Northern Lakes Economic Alliance - Rural Partners Corps Fellow

Lead For America • Boyne City, MI

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Rural Partners Corps (RPC) Fellow will serve full-time with the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance (NLEA), a regional economic development organization serving Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, and Emmet counties. The fellow will support NLEA’s efforts to promote economic development strategies and capacity across Northern Lower Michigan. Work includes research into the region’s manufacturing sector, historical economic impact research, forward-looking market analysis, and stakeholder engagement to support development of NLEA’s 2028–2031 Strategic Plan. Research, information-gathering, and planning support will be conducted under NLEA staff direction and in accordance with the approved AmeriCorps State and National grant and its performance measures.

The service fellowship runs from December 7, 2026, through August 13, 2027. Fellows serve approximately 40 hours per week and complete 1,200 service hours during the term. The RPC program does not offer part-time or remote fellow positions. Candidates should live in or near the rural community they serve and bring a meaningful connection to it.

The fellow will receive structured training and support, including a virtual national orientation, an in-person Winter Institute with covered travel, lodging, and per diem, twice-monthly virtual training, self-paced curricula, a community listening tour, dedicated support from a Lead For America Program Coordinator, peer pod meetings, and access to a national network of fellows, alumni, and community partners.

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 an understanding of its strengths, priorities, and relationships.
• Demonstrate a commitment 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.
• Bring humility and curiosity and be willing 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 and develop actionable insights for other Northern Lower Michigan communities.
• 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 supporting a U.S. Economic Development Administration planning grant.
• Evaluate regional manufacturing trends, capacity, and growth opportunities across Northern Lower Michigan, and share findings with NLEA staff.
• Assist NLEA leadership with designing and carrying out the 2028–2031 Strategic Plan process.
• Support stakeholder engagement, meeting preparation, documentation, and synthesis of stakeholder input.
• Support broader regional economic development initiatives through research, resource mapping, and coordination with community organizations and regional stakeholders.
• Support strategies that strengthen local business infrastructure, community capacity, and regional competitiveness.
• Participate in a structured community listening tour at the start of service.

Benefits

• $23,300 living allowance, dispersed biweekly over the service term.
• $5,220 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful program completion.
• Access to a national network of fellows, community partners, and alumni, with one-to-one support.
• Student loan forbearance and 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 for the in-person Winter Institute.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED