of Commerce in California asked ourselves: What if we could do both at once? That question led to the creation of the Velocity Summer Internship Program, and I’d love to share how it came to life, how it works, and how you can do something similar in your own community.  What is Velocity?
Velocity is a paid summer internship program that connects rising high school seniors with local businesses for real-world, hands-on work experience. It’s a partnership between the Vista Chamber, Vista Unified School District, the City of Vista, and a growing number of business leaders who are passionate about building the workforce of tomorrow. The internships run for 6 to 8 weeks each summer and span industries ranging from healthcare and engineering to digital marketing, hospitality, and city government. Our students leave the program with stronger resumes, clearer career goals, and new professional skills. Our businesses gain fresh talent, new perspectives, and in many cases, future employees. How Did It Begin? The idea for Velocity took root in 2021, during conversations between the Vista Chamber and our partners at the Vista Unified School District. We were both seeing clear signals: many high school students in our district were already working part-time jobs to support themselves or their families, and many more needed paid work opportunities after graduation. At the same time, our member businesses were struggling to fill entry-level and service industry positions. We started asking: What if we could connect those dots? We believed an internship program could serve as a powerful bridge, but only if it was designed intentionally, with equity, access, and sustainability at its core. That same year, the City of Vista received its allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. We saw an opportunity and approached the City with a bold idea: let’s use a portion of those funds to launch a paid summer internship program. It would give students meaningful exposure to career pathways, allow them to earn a paycheck, and support our local businesses with much-needed talent. We assembled a task force of school leaders, Chamber staff, business owners, and city officials to co-create the program from the ground up. We aligned around a few key principles: the internships had to be paid, they had to be real and relevant, and students had to be prepared and supported along the way. In the summer of 2022, we launched the first cohort: 42 student interns and about two dozen participating businesses. It was a pilot year, a big learning curve for everyone, but it worked. And the momentum hasn’t stopped since. How Is It Funded? Great question—and one we get asked often. In our first year, the City of Vista helped kick things off with seed funding, which paid for the first two years of the program and the first 100 interns. This allocation covered intern pay and Chamber staff time to administer the program. In year two, the Vista Unified School District began supporting the program and was our sole funding source in 2024. For 2025, we’ve taken the model and expanded the program to include students from Charter schools with funding support from their schools, as well. The program continues to be offered at no cost to Vista Chamber Members. Our budget covers intern wages, insurance, coordination, student training, and a celebration event at the end of the summer. How Many Students Participate? Since that first summer of 42 students, we’ve now seen more than 230 students participate in the program. With an increase in funding for 2026, we expect to serve more than 100 students per summer moving forward. We prioritize access and equity, with no GPA requirements or prior experience needed. If a student is motivated and interested in learning, we help find a spot for them. We also provide job readiness training before placements begin, so students show up prepared and confident. They learn about workplace etiquette, time management, communication, and career exploration. What Industries Are Involved? This is one of my favorite parts because the diversity of participating industries is what really brings the program to life. We’ve placed students in:
What Are the Outcomes? The results have exceeded our expectations. So far, about 25% of students have been hired for ongoing work after their internships, whether it’s part-time jobs during the school year or summer employment the following year. Even for those who don’t stay on, the experience is transformative. Students report feeling more confident, more focused on their futures, and more connected to the local economy. Employers love it too. Many tell us the interns bring energy, curiosity, and tech-savvy ideas that breathe new life into their teams. Some say it’s the best recruiting tool they’ve ever used. Can Other Chambers Do This? YES. If you’re wondering whether you can build something like this in your community, I’m here to tell you: You absolutely can. It takes time, collaboration, and community buy-in, but the impact is so worth it. Here’s what I recommend:
Velocity has become one of the most meaningful programs we run at the Chamber. It’s more than just internships; it’s workforce development, economic mobility, and community building, all rolled into one. If you’re thinking about starting something similar, I’m happy to talk. This work is too important not to share.
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