2026 Summer Graduate Fellowship - Real Estate & Economic Development Associate

Description of Responsibilities

The Summer Graduate Fellow/Associate will support the M+ District team across multiple active workstreams. Responsibilities may include:

1. Financing & Capital Strategy

• Support applications and analysis of public financing tools (TIF, NMTC, Opportunity Zones, tax policy, etc.).
• Assist in development of capital stack models and financial analyses for Phase I projects.
• Conduct investor research and support outreach strategy for equity and catalytic capital partners.
• Support preparation of investor materials, grant submissions, and public financing applications.
• Track financing milestones and support coordination across legal, development, and advisory partners.
• Support management of RFP/RFQ processes for developers, architects, engineers, and infrastructure partners.
• Assist in organizing and synthesizing materials related to site control, due diligence, and pre-development planning.
• Conduct benchmarking research on comparable innovation districts and industrial developments.
• Support development of tenant pipeline materials and real estate positioning strategy.
• Coordinate across consultants to ensure alignment with Phase I milestones and stage gates.
• Conduct targeted research on potential anchor tenants (corporate innovation centers, university research labs, scaling hardtech companies).
• Support development of outreach materials tailored to specific tenant personas.
• Track meetings, pipeline progress, and square footage interest benchmarks.
• Assist with executive briefings, presentations, and follow-up communications.
• Support implementation of the M+ District Stewardship Plan, including:
  • Workforce development strategy research
  • Community organization mapping and outreach tracking
  • Business ecosystem and procurement analysis
• Assist with preparation of MOUs and partnership frameworks.
• Conduct research on inclusive industrial development best practices.
• Support activation strategy planning (events, programming, stakeholder convenings).
• Develop briefing memos and executive-ready synthesis materials.
• Build structured trackers and dashboards for pipeline, financing, and engagement efforts.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform decision-making.
• Help prepare materials for Board, City, philanthropic, and investor audiences.
• Current graduate student (MBA, MPP, MPA, MRED, MS in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Economic Development, Sustainability, or related field).
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to produce executive-level materials.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Comfort with ambiguity and early-stage project development environments.
• Demonstrated interest in economic development, real estate, venture capital, or urban innovation districts.
• Proactive, self-directed, and highly reliable.
• Experience in real estate development, investment analysis, or infrastructure finance.
• Exposure to public financing tools (TIF, NMTC, OZ).
• Experience conducting stakeholder outreach or managing RFP processes.
• Familiarity with advanced manufacturing, climate tech, or hardtech sectors.
• Respect and Value Diversity – We agree to value the rights of all individuals to mutual respect. The diversity of our community is a fundamental strength of the organization.
• Tackle each Day with Passion, Enthusiasm and Curiosity – What we’re doing is special. What we’re doing has impact. What we’re doing is the spark that is igniting a community.
• Try. Learn. Grow – We are entrepreneurs. We won't be afraid to be bold and take risks. We won’t wait for the idea, we’ll create it ourselves. mHUB is a launch pad for our startups, but also for us.
• Hold Ourselves Accountable – We agree to be personally accountable to the “promises” we make. We don’t blame others or ourselves. If we need help, we ask. If we make a mistake, we communicate it and fix it.
• We are Greater as the Sum of our Parts – Together we are greater than alone. We are one team, and collaboration is crucial to our success. We treat one another fairly and with respect. We challenge one another to rise to our best.

2. Real Estate Development & Pre-Development

• Support management of RFP/RFQ processes for developers, architects, engineers, and infrastructure partners.
• Assist in organizing and synthesizing materials related to site control, due diligence, and pre-development planning.
• Conduct benchmarking research on comparable innovation districts and industrial developments.
• Support development of tenant pipeline materials and real estate positioning strategy.
• Coordinate across consultants to ensure alignment with Phase I milestones and stage gates.

3. Tenant & Investor Outreach

• Conduct targeted research on potential anchor tenants (corporate innovation centers, university research labs, scaling hardtech companies).
• Support development of outreach materials tailored to specific tenant personas.
• Track meetings, pipeline progress, and square footage interest benchmarks.
• Assist with executive briefings, presentations, and follow-up communications.

4. District Stewardship & Community Engagement

• Support implementation of the M+ District Stewardship Plan, including:
  • Workforce development strategy research
  • Community organization mapping and outreach tracking
  • Business ecosystem and procurement analysis
• Assist with preparation of MOUs and partnership frameworks.
• Conduct research on inclusive industrial development best practices.
• Support activation strategy planning (events, programming, stakeholder convenings).

5. Strategic Analysis & Deliverable Development

• Develop briefing memos and executive-ready synthesis materials.
• Build structured trackers and dashboards for pipeline, financing, and engagement efforts.
• Conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis to inform decision-making.
• Help prepare materials for Board, City, philanthropic, and investor audiences.

The Fellow will complement senior leadership roles, with leadership driving overall vision, deal structuring, and infrastructure strategy, while the Fellow provides critical analytical, organizational, and outreach support to move workstreams forward efficiently.

Qualifications:

• Current graduate student (MBA, MPP, MPA, MRED, MS in Real Estate, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Economic Development, Sustainability, or related field).
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with ability to produce executive-level materials.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Comfort with ambiguity and early-stage project development environments.
• Demonstrated interest in economic development, real estate, venture capital, or urban innovation districts.
• Proactive, self-directed, and highly reliable.

Preferred (not required):

• Experience in real estate development, investment analysis, or infrastructure finance.
• Exposure to public financing tools (TIF, NMTC, OZ).
• Experience conducting stakeholder outreach or managing RFP processes.
• Familiarity with advanced manufacturing, climate tech, or hardtech sectors.

Core Values

Ability to uphold, embody, and articulate the following values:

• Respect and Value Diversity – We agree to value the rights of all individuals to mutual respect. The diversity of our community is a fundamental strength of the organization.
• Tackle each Day with Passion, Enthusiasm and Curiosity – What we’re doing is special. What we’re doing has impact. What we’re doing is the spark that is igniting a community.
• Try. Learn. Grow – We are entrepreneurs. We won't be afraid to be bold and take risks. We won’t wait for the idea, we’ll create it ourselves. mHUB is a launch pad for our startups, but also for us.
• Hold Ourselves Accountable – We agree to be personally accountable to the “promises” we make. We don’t blame others or ourselves. If we need help, we ask. If we make a mistake, we communicate it and fix it.
• We are Greater as the Sum of our Parts – Together we are greater than alone. We are one team, and collaboration is crucial to our success. We treat one another fairly and with respect. We challenge one another to rise to our best.

Salary & Duration

Stipend: $1,500 per month

Timeline: Minimum of 11 weeks between May and August (aligned with your academic calendar), with the possibility of extension. 

To Apply

Please send resume and cover letter to info@mhub.org with Summer Associate – Real Estate & Economic Development in the subject line.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so please submit as soon as you become aware of and interested in the role.

About mHUB 

From concept to prototype to production, mHUB removes the barriers for hardtech entrepreneurs and manufacturers to commercialize new physical products and increases the probability of building a sustainable business. Innovators have access to unparalleled resources including a state-of-the-art prototyping lab and micro-factory, variable and competitive talent pipelines, networks of industry experts and mentors, a robust manufacturing supply chain, active investors, and comprehensive business, leadership, and technical training.  

mHUB's hyper-resourced environment creates the conditions for physical product innovation to thrive, resulting in new business creation, revenue, investments, intellectual property, and jobs. Since launching in 2017, mHUB has supported over 1,200 entrepreneurs and 500 startups that have generated more than $1.96B in revenue, launched over 1,700 products, created nearly 7,000 jobs, and raised over $2B in capital. mHUB plays a critical role in strengthening U.S. competitiveness and building the physical future from the heart of the Midwest.