FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec 05, 2024

Innovative public private partnership will advance locally designed economic plans in energy communities.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the inaugural Energy Communities AmeriCorps class launched their year of full-time service with a pledge to “get things done for America” by working with local leaders to advance economic development and job creation in rural energy communities across the country. 

This innovative public-private partnership, led by Conservation Legacy, will engage a total of 150 AmeriCorps members serving with AmeriCorps VISTA over the next three years to help ensure a more prosperous future for the men and women who fueled our nation’s growth.

The 18 members of the first class were sworn into service by AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith as part of a weeklong training in Washington DC before starting their service supporting locally designed economic development and workforce readiness in nine federally designated energy communities.

“Energy Communities AmeriCorps is an example of how AmeriCorps is investing in community-led initiatives to address pressing local issues,” said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps. “These AmeriCorps VISTA positions provide training and pathways to permanent careers in the burgeoning sustainable energy economy. This partnership is a major investment in communities of hardworking people who have been affected by industrial change, and whose leadership will be critical as the sustainable energy sector continues to evolve.”

Through this partnership, AmeriCorps VISTA members will serve on projects that build capacity of nonprofit organizations, public agencies, local economic development districts, and other organizations to support economic development and workforce readiness in energy communities. Serving through local host organizations, members will carry out activities such as conducting community needs assessments, organizing public meetings, grant writing, outreach on tax incentives and other federal resources to support economic development, educating residents about hazards associated with abandoned mine lands, increasing public awareness about training and employment opportunities, and more.

AmeriCorps developed the Energy Communities AmeriCorps project in partnership with the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (Energy Communities IWG), which serves as a hub for federal coordination and stakeholder engagement to spur economic revitalization and support workers in distressed energy communities. The Energy Communities IWG has launched seven Rapid Response Teams to align federal resources in communities experiencing recent or imminent economic downturns. AmeriCorps members will work closely with these Rapid Response Teams to engage local government, business, and nonprofit stakeholders in each energy community.

“One of the most common challenges we hear from energy communities is lack of capacity, and Energy Communities AmeriCorps will address this challenge head-on,” said Brian Anderson, Executive Director, Energy Communities IWG. “The 18 members sworn in today know these communities and have experienced first-hand the impact of the economic transition. Each of these AmeriCorps VISTA members has insider knowledge that is going to make a difference in the lives of energy community residents and workers, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact our members have in these communities.”

Energy Communities AmeriCorps is funded through a unique multi-agency public private partnership with support from three members of the Energy Communities IWG – the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

"Creating a more sustainable and equitable future means supporting the legacy energy communities that powered our country’s growth, so they can benefit from the clean energy transition," said Antha Williams, who leads the environment program at Bloomberg Philanthropies. "Bloomberg Philanthropies is committed to backing the Energy Communities AmeriCorps partnership, whose inaugural class will work alongside local leaders to promote economic development and environmental remediation. Together, we will ensure these communities aren’t left behind but instead play a leading role in our transition to a cleaner, more resilient economy."

The project sponsor Conservation Legacy is a longstanding AmeriCorps partner with extensive experience working in coal communities. Over the past 22 years, Conservation Legacy has engaged more than 1,200 AmeriCorps members in supporting economic development and revitalization in energy communities in Appalachia and the Intermountain West. These members have secured $41 million in grants and in-kind resources, recruited 100,000 volunteers, trained 16,000 community members in water quality monitoring, and improved 3.2 million acres of land.

“Conservation Legacy is proud to be part of this partnership and build upon its 20-year history of engaging AmeriCorps members who bring critical capacity to rural communities nationwide,” said Amy Sovocool, Conservation Legacy President. “This effort is part of our steadfast commitment to engaging local leadership and capacity to leverage public and private resources that support economic development, workforce training, natural resource management, and other community-identified priorities.”

Conservation Legacy worked with local business, government, and nonprofit leaders in the energy communities to identify host site organizations and recruit members to serve in these positions. Members will live and serve in the community – helping energy communities attract and retain the talent they need to support their economic development goals.

The first class of Energy Communities AmeriCorps will serve through the following organizations in Eastern Kentucky, the Illinois Coal Basin, Appalachian Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Virginia:

  • Kentucky River Area Development District, Hazard, Ky.
  • Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, Hazard, Ky.
  • Floyd County Fiscal Court, Prestonsburg, Ky.
  • Shaping our Appalachian Region, Pikeville, Ky.
  • Southern Illinois Now, Carbondale, Ill.
  • Prairie Rivers Network, Champaign, Ill.
  • Rural Action Ohio, The Plains, Ohio
  • Southwest Pennsylvania Municipal Project Hub, Pittsburgh, Pa.
  • Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, Ashley, PA.
  • Stewards Individual Placements, Beckley, W. Va
  • USDA Rural Development, Morgantown, W. Va
  • Wyoming County Economic Development Authority, Pineville, W. Va
  • West Virginia Region One Planning & Development Council, Princeton, W. Va
  • Appalachian Voices, Norton, Va
  • Coalfield Development, Huntington, W. Va
  • Powell Economic Partnership, Powell, Wyo.
  • Community Services Network of Wyoming, Sheridan, Wyo.

AmeriCorps VISTA members serving with Energy Communities AmeriCorps will receive a living allowance, health care, childcare, a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or a cash award after service, student loan forbearance and interest repayment, relocation expenses, training and professional development, and non-competitive eligibility for federal service.

Conservation Legacy is recruiting additional organizations to serve as host sites for the second cohort of members who will start their service in April. The next class will expand the number of members serving in Eastern Kentucky, Illinois Coal Basin, Appalachian Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Virginia, and place members in the Four Corners and Southeast Montana energy communities. 

More information and application materials for organizations that want to serve as host sites can be found at stewardslegacy.org/ecap. This page also has information for individuals interested in applying to serve in Energy Communities AmeriCorps.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. Learn how to get involved at AmeriCorps.gov/Serve.