A workday that often started at 4 a.m. wasn't going to leave Iowa State senior Nick Brim much time or energy to plan a social life in a town he barely knew.

That's not good news to an employer who wants their summer interns to connect not only with the job, but also with the fun side of a city that might woo them back after graduation.

So the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and several area corporations this year launched Intern Omaha to help round out the summer experience for college students here picking up real-life job skills.

Intern Omaha broadens the chamber's efforts to lure business and talent - targeting its youngest audience yet. This year, 135 interns participated. About 40 percent of participating interns are from Nebraska schools, and the rest represent a geographical array that includes Arizona State, Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Mellon.

"We want to show them that Omaha is a place they want to start their careers," said coordinator Andrew Rainbolt of the chamber.