RIOCOG EDA Ambassador for Economic Development VISTA

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Recruiting Organization: U.S. Economic Development Administration- Austin Office VISTA Program

Our VISTA member will be an ambassador of connectivity and community capacity building for middle and high-school students, parents, educators, and communities in Far West Texas including Hudspeth, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio and Brewster Counties. The VISTA will liaise with the West Texas Economic Development District (WTEDD), the Rio Grande Council of Governments (RGCOG), Workforce Solutions Borderplex (WSB), and community organizations to build understanding of the needs of each community, develop strategies to foster innovation and competitiveness and lay groundwork for sustainable alleviation of poverty, reduction in unemployment and preparedness for growth and success. There is a flexible start date from June-August 2022 and telework may be permitted. Position will be based in Marfa, TX, and applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis. Please feel free to reach out directly to the program contact listed. This project is sponsored by the Austin Regional Office (AURO) of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and will be directly supervised by the Rio Grande Council of Governments in El Paso, Texas. The overall EDA Mission is "to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy."

This VISTA will work with the regional universities (Sul Ross, UTEP and Western Tech) and eleven ISDs in the five-county region to gather information about economic development needs including careers, apprenticeship programs, training, soft skills, labor market information, technical and technological upskilling, and digital literacy. Over the course of the service, the VISTA will integrate with communities by maintaining relationships with the universities and ISDs to help problem-solve, recommend economic development activities and identify potential resources, grant monies, and collaborations for job creation, capacity and vibrancy.

During Service

· The position provides a $1,350/month living stipend.

· Relocation Assistance

· Health Care Program

· Child Care

· Student Loan Deferment and Interest Forbearance

· Professional Development

After Service

· End of Service Award - After a successful year of service, VISTAs can choose to receive either a:

· $1,800 cash stipend or

· $6,345 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be put towards student loans or pursuing further education.

· Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) Status - Once a VISTA successfully completes service that VISTA will receive one year of non-competitive eligibility for employment in the federal government. (This special hiring status enables the former VISTA to apply for federal jobs with the advantage of not having to go through the standard public competitive selection process.)

· Access to a large AmeriCorps Alumni network.

Stipend ProvidedFalse

Training ProvidedFalse

Housing AvailableFalse

Language/Cultral Support AvailableFalse

Wheelchair AccessibleFalse

Fee RequiredFalse

Fee Amount: None

This opportunity is recurring