AmeriCorps VISTA: Economic & Community Development Associate

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Bring together nonprofit organizations, local leaders, public officials, and residents to build economic justice and vitality in Allegheny County.

Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG) is a coalition of leaders working for economic justice and equitable resources to revitalize the Pittsburgh region, rallying community based organizations to ensure grassroots voices are visible to financial institutions, government agencies, and businesses. This spurs the creation of public policy and strategic partnerships responsive to community need, securing access to housing, transit, and capital for a more vibrant and resilient Greater Pittsburgh.

PCRG is seeking a talented and motivated individual to dedicate a year of AmeriCorps VISTA service(americorps.gov/vista) promoting equitable, sustainable economic growth in Allegheny County communities outside of Pittsburgh. This emphasis on outlying areas will focus primarily on PCRG’s 13 county-based member organizations and their continued relationship with Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED). The VISTA will arrange stakeholder roundtables to align PCRG activities with local priorities, enhance engagement of county-based organizations, produce reference documents on countywide community development opportunities, and facilitate connections between public officials, grassroots leaders, community stakeholders, and residents.

Applicants must have strong writing skills, an analytical mindset, and the ability to organize diverse interests for positive change. Experience in community engagement or economic development is preferred but not required.

Application Instructions

To be considered for this role , you must create an application on the My AmeriCorps Portal and apply to the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group VISTA listing (my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=81105) . For instructions on how to create an application, go to www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorpsvista/start-your-application . Applicants are also strongly encouraged to send a resume to asalituro@pcrg.org. If you have any questions, contact Aaron Salituro at (412) 391-6732 .

Assignment Responsibilities

• Develop a Countywide roundtable based on input and consensus of PCRG’s 13 county-based member organizations to form a comprehensive policy vision and better align PCRG technical assistance and capacity building services

• Draft reference materials to improve awareness of Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) programming, including the Allegheny Together initiative, which focuses on revitalizing local business districts

• Connect public officials, grassroots leaders, community stakeholders, and residents to realize community needs in land recycling, business development, and other critical areas

• Drawing from the resources developed by the previous Capacity VISTA, help communities navigate the conservatorship process to remediate blighted real estate

• Promote utilization of the Tri-COG (Council of Governments) Land Bank among PCRG member organizations to expedite the restoration of vacant, abandoned property to productive use

Benefits of AmeriCorps VISTA

• Living Allowance: Receive a modest bi-weekly living allowance of $472.22 to cover basic living expenses.

• Relocation Allowance: If you move 50+ miles from your home to a new community, you receive relocation travel assistance up to $1,000 (based on the federal mileage rate) and a settling-in allowance of $550.

• End of Service Award: Choose between a $5,920 Segal Education Award to pay for a range of education expenses or a $1,800 cash stipend.

• Health Care: Enroll in either out-of-pocket reimbursement ($7,150 medical, $1,000 for dental, $200 for vision) for healthcare or a healthcare plan. Dental and vision are also included, as are telehealth services.

• Non-Competitive Eligibility: Qualify for Non-Competitive Eligibility, a unique hiring path that makes it easier for federal agencies to hire you.

• Professional Development: Attend in-person and virtual professional development sponsored by AmeriCorps VISTA and Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group.

• Child Care: You may be eligible to receive up to $400/month for child care if you have children under the age of 13.

About Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group VISTA

This project is part of Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group’s (PCRG) VISTA program, which sponsors seven VISTA members working at six sites for a more prosperous and equitable region. As the area’s foremost convener of grassroots organizations, PCRG aims to prepare Greater Pittsburgh’s next generation of community leaders. The proximity of these groups to the people they serve enables VISTAs to tackle poverty head on as they confront the rapidly changing landscape of Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods and municipalities

In some areas, rapid growth threatens to displace low to moderate income residents, while other neighborhoods suffer from long-standing decay and under-investment. PCRG VISTAs placed with PCRG and its community partners aim to build the programming, resources, and organizational capacity necessary to capitalize on these changes. Not surprisingly, their assignments reflect the remarkable diversity of Greater Pittsburgh, concerning issues as varied as urban blight, affordable housing, and entrepreneur development. To support these goals, PCRG VISTAs formulate policy recommendations, implement community engagement strategies, write grants, manage volunteers, and much more. For more information on PCRG VISTA, visit http://www.pcrg.org/programs/americorps-vista .