Adrianna Oliver: A Deeper Dive into San Jose
Working for a government organization is no simple task. My first few weeks interning at the San Jose Office of Economic Development (EOD) have shown me the amount of teamwork, effort, and dedication it takes to maintain and improve the city of San Jose. Every member of my department has his or her own specialty or initiative that they manage. Although they have individual tasks, everyone is more than willing to contribute new ideas or find ways to help improve their team members’ projects. Going into this internship, my picture of a government work environment was very rigid and autonomous. However, while everyone is free to work independently and bring projects that they are passionate about to the table, they also work well together and the other members of the department serve as a sounding board and are always accessible.
One thing that impresses me every time I go to the office is just how much knowledge my supervisor and the team have about the city of San Jose. Not only do they know about the history and demographics of the city, but they also know about all the small details, including how certain tax laws affect different sources of government revenue and programs, the various businesses that have occupied certain buildings throughout the years, and the different activities and initiatives being planned in various departments. The problems that my department deals with can only be solved with such in-depth knowledge. They are constantly thinking ahead and keeping up with the innovate spirit of the Silicon Valley.
My work specifically surrounds the Storefront Grant Program, which is a city initiative that helps small businesses pay for permit fees or exterior improvements to their businesses, such as better signage or outdoor seating. I’m excited to work on this program because it allows me to work with small, local businesses. In going through the grant process, I communicate with business owners to find out more about their specific business and what kind of improvements they hope to make with the grant money. I’m looking forward to getting to know San Jose and its local businesses better, in addition to learning what it truly means to be a public servant.