Greensburg creates student planner program

Greensburg is looking for college students to serve as student planners, working alongside city employees on upcoming projects.

“We’re treating students as colleagues, so you’re not running to get people coffee and making copies, this is different,” said Planning Director Jeff Raykes.

The new Student Planner Program is based on a similar initiative Raykes implemented as deputy director of the Indiana County Office of Planning and Development, a position he left this summer when he took the job in Greensburg.

The students will work on a planned renovation of Spring Street Park, collect data for proposed projects, and promote the city online and on social media, Raykes said.

City officials reached out to area colleges, including Seton Hill University, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, and Westmoreland Community College. Several interested students have responded, and Raykes hopes to have student planners in place by the spring semester, he said.

At first, the city likely will only have one or two student planners, and the positions will be unpaid, Raykes said. He’s hoping to get federal grant money to pay students in future semesters, and to expand the program to include more participants.

The Indiana County version of the program has had more than 90 student planners since its inception in 2009, most of whom went on to work in the field, according to Raykes.

Students interested in learning about the program can contact Raykes at 724-838-4335 or jraykes@greensburgpa.org.