Join the Economic Recovery Corps

IEDC and its partners are building a nationwide corps of diverse, cross-sector talent with the skills and expertise to help activate regional economic development strategies that promote connectivity, innovation, and knowledge-sharing between urban, rural, and tribal areas across the U.S. in a way that elevates new practice and transforms the field of economic development.

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ERC Fellows will serve as catalysts, working in partnership with local leaders and communities to activate regional economic development strategies that drive innovation, sustainable growth, and build long-term resilience. Through this 2.5-year program, Fellows will receive robust on-going professional development opportunities, including mentorship, coaching and Economic Development Certification training, positioning them to thrive and grow as change leaders during the fellowship and beyond.

If you’re an early- to mid-career professional with a passion and desire to create transformative economic change, apply to be an ERC Fellow!

The Economic Recovery Corps is a unique opportunity to join – and help build – a nationwide network of diverse practitioners and leaders with the passion, skills, and vision to advance new ways of doing economic development that promotes transformative change and leads to a more just, equitable, and sustainable economy for all.

You might be a good fit if…

• You are looking to do something impactful, substantive, and transformative while growing as a professional.
• You get excited about the idea of joining and building a nation-wide network of innovators that will change the system and create new ways of doing economic development where no one gets left behind.
• You seek opportunities that allow you to develop new knowledge and practices that can shape the next generation of economic development practitioners and community-builders.
• You seek to work with and engage stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to build effective coalitions.
• You’re known for being somewhat of a disruptor or change agent within your network — just as equally as you’re known for being a connector of people.

Fellowship Features

High-Impact Field Experience

• 30-month contract with an economic development project aligned with your professional background and skills.
• $90,000 annual fellowship stipend for 2.5 years ($225,000 total).
• $10,000 post-fellowship readjustment stipend (contingent upon fulfillment of contractual requirements and completion of program).
• Mentorship opportunities with experienced community and economic development leaders.
• Action research capstone project in partnership with your host organization.

Leadership and Professional Development

• Access to professional development opportunities, including a stipend of up to $27,500 for travel expenses, annual in-person training retreats, and access to up to two conferences per year hosted by IEDC or one of the ERC partners.
• An opportunity to pursue certification to become a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and/or Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP).

Expanded Network

• Monthly Community of Practice engagements with a sub-cohort of peers led by one of the six ERC partners.
• Quarterly virtual peer learning and network exchanges with the entire Fellow cohort.
• Access to ERC Partners’ nationwide network of industry leaders, more than 23,000 partner organizations, and ongoing support, collaboration, and professional opportunities through IEDC’s 4,000+ member network.