Are you between the ages 17-30 and uncertain of your career direction? Are you interested in learning what the field of hospitality and tourism is about? Join us for a paid internship program to explore these careers and earn to learn!
When: June 2 - July 11, 2025
Where: Blount County Public Library and participating hospitality and tourism companies
Deadline to Apply: May 23, 2025
Complete the application online linked here or linked above.
You will be contacted by phone to schedule an interview.
The list of those who are selected to participate will be announced by June 1.
See full schedule below for details.
Seats are limited to 6 participants only.
For more information, contact:
Jackie Taylor
(865) 680-7668
jackie@jataylor.net
Several businesses provide internship experiences for us, including Bella Maryville, Blackberry Farm, Blackberry Mountain, Clayton Center for the Arts, Little Arrow Outdoor Resort, Oldham Hospitality, and RT Lodge. Interns will also tour additional local companies in Blount County as well as hospitality programs at local education institutions.
Bella Maryville is the only unique Tuscan Italian dining experience in the heart of Maryville, Tennessee, offering fresh salads, meats, poultry and seafood.
Bella Maryville is proud to welcome interns for a three-week immersive training experience, designed to provide them with a comprehensive understanding of restaurant operations. To maximize the learning experience, interns will rotate through various roles within both the BOH and FOH, giving them exposure to different responsibilities and perspectives within each area. This structured approach ensures they not only understand the daily operations of a busy restaurant but also how each role contributes to the overall guest experience. Our goal is to provide these interns with meaningful, practical training that supports their growth in the hospitality industry while reflecting the professional and collaborative culture at Bella Maryville.
Nestled at the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Townsend, TN, Little Arrow Outdoor Resort offers a refined outdoor experience for travelers seeking comfort, connection, and adventure. From luxury glamping tents and tiny homes to spacious RV sites and cozy cabins, our resort is designed to elevate every stay. Guests enjoy modern amenities including a walk-in pool, hot tub, splash pad, coffee lounge, hiking trails, and riverside access all surrounded by the peaceful beauty of the Smokies. Little Arrow is your place to stay differently!
Owned by the Beall family, Blackberry Farm is an acclaimed, luxurious resort of breathtaking scenery, decadent cuisine and pleasurable pastimes. Blackberry Farm, situated on 4,200 acres in Walland, is one of America's most celebrated intimate luxury hotels.
The property developed landmark events that celebrated great chefs and winemakers, award-winning musicians and authors, and pro athletes and adventurers.
There's a renown fine-dining restaurant (for guests aged 10 and over), and a casual eatery. Other amenities include an outdoor pool, a gym and a spa. Activities include fishing, horseback riding, hiking, tennis and archery.
The Beall family expanded their commitment to the Great Smoky Mountains region and continued their tradition of offering elevated hospitality with the opening of a new property in 2019 – Blackberry Mountain.
Spanning 5,200 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Mountain continues a legacy of world-renowned hospitality and unwavering dedication and appreciation for the land. Rising above Miller’s Cove in Walland, TN, Blackberry Mountain has dedicated 2,800 acres of land to conservation.
Named one of The South's Best Resorts in the Travel + Leisure 2024 World's Best Awards, Blackberry Mountain seamlessly infuses wellness, culinary, outdoor adventure and hospitality into every experience.
Oldham Hospitality is a family-owned business that owns and operates several enterprises, including Dancing Bear Lodge, Peaceful Side Social, Apple Valley Café, The Dancing Bean, Fudge Shop.com, Smoky Mountain Outdoor Center (SMoC), Apple Valley Mountain Village, Peaceful Side Social and Creamery in Townsend, as well as the Peaceful Side Brewery in Maryville.
At Oldham Hospitality, We Reside on the Peaceful Side – and we want you to join us! We love coming to work everyday, and you can, too! But don’t take our word for it, ask any of our employees. You might be surprised to learn some of them have been with us over 10 years! At Oldham Hospitality, we have cultivated a family friendly atmosphere with flexible schedules where we encourage you to be yourself, while fostering both personal and professional growth.
Whether you are looking for a seasonal job while school is out or a career path to support your family, Oldham Hospitality has a place for you. We are a growing company with new job opportunities being added regularly. We welcome applicants of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels and look forward to helping you expand your knowledge of the hospitality industry.
Join us on the Peaceful Side at Oldham Hospitality – where we’re creating Smoky Mountain memories to last a lifetime.
The Clayton Center for the Arts aims to play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life of our citizens, bolstering cultural and economic vitality, strengthening tourism, and expanding arts education opportunities for artists of all ages.
The Clayton Center for the Arts is the home of the Maryville College fine and performing arts program, and is a gathering place for the community and its visitors.
Concealed in a forest on Maryville College’s historic campus, RT Lodge is a 58-room boutique inn with a restaurant and scenic event space. This 1930s home is now an upscale group lodging and event site for weddings and retreats, as well as individual overnight accommodations. The classic rooms feature custom-crafted furniture, down comforters and designer linens and toiletries, plus free WiFi. Some rooms have porches or balconies.
On-site amenities include landscaped gardens with a koi pond, an outdoor fireplace and a fire pit as well as a porch with rocking chairs and lawn games. There are indoor and outdoor event spaces, and dining options that focus on locally sourced fare.
RT Lodge has a rich history, and the Main House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 with acknowledgement for its classical revival architecture.
Funded by the Arconic Foundation, the Internship Program for Young Adults consists of four paid components:
Online preparation
2 1/2 weeks of Workforce Readiness Training
100 hours of hands-on experience interning with a Blount County hospitality or tourism company.
Three half-days of Follow-up and Graduation.
Participants must complete all components.
What You Do:
Participate in short, online activities prior to May 30.
Actively participate in 10 (5-hour) days of workforce readiness training
Work 100 paid hours with a local company
Earn 3 paid half-days of follow up and graduation
What You Gain:
Technology and transferable skills that will help you succeed in any career
Hands-on experience with a local hospitality or tourism company
A certificate of program completion
Competitive resumes, reference lists, and job interview skills
Join a short-list of first considered for hire at participating internship companies
June 2 - 13: 2 weeks of Soft Skills Training (50 hours) at the Blount County Public Library’s Learning Lab and 10 hours online.
Classes are held from 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM, Monday through Friday. During this time participants will receive training in skills needed to obtain and maintain a job in the hospitality and tourism industry. Participants will also tour local companies and hospitality programs at colleges.
June 16 - July 8: 100 hours of hands-on experience interning with a Blount County company.
Participants will gain hands-on job experience, learning industry processes. (Each participant submits his/her top internship location choices and assignments are made with participants in order to find the best fit possible.).
July 9 - 11: 3 half-days (12 hours total) of Follow-up, Career Readiness, and Graduation
Participants then return to class for career follow up and preparation, and graduation.
Graduation: July 11, 2025
Blount County Public Library
501 N. Cusick Street
Maryville, TN 37804
Generously funded by the Arconic Foundation, the internship program is a partnership with the Blount County Friends of the Library, the Blount County Public Library, Blount Partnership, Gear Recruiting, and the Adult Education Foundation of Blount County, in collaboration with local Blount County hospitality and tourism companies.
Additional partners include the University of Tennessee College Access and Persistence Services Outreach Center, the American Job Center, and Pellissippi State Community College.
The program is hosted at the Blount County Public Library, 508 N. Cusick St., Maryville.
The Arconic Foundation, which funds the Internship Program for Young Adults, is independently endowed and invests in the communities of Arconic Corporation.
Thank you to the Arconic Foundation for investing in Blount County's young adults through this internship program since 2014.