Economic Recovery Corps Fellowship Applications are Now Open
by the International Economic Development Council
Washington, DC – Funded by the CARES Act from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) alongside its partners is excited to announce that fellowship applications are now open for the Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) program. Launched in May 2023 to accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in distressed areas, the inaugural ERC Fellowship program connects host organizations with early- to mid-career professionals (fellows) from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to build stronger, more resilient, and equitable economies.
IEDC and its coalition of national partners are seeking to place up to 65 ERC Fellows at host organizations across the U.S., tribal lands, and territories to activate innovative economic development projects. Fellows will serve as catalysts, working to strengthen and accelerate locally-driven projects by fostering collaboration, connectivity, and knowledge-sharing. The Economic Recovery Corps is a unique opportunity to join – and help build – a nationwide network of diverse practitioners and leaders with the passion, skills and vision to advance new ways of doing economic development.
Alongside IEDC, the six partner organizations include the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), International City/County Management Association (ICMA), National Association of Counties Research Foundation (NACo RF), National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation (NADO RF), National League of Cities Institute (NLCI), and RAIN Catalysts, each of whom will expand the reach of the program, lend their expertise to host and fellow program participants, and impart the lessons learned from ERC to the economic development community at large.
As part of the ERC fellowship program, fellows will receive direct mentorship, coaching, connections, and support throughout the program’s duration from the ERC’s national partner coalition, who will play a critical role in their development. Fellows will also receive ongoing professional development via trainings, networking, courses, peer-to-peer learning, research, and conferences. Fellows will be paid directly from the ERC program.
The fellow application cycle is open until August 15, 2023. Host placements and matching will be finalized in December 2023, with fellows beginning work in their host community in January 2024 and ending in June 2026 (30 months).
“Fellows will serve as a powerful resource for organizations looking to drive sustainable economic growth, revitalize their community, and build long-term resilience,” said IEDC President & CEO Nathan Ohle. “These talented, passionate fellows will help drive more equitable economic outcomes for a brighter future and be felt for generations to come.”
Rooted in the EDA’s investment priorities of equity, recovery, and resilience, the ERC program is centered around the concerns of under-resourced regions so they can more effectively engage in economic development work with added capacity and resources from an ERC Fellow.
“Cultivating a pipeline of economic development practitioners is critical as we continue investing in America and building a more equitable and sustainable economy for all,” added U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “The Economic Recovery Corps fellowship program is an opportunity for talented, early- to mid-career economic developers to gain on-the-ground professional experience and create lasting change in communities. The increased knowledge, experience, and skill-building will bolster the strength of regional economic development organizations across the nation, to build capacity and scale up place-based economic development in the communities who need it most.”
Are you a community-builder with an entrepreneurial spirit looking to do economic development differently? Join the inaugural cohort of the Economic Recovery Corps program as a fellow!
Submit an application by August 15, 2023 at www.EconomicRecoveryCorps.org and attend an upcoming program webinar.
For more information about the Economic Recovery Corps fellowship program, visit www.EconomicRecoveryCorps.org. Stay up to date on the ERC’s happenings by signing up for updates at www.EconomicRecoveryCorps.org/updates.
About IEDC
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,300 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members engage in the full range of economic development practices. Given the breadth of economic development work, our members are employed in various settings, including local, state, provincial, and federal governments, public-private partnerships, chambers of commerce, universities, and a variety of other institutions. When we succeed, our members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. Learn more at iedconline.org.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
