Energy Communities AmeriCorps VISTA DOI -Fnd. App. KY - Y1

As energy opportunities expand, coal and power facility jobs are declining across the United States. This VISTA project will develop and advance programs that increase environmental awareness and stewardship, job training, employment pathways, and access to existing federal and community resources for low-income individuals living in energy transition communities.

Located in Hazard, KY Foundation for Appalachian KY is a hub for rural development- building capacity and support for community and economic development activities, investing local resources to accelerate promising sectors, new social enterprises, and entrepreneurial ecosystems, and acting as an honest broker that can support civic engagement. Working with local people, local government, nonprofits, schools, and businesses, we have developed partnerships that support community engagement, diverse leadership, new enterprises and entrepreneurship, workforce empowerment and jobs in several promising sectors including local food and agriculture, arts and culture, affordable and energy efficient housing, in one of the most persistently poor regions of our country. We envision a region where economic opportunity is abundant, communities value and encourage learning and curiosity as a priority throughout a person's life, and new ideas, businesses, and visions can thrive and take root.

As the Foundation's community representative in a partnership in the development of a 7000-acre solar farm on a multi-county mine site, the VISTA member will maintain close ties to developers, environmental partners (TNC), affiliate Foundation boards in impacted communities, and other community stakeholders. The first year will be primarily learning about the project, building strong relationships, attending meetings and hosting stakeholder events to ensure and open and honest process.