This EDA investment funds the economic recovery corps project, a cooperative agreement between the international economic development council, INC. (iedc) and its partners, to create a national…

The Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration awarded a $61.5 million cooperative agreement to the International Economic Development Council under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program. The award funds the Economic Recovery Corps project to create a national recovery corps of at least 65 fellows embedded in economic development organizations across the United States. Over three years, fellows will help regions recover from the COVID-19 pandemic by increasing the capacity of host organizations to engage in local and regional economic development and access federal opportunities with a focus on equity, opportunity, and inclusion. The International Economic Development Council and its partners will provide training to fellows and host organizations. A collaborative approach aims to enhance coordination of local and regional work as well as knowledge of Native American economic development needs for Native American fellows both on and off tribal lands. Knowledge gained will be integrated into economic development practice and disseminated through a network of over 23,000 organizations. The completion date for this October 1, 2022 award is March 31, 2027.

This EDA investment funds the economic recovery corps project, a cooperative agreement between the international economic development council, INC. (iedc) and its partners, to create a national recovery corps program designed to hire and embed fellows in a variety of economic development organizations, economic development districts, entrepreneurial support organizations, counties and cities. The fellows will help regions recover from the coronavirus pandemic by increasing capacity of their host region to engage in local and regional economic development and how to engage with federal opportunities with an approach centered on equity, opportunity, access and inclusion. Over the three-year fellowship, fellows will also be tasked with building relationships and connections across their region between and among community stakeholders. Iedc and its partners will provide training to a cohort of at least 65 fellows, as well as the organizations that will host the fellows for three years. A collaborative focus will enhance the quality and coordination of the local and regional work as well as increased knowledge of native american economic development needs for native american fellows both on and off tribal lands. Through the collective partners, the knowledge that is gained will be integrated into the practice of economic development and disseminated to a shared network of over 23,000 organizations across the united states and tribal lands.