Position Title: Stewards VISTA: Floyd County Economic Development-AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements, East

Site Location: Prestonsburg, KY

City, State or Full Address: 149 S Central Ave, Prestonsburg, KY 41653

Terms of Service:

• Start Date: 06/02/25
• End Date: 06/01/26
• Must serve a 365-day (1 year) service term
• Living Allowance: $68.39/day ($24,962.35/year)

PLEASE APPLY USING THIS LINK: My AmeriCorps - Home Page

Purpose:

This is an AmeriCorps Position within an AmeriCorps Program designed to support community resilience and economic revitalization in Floyd County, Kentucky—an Appalachian community facing long-term challenges from coal industry decline and the 2022 Central Appalachian Floods. Through the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities (BRECC) initiative, this program aims to help rural areas chart a future rooted in local strengths and shared values, with a focus on economic diversification, housing, workforce development, and infrastructure improvement. Guided by principles of collaboration, equity, and sustainability, the program empowers community-led solutions that preserve the region’s identity while promoting lasting opportunity.

The AmeriCorps Member serving in this position will support the implementation of Floyd County’s Economic Diversification Plan by coordinating stakeholder efforts, identifying redevelopment sites, and advancing key housing, workforce, and infrastructure projects. By aligning local priorities with available resources, the member will play a critical role in developing strategic tools—including an asset map and project list—that help Floyd County grow more resilient, connected, and future-ready.

The AmeriCorps VISTA member will build capacity and develop sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in underserved communities.

Description of Duties:

As the AmeriCorps Member serving as the Economic Development Coordinator, you’ll help move Floyd County’s Economic Diversification Plan from ideas to action. Your work will focus on projects that support small businesses, affordable housing, and community infrastructure. Duties include:

• Helping to organize and support meetings with local leaders and community partners.
• Researching funding opportunities and tracking progress on key economic projects.
• Identifying and mapping buildings or land that could be reused for new community needs.
• Assisting with planning for a Community Resilience Hub and other long-term goals.
• Creating simple tools, summaries, or visuals that help share the county’s progress and plans.

Your service will support lasting, community-led change in a rural area working to rebuild and grow.

Qualifications:

o   United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien

o   At least 18 years of age

o   Has received a four-year college degree

o   Agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check

Physical Requirements:

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.

Time Requirements:

• Typically, this position is expected to serve full-time (35-40 hours) from 6/02/25 to 6/01/26, but exact schedules may vary. 
• Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

Orientation and Training:

• Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities
• Member will receive a Virtual Member Orientation (VMO) from VISTA on their first day of service

Benefits:

• Segal AmeriCorps Education Award* of $7,395.00

o   or choice of cash stipend of ~$1,800.00

• Living Allowance of $68.39 per day, disbursed every 2 weeks
• Relocation Allowance ($750) if Eligible
• Healthcare Coverage* if Eligible
• Childcare Coverage* if Eligible
• Loan forbearance if Eligible
• Interest Payments if Eligible
• Training and Professional Development Opportunities
• Employee Wellness Program (access to a licensed, professional counselor and 24/7 support)
• Non-Competitive Eligibility* (NCE) status upon successful completion of the term
• Networking and Mentorship

*For more information regarding the Segal Education Award, check out this link as well as alternative uses for the award here.

*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit http://www.vistacampus.gov/healthcare

*For more information regarding the AmeriCorps VISTA Childcare benefit, please visit https://americorpschildcare.com/

*For details about Non-Competitive Eligibility, please visit https://my.americorps.gov/trust/help/member_portal/non_competitive_eligibility_overview.htm

Evaluation and Reporting:

As an AmeriCorps VISTA member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed their required year of service; the member has satisfactorily completed assignments; and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.

Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets, accomplishment tracking, and quarterly reporting.

Supervisor Name and Contact Information:

For VISTA-related information, contact Addie Gilkerson at agilkerson@conservationlegacy.org

For site-related information, contact Ruthie Caldwell at ruthie@visiongranted.com

PLEASE APPLY USING THIS LINK: My AmeriCorps - Home Page

Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to the hiring manager.