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The Economic Recovery Corps Program (ERC) is a multi-year, $30 million collaborative initiative designed to accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic in distressed communities and regions throughout the U.S. by connecting organizations with the talent and capacity needed to advance new ways of doing economic development that promote economic resilience and transformative change.

The ERC Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) under the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act (Public Law 116-136) and led by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in partnership with six leading national organizations:  

• 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) 
• RAIN Catalysts 

This new initiative has the potential to shift the practice of economic development nationwide in an unprecedented manner — by centering the concerns of under-resourced regions while simultaneously investing in a cohort of diverse practitioners and leaders equipped with the skills necessary to usher in a new era of economic prosperity that is equitable, sustainable, and inclusive. By building a nationwide network of diverse, highly-skilled, cross-sector talent embedded in urban, rural, and tribal economic development organizations across the country for two and a half years, IEDC and its partners will promote connectivity, innovation, and knowledge-sharing amongst regions and organizations in a way that elevates new practice and enacts transformational change in the field at large. Through annual convenings and quarterly peer learning, networking, and exchange opportunities, the knowledge and practice produced by Fellows and hosts will be shared and disseminated via new research, curricula, and approaches to scale impact and drive change during the pilot phase and beyond.

IEDC and its partners will monitor the results of the program, both as a whole and for each host organization individually. The research and analysis conducted throughout this program will produce real-time insights and benefits to extend across the larger economic development landscape. Ideally, the knowledge gathered through this program will inform the work of all partner organizations and the Economic Development Administration (EDA), especially in more effectively serving those populations that have been overlooked. Ultimately, these lessons learned will be used to foster change in the practice of economic development, promoting more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable solutions.  

This program differs from shorter term capacity-building efforts such as internships, technical assistance, or consultants. Fellows will be embedded in a community or region for two and a half years, where they will have the ability to focus their efforts on a specific project or challenge championed by the host organizations themselves. This longer–term engagement will allow Fellows to form trusting relationships and integrate into the community, while developing deeper knowledge about the challenges and potential solutions. The ERC program is designed to be complementary to other “boots on the ground” technical assistance and capacity building efforts such as AmeriCorps, Rural Partners Network, EDA’s economic development representatives, or disaster recovery support. The role of the Fellow is to be a connector, to ensure that local communities are aware of the many federal, state, and regional resources, programs, and partnerships available to help them advance and sustain their work beyond the ERC Fellowship.  

Selected host organizations will receive technical assistance, planning, and capacity-building support from an ERC Fellow who will be based in their community or region for two and a half years at no cost to Hosts. Fellows will help identify and advance innovative, locally-driven initiatives to build stronger, more resilient, and inclusive economies in partnership with the host organization. 

• Selected Hosts will have a final work plan which will outline scope of services, deliverables, and project metrics for Fellows, and will be tied to community-driven economic and community development plans.  
• After submitting plans, Hosts will be involved in the interview and matching process through which their Fellows will be retained, facilitating engagement on all sides to make the best match. 
• ERC Fellows and Hosts will be organized into peer-learning sub cohorts led by one of the six ERC partners who will provide monthly coaching and support. Combined with annual convenings and quarterly peer learning, networking, and exchange opportunities, the knowledge and practice produced by Fellows and Hosts will be shared and disseminated to the broader economic development field to scale impact and drive change. 

Host site selection is a three phased process.     

• Phase I is the completion of an Expression of Interest (EOI). The EOI is located here. These answers will help IEDC, and its partners build an applicant pool to move to Phase II. 
• Phase II is where Host sites will participate in a virtual interview where ERC partners will then select the top projects to move to the final stage, Phase III. 
• Phase III is the summer accelerator (virtual) which will launch in mid-August where prospective Hosts will then have up to a month to refine and strengthen their project.

Ideal host partners are organizations or communities ready to advance a local or regional economic development strategy or catalytic transformative project but have struggled to find the resources (financial or human) to bridge the gap between planning and implementation.  

Host organizations or communities have leadership teams that are action-oriented, have a strong grasp of regional issues and assets, and are committed to collaboration and building robust and inclusive partnerships with diverse stakeholder groups.   

Below are some examples of what we envision a host organization, or host collaboration, may look like but this is a non-exhaustive list: 

• An organization in a geography or regional context that aligns with the EDA’s Investment priorities related to equity, recovery, and resilience: https://www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities   
• A state, local or tribal government; United States territory, or other political subdivision of a state or local government like a regional planning organization or economic development district (EDD) 
• An institution of higher education or a consortium of institutions of higher education 
• A public or private non-profit organization like a Chamber of Commerce, community development corporation (CDC), or economic development organization (EDO) 
• A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) 
• A commercial corridor or main street collaboration  
• A regional, municipal, or multi-stakeholder collaboration formed to advance a shared economic development goal or strategy.  

A host site needs to have a plan or an innovative initiative ready (or nearly ready) to be activated by a Fellow. The site should be willing to embrace a different approach to economic development based on local and regional assets and a willingness to connect those approaches to regional plans like a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The site should have a dedicated leadership team, committee or advisory board committed to collaboration and building robust, inclusive partnerships with diverse stakeholder groups.  

No.

Collaboration is essential to this work, so we urge organizations to team up with aligned partners in a single application and jointly express their interest in a shared project. Once a Fellow is assigned, one organization must assume the role of host and take the lead in supporting the Fellow through the project implementation. 

The ERC program is accepting applications from larger intermediary or statewide organizations that support smaller communities and organizations in order to ensure that smaller host sites, that may not have the capacity to fully mentor a fellow, are still able to benefit from the program. The following are some examples:

• National or regional non-profit network with multi-state footprint that provides on the ground TA and direct support to municipalities and counties. 
• Statewide Organization that provides support / services to different jurisdictions, regions across a state. 
• Council of Governments, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Regional Development Organizations, etc.

Organizations can apply for multiple geographies in their footprint, provided there is a defined project and scope of work in each location, as well as an opportunity for a fellow to be embedded in a community and region, providing direct support to organizations / individuals in that area.  Multiple locations under one organization’s footprint must still meet the same selection criteria for host sites. 

Yes, that is one way.

Priority consideration will be given to applicants located within a geography or regional context that aligns with the EDA’s Investment priorities related to Equity, Recovery and Resilience: https://www.eda.gov/funding/investment-priorities. 

Additionally, host sites will be selected based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to: 

• A clearly demonstrated project need that is ready for delivery through the support of an ERC Fellow. 
• The existing capacity to participate in planning and implementation of economic development strategies – during the host application process and throughout the Fellowship. 
• A dedicated leadership team, committee or advisory board committed to collaboration and building robust and inclusive partnerships with diverse stakeholder groups. 
• A good understanding of regional assets and issues that will enable (or constrain) a Fellow’s work in your community. 

Yes, you should still apply. EDA’s distress criteria are one of many metrics we use to evaluate levels of need and distress in communities. We look at a range of factors to assess whether an organization / community would be a good fit to host a fellow. Read host selection criteria.

IEDC and the ERC program partners will screen each expression of interest to ensure the key eligibility criteria are met. Review teams of ERC program partners will be assembled based on the type of organization applying and specific subject matter expertise required to best assess an applicant’s proposed project. Final selections will consider an applicant’s level of readiness and capacity to host a Fellow; geographic and economic conditions prioritized in EDA investment criteria for equity, recovery and resilience; and the transformative potential of the Host’s proposed project.  

No, there are no financial costs for organizations to host a Fellow. Fellows will be independent contractors under agreements with IEDC to carry out established work plans with each host organization. Fellows will be provided with the basic tools necessary to carry out their work during their Fellowship, including a laptop and other software or tools for collaboration.  Fellows will be eligible for a travel stipend as well for any Fellowship-related travel.  Fellows will be required to provide any other tools necessary to carry out their work during the Fellowship. 

We require that the Fellow has a main contact to provide mentoring and coaching at each host site to ensure that project milestones are moving forward and being met. We recommend that this person be able to provide between 5 – 7 hours per week for check-ins, consultation, and to provide ongoing, supportive mentorship to the Fellow.

There is no direct funding that goes to host organizations for expenses or other supervisory support.  IEDC pays Fellows a monthly stipend for services they perform during the Fellowship. Fellows provide a defined set of services to communities / organizations for a period of 2.5 years with monthly coaching and support from the ERC partner coalition. As part of this support, IEDC provides the fellow with the basic tools and resources to carry out their work, including a laptop, collaboration software, travel stipend, and training. 

Fellows will be expected to pay for their own housing and will receive a stipend for this purpose. In cases where a Fellow may be placed in a higher cost area, there may be funding available if a cost-of-living adjustment is needed. There is no expectation for hosts to provide housing for a Fellow, however we do expect hosts to help Fellows connect with local housing opportunities and resources if a Fellow is relocating to a new area

There is no requirement that a host or main point of contact be an economic / community development professional.

No. Hosts will not receive direct payments for participation in the ERC program, nor does participation in this program provide a direct funding source to advance the host project.

No, Hosts are not required to provide a dedicated office space for the ERC Fellow. As independent contractors, Fellows will be equipped to work remotely in any location of their choice. However, as the host site leadership and/or the Fellow’s main point of contact for the host organization’s work with the Fellow, there may certainly be times when it makes sense for the ERC Fellow to work from the host organization’s office. The Fellow’s goal is to advance a regional economic development work plan, so their work needs to be conducted in the field by collaborating with multiple regional stakeholders.  

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend to cover living expenses and local travel to meetings. If a fellow must travel by air within a host organization’s geography to conduct their work, this will need to be reviewed and approved by IEDC in advance. Fellows will receive up to $27,500 in travel funds over the 2.5 years to attend annual trainings, conferences, and immersion visits as part of the fellowship that they may use towards situations requiring air travel within a host organization’s geography.

While most peer learning and networking opportunities will be virtual, Hosts will be invited to attend IEDC’s annual conferences along with Fellows and other in-person training events. Conference registration fees will be discounted for Hosts as part of IEDC’s complimentary member benefits, however Hosts will need to cover their own travel and accommodation to attend in-person events. In-person events will be optional for Hosts. If the cost of travel is prohibitive for host organizations to participate in in-person events, IEDC will explore opportunities to offer additional support.

There is often a gap between planning and implementation, with a lack of capacity for driving community-led economic development, especially in underserved and under-resourced communities. The Economic Recovery Corps aims to connect experienced, early to mid-career professionals with organizations to enact the transformational change that these plans can drive. Fellows will be empowered to work collaboratively in communities, and will be equipped with ongoing training, education, and professional development as well as ongoing peer support and coaching to carry out the established work plan throughout the Fellowship from the ERC program and its partners.        

Yes.

In addition to the on-site capacity-building support and technical assistance provided by the Fellow, Hosts will have numerous opportunities to strengthen their own capacity and resources. These include: 

• Quarterly virtual peer learning exchanges with subject matter experts. 
• Annual networking gatherings with other host communities. 
• Three years of complimentary IEDC membership. Among the many benefits offered to IEDC members include discounts on its three annual conferences, discounts on training courses (such as courses to pursue a Certified Economic Developer certification), other professional development, access to IEDC’s online member directory, research publications, and more.  

Representation matters. While the Economic Recovery Corps aims to place experienced, early- to mid-career professionals into organizations to enact the transformational change that these plans can drive, we will seek to find and place ERC Fellows who are representative of the community that the host site serves. Ideally, we would hope host sites have leads on community residents who may already be doing the work to take on this opportunity.  We will seek to identify Fellows who have the commitment and potential to be equity changemakers in the economic development field, but they do not need to be from the host community. We anticipate some Fellows relocating.

Yes, fellows can be late career professionals.

When you submit your host expression of interest form make sure you select, “yes” you know a fellow in the region. We will then make sure to send on the fellowship application materials for you to share with prospective fellows. All fellows will have to go through the application process to be eligible for an ERC fellowship.  ERC fellows must meet all requirements for independent contractor status under federal and state laws applicable to their work location in order to be eligible for this fellowship.  In addition, fellows will be required to sign an independent contractor agreement with IEDC before beginning the fellowship.

The fellow application cycle will open the week of June 20th. Host applicants are encouraged to recommend potential fellows to the program who would be a good fit for their organization / community. IEDC and its partner coalition will also be conducting a national search to find potential fellows for select host projects.

Fellows will be working as community consultants to host organizations and paid a monthly living stipend by IEDC. They will NOT be staff members of the host organization, instead they will work as network builders to accelerate a community project across multiple partners.

Fellows will serve as community builders and connectors that work to strengthen and empower the aligned project by fostering relationships, encouraging collaboration, and supporting acceleration of the project. This could include, but is not limited to:

• Supporting the creation of a regional partnership to foster growth of an industry sector by launching a sustained program to provide incentives, workforce training, venture capital debt, facility development, etc. to recruit a business from a priority sector.
• Organizing a small business ecosystem support structure to offer improved access to capital, technical assistance, professional services, and peer support to accelerate the growth of local small businesses. 
• Organizing a place-based economic revitalization initiative and developing a specific property or commercial district of regional significance for economic activity.
• Creating a local inclusive economic development incentives program to engage policy makers and industry representatives to focus on supporting entrepreneurship among people of color, increased access to living wage career pathways, and physical investment in disadvantaged communities.
• Organizing a housing development acceleration initiative by building alliances between economic development and housing industry stakeholders to create and implement the policies, partnerships, and initiatives necessary to dramatically increase the number of workforce housing units in a community.  
• Organizing an employer partnership to support priority job pathways to convene, analyze data, and facilitate the identification of specific types of regional jobs that are in high demand by major employers, pay a living wage and offer career advancement, and are struggling to find qualified workers.  

Yes.

An ERC Fellow is permitted to work on a project that was initially funded with EDA funds, such as a planning grant. If the Host Community has an initiative or project that results from that grant, the Fellow may work on it. Similarly, the Fellow is permitted to work on an initiative or project that is being implemented based upon a CEDS. 

However, Fellows cannot duplicate any activities funded under any other federal programs, including, but not limited to a current EDA Award. Any work on awards funded under other federal programs requires documentation of the activities performed and an explanation of how the work will supplement and not duplicate previously funded activities. 

Please contact IEDC if you have additional questions relating to this issue. 

As a Fellowship opportunity, the fellow is restricted from working as a staff member of the host organization in an existing staff role or a new staff position the organization is trying to fill (e.g. grant writer, disaster coordinator, loan officer). The purpose of the ERC Fellow is to help drive new strategies, build collaborative networks, and expand capacity to attract new resources to the region. 

No. Hosts will be paired with a fellow that carries out a specific scope of services for 2.5 years with a lead organization or community.

The fellow scope of services should include a project that requires 35-40 hours a week of effort for 2.5 years. This may include different projects within the 2.5 year timeframe as long as these projects support a larger strategic goal / initiative.

Fellows will serve as community builders and connectors who work to strengthen and empower a designated project by fostering relationships, encouraging collaboration, and supporting acceleration.  

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 for their services directly from the ERC program.

• 30-month contract with an economic development project aligned with your professional background and skills.
• $90,000 annual living stipend for 2.5 years ($225,000 total)  
• $10,000 post-fellowship readjustment stipend (contingent upon completion of program).   
• Access to professional development opportunities, including up to $27,500 for travel expenses, annual in-person training retreats, and access to up to two conferences per year hosted by IEDC or one of the ERC partners.  
• A laptop computer, software, and collaboration tools. Fellows will be able to keep their laptops post-fellowship.  
• Mentorship opportunities with an economic development professional through IEDC’s member network.  
• Quarterly virtual peer networking and cohort exchanges.   
• Monthly Community of Practice engagements within the sub-cohorts.    
• An opportunity to pursue certification to become a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and/or Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP), for those who are interested in classes and sitting for the exam(s).

Representation matters. While the Economic Recovery Corps aims to connect experienced, early- to mid-career professionals with organizations to enact the transformational change that these plans can drive, we will seek to find ERC Fellows who are representative of the community that the host site serves. Ideally, we would hope host sites have leads on community residents who may already be doing the work to take on this opportunity.  We will seek to identify Fellows who have the commitment and potential to be equity changemakers in the economic development field, but they do not need to be from the host community. We anticipate some Fellows relocating.

IMPORTANT: Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of applying (now) through June 2026 when the fellowship finishes.

Federal law prohibits individuals or businesses from contracting with an independent contractor knowing that the independent contractor is not authorized to work in the U.S.

Fellows must be authorized to work in the U.S. from the date they apply through the the entire duration of the 30-month fellowship January 2024 through June 2026. Fellows will not be provided sponsorship. This includes F-1 student visa holders who have been authorized for temporary employment as part of their 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT) or extended STEM OPT (24  months).

Yes. As long as prospective fellows have existing U.S. work authorization for the entirety of the program (from application through June 2026), non-US citizens may apply if they meet this requirement. The exception is that we are unable to accept international student applicants who are in the U.S. on OPT (Optional Practical Training).

Yes. As long as you are legally authorized to work to in the U.S. from the time you apply (now) through the end of the 30-month fellowship (June 2026), you are eligible to apply for an ERC Fellowship.

Ideal ERC fellows will have a bachelor’s or associate degree, a minimum of five years of professional experience in a manager-level role, an entrepreneurial mindset, be able to learn on the fly, think and communicate across multiple disciplines, and be natural ecosystem-builders / connectors.

While these qualifications give us a good sense of an applicant’s preparation, we will also consider other types of work, volunteer, or education experiences that are equivalent to these minimum requirements.

Fellows will be early-to mid-career professionals from diverse backgrounds and disciplines related to the economic development field. 

Key competencies we look for candidates to demonstrate: 

Please review the timeline section of the website at www.economicrecoverycorps.org/fellow-info for information on the recruitment timeline, interviews, selection process and fellowship start date.

All interviews will be virtual.

Fellows will receive an annual stipend of $90,000, paid monthly for 2.5 years ($225,000 total). Fellows will also receive a stipend of up to $27,500 for eligible travel expenses.

As independent contractors, fellows are responsible for their own healthcare, disability, FICA, tax liabilities and filing, and business liability insurance. 

No, as an independent contractor you are responsible for securing your own healthcare coverage. The Fellowship monthly contract fee is set high to accommodate fellows to purchase or supplement their own benefits (e.g., healthcare, time off, etc.). IEDC and its ERC Partners cannot provide individualized advice or guidance to fellows regarding health care coverage as it varies by State and personal circumstances.

Host projects will be located in the United States, U.S. Territories, and sovereign Tribal Nations. The ERC Partner Coalition is currently reviewing host applications. Host sites and projects will be made available to Fellow candidates who have progressed to the Matching stage in Fall 2023.

When applying, prospective fellows should indicate their geographic flexibility and general ability to relocate or travel. Fellows will not interview with host organizations outside of their physical geographic limitations.

Fieldwork, community engagement, and immersion are essential components to the ERC program. Fellows will need to be physically located near or within their host community’s region or service area for the duration of the Fellowship. In areas with limited housing options Fellows may opt to live outside the community provided they are within 50 miles of their host site’s service area.

As independent contractors, Fellows may choose where they conduct their work to meet the deliverables outlined in their scope of services. This may be from their home office, a co-working space, at their host organizations’ offices, or other flexible work locations.

See response above.

We have funding for up to $5,000 per year for additional costs (e.g. relocation, housing, local transportation). This may go towards paying for local transportation costs like mileage depending on where a Fellow is placed and what those local transportation costs may be.

Applicants can review an illustrative set of projects on the ERC Fellows web page under the Section titled – Previous Experience and Types of Projects: https://economicrecoverycorps.org/fellow-info/.

Fellows will be responsible for completing an action research capstone project during the fellowship related to the project they worked on with the host over the course of the fellowship. The Capstone provides Fellows with a tangible work product for their professional portfolio, and Hosts with a tangible deliverable to advance their work once the Fellowship is over. The shared learnings from the capstone can and will be shared with the cohort, EDA, and the economic development community at large.

Mentorship opportunities/matching will depend on what a fellow is looking to learn or get out of their ERC fellowship, and the availability of individuals with the knowledge/experience to serve as a mentor.

We are aiming to have every fellow paired with one professional mentor throughout the fellowship program. However, fellows will likely have multiple mentors, perhaps from their host organization or community in addition to added support from the facilitator of their Community of Practice. We also acknowledge and encourage fellows to consider their peers (fellows) equally as mentors that they can learn from.

No. This program is designed to support communities and organizations based in the U.S., U.S. Territories, or Sovereign Tribal Nations. However, we recognize there are many best practices from international development that could be applied to the U.S. and welcome applicants with a background working in international development to apply.

The ERC Partner Coalition is currently reviewing host applications. Host sites and projects will be made available to Fellow candidates who have progressed to the Matching stage in Fall 2023.

The matching process is multi-faceted and based on various needs of the host community and skillsets of a fellow, in addition to physical geography. Fellows and Hosts will both have an opportunity to select from a shortlist of projects and candidates recommended to them by the ERC recruitment committee.

Hosts and fellows will indicate their top preferences, at which point Fellows and Hosts alike will interview each other to ensure a strong match. Once all Host-Fellow interviews are completed, the ERC partner coalition will make final matches based on the outcomes of this final interview phase.

IMPORTANT: Please note that Hosts and Fellows who reach the final matching stage are not guaranteed a placement. Like any good relationship, the process relies heavily on making the strongest match possible through a mutual decision between Hosts and Fellows.

Fellows’ stipend is designed to cover a fellow’s living expenses including housing. In circumstances where there is limited affordable housing in areas with a higher cost of living, ERC can provide additional support of up to $5,000 a year. Specific increases and the level of support will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, in the event a fellow must relocate there will be up to $5,000 to assist with relocation costs. No additional funding is available to cover expenses beyond this threshold, including for additional family members, partners, or dependents.

During the interview process, Fellows should advise on what reasonable support they would require to conduct their work so IEDC can account for future accommodations and best overall match to a Host organization.

No, you do not have to be a consultant or have a formal consulting business to be contracted as a 1099.

Fellows will be independent contractors of IEDC. We expect the fellowship experience and contract work to be 35-40 hours week throughout the duration of the program. As an independent contractor, you may take on other work so long as it does not interfere with this contract, availability for core project functions or meetings, quality of work, and your project deliverables.  

We expect the fellowship experience (professional development, networking, + training) and contract work to be 35-40 hours week throughout the duration of the program. 

A Fellow’s schedule will be structured according to the deliverables set forth in their scope of services with their Host organization. Depending on the specific circumstances of the project, “time off” may vary from one contract to another. In general, Fellows can expect to have the option of not working on Federal Holidays and will be contracted to work no more than 35 hours a week throughout the 30-month Fellowship to allow time for professional development, training, and networking opportunities that are part of the ERC Program, as well as, up to 10 days annually for personal time off (e.g., sick leave, bereavement, vacation, etc.).

Planning your leave
We recognize the need for time off (e.g., sick leave, bereavement, vacation, etc.) but since the work is performed in communities and community partners rely on Fellows to keep the momentum going, Fellows will need to let IEDC and the Host know when they are taking time off so we can determine how best to support their work during their brief absence.

Unexpected parental, medical or extended leave
We also realize that sometimes other events occur that may require more than 2 weeks off at a time. In these cases, we will have a discussion about your ability to meet the terms of the contract. If it’s determined that a fellow is unable to meet those terms we will discuss terminating the contract, so we can identify other individuals to fill the role, or putting the fellow’s contract on hold and finding someone else to fill-in during their absence.

As a 1099 Contractor, Fellows do not receive Paid Time Off (PTO). Fellows’ contracts will be structured in a way that allows them to take up to two weeks of personal leave annually, as well as time to dedicate to professional development, training, and peer networking that are part of the Fellowship experience.

Fellows will need to meet the deliverables set forth in their scopes of services defined by the Host site in conjunction with IEDC. If a Fellow is unable to meet the deliverables established, then there will be a conversation about the Fellow’s ability to meet the terms of the contract. If it’s determined that a fellow is unable to meet those terms we discuss terminating the contract, at which point a Fellow would cease receiving their stipend.

CEcD candidates are required to have at least four years of consecutive, paid, full-time economic development related experience. EDP requires a minimum of 2 years of paid, full time work in economic development or entrepreneurial support. Since the ERC fellowship requires 5 years of work experience, we anticipate that all fellows will meet the basic requirements of the CEcD or EDP based on their work or volunteer experience in the field. 

Based on IEDC’s annual survey of CEcD professionals, their average annual salary is roughly $20k higher than those without a CEcD certification. Many job postings for economic development roles are putting CEcD certification as a preference. Furthermore, several classes from the CEcD and EDP course selection can count towards either certification program, which makes it easier to pursue both certifications, although not required.

The ERC fellowship is an independent contractor relationship with IEDC. In general, a qualifying employer cannot certify employment for a contractor because they are not an employee. Recently the Department of Education has made some exceptions to these rules  if an individual is providing services that by State law cannot be filled or provided by an employee of that organization.

We encourage applicants enrolled in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program to review the Department’s guidelines and contact your loan servicer for more information and guidance.

Yes, IEDC and our ERC partner coalition will provide Fellows with general resources and guidance on what they will be responsible for as a 1099 contractor and where they can go for individualized assistance. Given the variability of 1099 requirements between States, and individual circumstances, we cannot provide Fellows with specific advice or guidance for their situation.

Funding for the ERC Program is provided by the Economic Development Administration through the CARES Act. As such a new administration change will not affect the CARES Act funds already committed to the ERC program.