Plano's Mayor's Summer Internship Program has won the 2026 Workforce Excellence Award from the Texas Economic Development Council, earning top honors among Texas communities with populations over 250,000. Since 2014, the program has connected more than 1,000 Plano ISD juniors and seniors with paid eight-week internships at local businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations.

This is not a symbolic honor. The Texas Economic Development Council evaluates workforce programs across communities throughout the state, and topping the category for large Texas cities reflects sustained, consistent execution over more than a decade. The program has placed students at local businesses, nonprofits, and government offices each summer since 2014, building a talent pipeline that serves both Plano employers and the students who eventually become part of the city's workforce.

How the Program Works

The Mayor's Summer Internship Program is open exclusively to rising juniors and seniors attending Plano ISD public schools or residing in Plano. It is a paid eight-week earn-and-learn placement starting at $13 per hour. Applications are accepted through February each year, with a cap of 300 applications. Interns are placed with local businesses, nonprofits, and government organizations. An Internship Grant Program provides funds for nonprofit community placements, broadening the range of organizations that can participate.

The 2026 program ran from June 8 through July 31. Mayor John Muns noted the breadth of people behind the program's success: "Students bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to our community. Their contributions not only enhance the organizations they work with but also strengthen the future of our city by fostering leadership, creativity, and collaboration."

What More Than 1,000 Graduates Mean for Plano

Over a dozen years, more than 1,000 students have completed the program. That is a meaningful number of young people who entered Plano's workforce, or the broader workforce, with real job experience, professional contacts, and an understanding of how local organizations operate. For Plano employers, the program has been a consistent source of motivated young talent. Capital One has served as the founding and presenting partner, which speaks to the level of private sector confidence the program has maintained.

For families with high school juniors or seniors in Plano ISD, the application window opens in February. The paid rate, the eight-week structure, and the breadth of placement options make this one of the more substantive student opportunities in the region.

Check out the Mayor's Summer Internship Program site to learn more about the program, review placement types, and find out how to apply when the February window opens.