A new internship program recently ended in Jefferson.

The Social Media Marketing Internship Program allowed three graduated Greene County High School seniors to work with six downtown Jefferson businesses on improving their social media presence online. Alex Roberts was one of the interns who worked with Meythaler Photography and Junkyard Cafe for three months. Roberts created social media content for Meythaler and completely retooled Junkyard Cafe’s website. He shares what he thought was the most enjoyable part of the internship.

“For me anyway, it was seeing my stuff posted online. I thought it was just so cool that I was creating stuff and then it was being posted on these businesses’ websites, Instagram pages (and) Facebook. I got to know that like people from all around the community, all around different towns were seeing the stuff that I created on the front of this business profile.”

The other two interns were Lillian Muir and Makala Kafer who each worked with the other four participating businesses, including Fudge’s Flowers and Gifts, Sensibly Chic, Art on the Fly and The Stitch. Fudge’s Owner Bonnie Silbaugh describes her experience and what she’s learned from Kafer, her intern.

“It was this new idea. Just different places to take photos of your products and different ways to edit them that I would never have thought of. Even just a simple (as) turning your phone upside down to take a photo, makes a whole different view difference (to) showcase what you’re trying to show Jefferson that you have to offer.”     

The program was made possible through several partnerships, including Jefferson Matters: A Main Street and Chamber Community, Greene County High School, Greene County Development Corporation, Retail Revamped and Chatterkick. A Greene County Community Foundation grant of $10,863 provided funding for equipment such as iPads and computers for the students and businesses to use. GCDC provided the matching funds for the grant. Plans are to continue the program is fall/winter.