Comprehensive Business Inventory and GIS Mapping of Key Commercial Corridors Intern

City of Lower Burrell

Project Contact & Location 

Gregory Primm, City Manager 

2800 Bethel St, City Hall, Lower Burrell PA 

About City of Lower Burrell: Located in Westmoreland County, Lower Burrell is a third‑class city located along the Allegheny River about 18 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. Settled in 1852 and incorporated as a city in 1959, the City of Lower Burrell covers 11.52 square miles and has a population around 12,000 residents.

Project Title: Comprehensive Business Inventory and GIS Mapping of Key Commercial Corridors Intern

Project Description: The Municipality will host a summer 2026 intern to inventory and map commercial properties along a municipal corrdior. The intern will categorize businesses and vacancies by type, providing valuable field experience while producing data to guide the Municipal economic development and revitalization planning efforts.

Anticipated Assignments / Key local government experiences: The intern will complete a comprehensive inventory of commercial properties along the Municipality’s main business corridor, conducting field surveys to identify active and vacant buildings, categorizing businesses by type and use, and entering data into a GIS‑based system or spreadsheet. The intern will create maps and summary reports that illustrate business distribution, vacancy trends, and redevelopment opportunities, and may also photograph sites, verify property information through public records, and present findings to staff and elected officials. This project offers hands‑on experience in municipal data collection, land‑use analysis, and economic development planning while producing actionable information that supports revitalization strategies, business retention, and informed decision‑making. Working within a supportive municipal environment, the intern will gain practical fieldwork, data analysis, and public‑sector experience, contributing to visible projects that shape the community’s commercial future- an ideal opportunity for students interested in planning, public administration, or local government careers.

Placement Site attributes and benefits to the community: Through this project, the City will gain a detailed, data‑driven understanding of its key commercial corridors through updated business inventories, vacancy mapping, and analysis, supporting stronger economic development strategies, business recruitment, and revitalization planning, while the intern’s work enhances the City’s data management and GIS capacity for more informed municipal decision‑making.

Opportunities for engagement with elected officials & community: The intern will engage in public, stakeholder, and internal meetings, job‑shadow departments, and ultimately present business inventory findings—including data, maps, and recommendations—to the Governing Body with staff‑provided coaching to ensure a clear, well‑prepared presentation that strengthens communication skills and informs elected officials.

Public Transportation Availability: No