Monterey County launches Social Media CADRE for young adults with paid placements

Monterey County Works described a Social Media CADRE program on March 4 that trains and places young adults (ages 18–24) as stipended social media interns with local businesses.

Laura Kirschner, business services specialist, said the program provides up to 40 hours of digital training in social media advertising and marketing, followed by a 280‑hour paid work experience at a host business. Michael Arcelego, job placement coordinator, said the program pays interns $18 per hour and that the program itself covers the wage; businesses host and mentor interns and must assign social‑media–related tasks rather than general labor.

Kirschner said the CADRE is intended for young adults who have some personal social media experience but not necessarily business experience. Arcelego said participants learn analytics, content planning and exit strategies—deliverables businesses receive at the end of the placement (a calendar of future posts, content suggestions and a handoff plan). He said some past interns later gained full‑time employment with host organizations.

Applications and information are available at montereycountyworks.com on the "Young Adult Job Seekers" page; speakers said they posted the link in the meeting chat. The county encouraged businesses to apply to host interns and to set clear parameters for the internship tasks and mentorship.

Next steps: organizers said they are accepting applications and will place interns with interested local businesses; wages and basic training are covered by the county program.