Published on December 19, 2024
The 65 project ideas — that were put forth by the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) host organizations — have the potential to not only attract funding but also to emphasize community-driven solutions. Pursuing local and regional initiatives demands resilience and dedication. The process of linking local stakeholders, funders, and regional opportunities requires substantial effort, relationship-building, research, curiosity, and strategic insight. These intricate tasks have emerged as a distinctive strength of both ERC Fellows and host organizations.
These achievements do not represent all of the work being done across ERC projects but they exemplify the power of collaboration, innovation, and resilience in driving economic recovery.
Sustainable Ecotourism in Wyoming
In Wyoming, Wind River Development Fund (WRDF) secured $36M from the EDA Recompete Challenge Grant. This funding will enable the continuation and expansion of WRDF’s sustainable ecotourism model that values long-term wealth-building while preserving indigenous culture, protecting natural resources, and prioritizing tribal interests; learn more about their Recompete award here.
ERC Fellow Alexandra Calloway-Nation has been instrumental in supporting this transformative effort. Her contributions include securing partnerships, preparing grant applications, and amplifying the project’s vision at major conferences. Calloway-Nation’s work led to the successful submission of grant applications for the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation Grant (WORG), totaling approximately $4 million, and helped identify promising sites for future ecotourism ventures. In addition, she has played a vital role in presenting the Ecotourism Strategic Plan to key stakeholders, ensuring alignment with tribal goals. These efforts directly contribute to building sustainable wealth for the reservation by empowering communities to manage their own economic growth while preserving cultural and environmental integrity.
Bringing Good Jobs to the Appalachian Region
Many ERC host organizations have obtained federal funding to support projects ranging in scope . In Kentucky, ERC Fellow Will Warren provided strategic support to their ERC host organization Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR), who secured $40M from the EDA Recompete Challenge Grant. The project is focused on connecting residents to good jobs in Eastern Kentucky; learn more about their Recompete award here. SOAR brought together 18 different federal agencies to attend the region’s first ever Federal Resource Fair on October 16, 2024 providing access to constituents in the region with a focus on increasing rural access to federal resources and opportunities.
Strengthening Cooperative Banks in Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico, ERC Host, Inclusiv and ERC Fellow, Ana Maria Cintron – Marazzi are working to address economic challenges Puerto Rico has faced, which are heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. The project is focusing on community-owned financial cooperatives (“cooperativas“) by helping them along with other stakeholders increase commercial lending. An additional focus is increasing “green” lending due to Inclusiv being selected for a $1.87 Billion Grant through EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund earlier this year.
In the photo, the ERC fellow holds a certificate of her recent completion of Inclusiv’s lending certification training.
Revitalizing Former Coal Communities in West Michigan
In West Michigan, ERC Host, West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission and ERC Fellow, Annika Gacnik is focused on revitalizing former coal communities and transforming the state’s agricultural and food processing sector. Michigan is recognized as the second most agriculturally diverse state in the United States. To support this work, they secured $125,000 from the EDA for the West Michigan Agriculture Cluster Impact Analysis. This project incorporates Geographical Information Systems (GIS) asset mapping through Michigan State University and comprehensive economic impact analysis across 5 counties; learn more about the grant here.
In the photos below, Gacnik is participating in the “Farming for the Future” field day at the West Michigan AgBio Research Station with Oceana County Economic Alliance’s Executive Director, Curtis Burdette; the second photo is the ERC Fellow shadowing the harvesting of cucumbers.
Fun fact: Michigan ranks 1st in the nation for pickling cucumber production, which grow exceptionally well in the state’s sandy soils, and ranks 1st in the nation for tart cherry production and 4th for sweet cherries.
Urban Revitalization in New Jersey
In New Jersey, the “Broadway Business District Revitalization” project, led by ERC Host, Fair Lawn Main Street Inc., aims to transform their largest business district in Fair Lawn, NJ, a municipality home to 33,000 residents about 20 miles outside New York City. In the fall, they received the NJ Asset Activation and Planning Grant to support their Streetscape plan. ERC Fellow Lora Lumbantoruan has supported in this work, conducting a preliminary parking study with an intern and through stakeholder engagement with the Community Advisory Board and community members. Learn more about how they plan to use the funding in this article.
The photo above captures the ERC fellow (second from the right) in a local newspaper, who covered their community walk through with various transit representatives.
Climate Innovation in California
In California — The Center by Lendistry, in collaboration with the City of San Fernando CA, City of Pasadena CA, Blue Sky Center, and Cuyama Valley CA and ERC Fellow Frances Weiner — the ERC project is working to empower community development organizations and small businesses in low-income and disadvantaged communities by benefiting from the unprecedented levels of federal and state climate investments for clean energy and climate projects. To support this work, they have obtained substantial grants, including $100,000 from Pacific Premier Bank in partnership with Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco through the AHEAD Program, $75,000 from Lendistry, and $75,000 from the Office of Small Business Administration.
In collaboration with the Center by Lendistry, Frances has also strengthened partnerships in Southern California by securing City Council approval to launch a Green Business Certification program in San Fernando. She also distributed a Green Toolbox Outline for partner review, facilitating collaboration among stakeholders and driving momentum for a proposed workshop series in Northwest Pasadena, despite initial concerns about inclusivity.
In the photo, the ERC fellow (second from the right) poses with area partners at an outreach event.
Preserving Native American Art through Virtual Reality
The United Keetoowah Band is leveraging cutting-edge technology to create a Virtual Reality Museum showcasing the world’s third-largest Native American art collection. This ambitious initiative intertwines cultural preservation with workforce development, creating a future-focused model for indigenous communities. ERC Fellow Marcus Le Clair has secured crucial institutional support, including project sponsorship from the Smithsonian Native American Indian Museum and the development of a comprehensive 2025 training program for community members to acquire digital skills training fostering a future workforce. He has also helped to secure $5,000 in private funding for a Curation Assessment Plan and 30 hours of specialized support from the University of Oklahoma.
