Community and Business Development Specialist (Tuscola County EDC), RPC Fellow

Note: This is a full-time RPC AmeriCorps position with Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation

About the Rural Partners Corps:

The Rural Partners Corps (RPC) is a new AmeriCorps service fellowship from Lead For America (LFA) that places locally rooted fellows with rural, place-based backbone organizations. Fellows already live in or near the communities they serve. They bring local knowledge, transferable skills, relationships, and a commitment to making their communities stronger. RPC Fellows will serve 40 hours per week from December through August, working alongside Host Site staff and community partners to build organizational and community capacity and advance cradle-to-career economic mobility for rural young people.

About Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation

The Tuscola County EDC is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to raising the quality of life in Tuscola County through economic development.

Position Overview

The Community and Business Development Specialist will support Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation efforts to strengthen local businesses and advance community and economic development priorities. The RPC Member will assist with business outreach, project support, economic development, transportation, research, and partner engagement while helping improve the tools and processes used to connect businesses and communities with resources. This service will support employment, entrepreneurship, and economic mobility in Tuscola County.

All activities will be conducted under the guidance of TEDC staff and in alignment with the approved AmeriCorps State and National program goals and performance measures.

Key Responsibilities

The RPC fellow will:

• Business assistance: Assist staff with business retention and expansion visits, business intakes, resource referrals, and follow-up. Refer business decisions, eligibility determinations, and commitments to authorized staff.
• Project support: Community development activities through research, documentation, and project tracking.
• Partner engagement: Assist with communication and collaboration among businesses, municipalities, schools, workforce organizations, EMCOG, and other agency partners. under staff guidance.
• Organizational capacity: Help develop and improve resource materials, intake tools, and tracking systems that strengthen TEDC services for staff review and use.
• Communications and reporting: Assist with outreach materials, meeting preparation, project summaries, and documentation of services and community outcomes in accordance with staff guidance and applicable data-handling procedures.

The RPC Member’s service activities will supplement, not displace or duplicate, the work of paid staff or existing volunteers and will not include prohibited activities under AmeriCorps regulations.

Learning & Development Opportunities

As an RPC fellow, you will receive structured training and support throughout your service year, including: 

• A week-long virtual orientation with the national cohort to kick off the service year.
• A week-long, in-person national Winter Institute convening with your Lead For America cohort — travel, lodging, and a per diem stipend are fully covered.
• Twice-monthly virtual training on skills for service, including project management, asset-based community development, grant writing, and serving vulnerable populations, plus self-paced curricula with opportunities to earn badges and credentials.
• A structured community listening tour at the start of service to understand local needs, assets, and opportunities.
• Dedicated 1:1 support from a Lead For America Program Coordinator and twice-monthly peer pod meetings for networking and professional development.
• Access to a national network of Lead For America fellows, alumni, and community partners.