Northern Lakes Economic Alliance - Rural Partners Corps Fellow

Lead For America•Boyne City, MI

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Rural Partners Corps (RPC) Fellow will serve with the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA), a regional economic development organization serving Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties in Northern Lower Michigan. The fellow will support NLEA’s work to strengthen regional economic development strategies and capacity, including research into the manufacturing sector, historical economic-impact research, market analysis, and stakeholder engagement for the organization’s 2028–2031 Strategic Plan. Work will be conducted under the direction of NLEA staff and in accordance with the approved AmeriCorps State and National grant and its performance measures. The fellow will research the lifetime economic impact of the Boyne City Industrial Park, support a regional manufacturing data analysis for a U.S. Economic Development Administration planning grant, and assist with strategic planning and broader regional capacity-building initiatives. Activities must support regional or community-level planning, follow AmeriCorps guidelines, and not displace or duplicate existing workers’ duties. NLEA leadership retains responsibility for strategic decisions and approval of the final strategic plan. Fellows serve full-time, approximately 40 hours per week, completing 1,200 hours during the service term. The role includes structured training, a community listening tour, one-to-one support from a Lead For America Program Coordinator, peer meetings, and access to a national network of fellows, alumni, and community partners. The program does not offer part-time or remote fellow positions.

Requirements

Be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Lawful Permanent Resident.
Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
Be at least 17 years old by the start of service.
Have served fewer than four AmeriCorps State/National terms.
Live in or near the rural community where the fellow will serve.
Have a meaningful connection to the community and understand its strengths, priorities, and relationships.
Be committed to serving the community where they live.
Have strong relationship-building, communication, and collaboration skills.
Show initiative and independence in organizing work and moving projects forward.
Be able to work across nonprofit, government, education, business, and community sectors.
Demonstrate humility and curiosity and a willingness to learn from community members and local leaders.
Align with the host site's mission, values, culture, and priorities.
Be ready to meet Lead For America, AmeriCorps, and service fellowship expectations.

Nice To Haves

Transferable skills in project management, community engagement, youth development, workforce development, partnership development, communications, or organizational capacity building.

Responsibilities

Research the Boyne City Industrial Park through historical record reviews and founder interviews to analyze its lifetime economic impact.
Compile and organize research findings to support a case study that can inform community-level economic development planning.
Collect, organize, and summarize regional manufacturing data for market analysis, including trends, capacity, and growth opportunities across Northern Lower Michigan.
Share regional research and data-analysis findings with NLEA staff for planning purposes.
Assist NLEA leadership with designing and executing the process for the 2028–2031 Strategic Plan.
Support stakeholder engagement, meeting preparation, documentation, and synthesis of stakeholder input.
Collaborate on regional economic development initiatives that strengthen local business infrastructure, community capacity, and regional competitiveness.
Support research, resource mapping, and coordination with community organizations and regional stakeholders to address identified regional needs.
Perform research, information-gathering, and planning support under NLEA staff direction and consistent with AmeriCorps grant requirements and performance measures.

Benefits

$23,300 living allowance, paid biweekly over the service term.
$5,220 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the program.
Access to a national network of fellows, community partners, and alumni.
One-to-one support from a Lead For America Program Coordinator.
Student loan forbearance for eligible fellows.
Childcare support for eligible fellows.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage, if applicable.
Fully funded training throughout the year.
Hands-on experience, in-demand skills, and career exploration in community development and digital inclusion.
Travel, lodging, and a per diem stipend covered for the week-long in-person national Winter Institute.