- Where
- Des Moines, Iowa, United States
- Level
- Mid
Note: This is a full-time RPC AmeriCorps position with the Iowa Economic Development Authority
About the Rural Partners Corps:
The Rural Partners Corps (RPC) is a new AmeriCorps service fellowship from Lead For America (LFA) that places locally rooted fellows with rural, place-based backbone organizations. Fellows already live in or near the communities they serve. They bring local knowledge, transferable skills, relationships, and a commitment to making their communities stronger. RPC Fellows will serve 40 hours per week from December through August, working alongside Host Site staff and community partners to build organizational and community capacity and advance cradle-to-career economic mobility for rural young people.
About the Iowa Economic Development Authority & The Center for Rural Revitalization
Iowa Economic Development Authority's purpose is to create opportunities for Iowans, communities, and businesses to thrive. Our vision is to build a culture in which businesses can prosper, build communities where people want to live and visit, and raise the standard of living for Iowans.
The Center for Rural Revitalization, housed within the Iowa Economic Development Authority, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Governor's Empower Rural Iowa initiative, implementing ERI task force recommendations, acting as a liaison to rural communities and helping small communities access programs that support rural areas.
Position Overview
The Member will assist staff with capacity-building activities that expand the Iowa United First Aid (IUFA) program, an initiative of the Governor's Empower Rural Iowa task force. IUFA's mission is to provide immediate medical intervention during the critical window between the onset of an emergency and the arrival of an ambulance. The program leverages GPS-location technology and trained volunteers to decrease immediate response time and stabilize emergencies while coordinating with emergency assistance. The Member’s role is focused on program development and capacity building and does not include providing medical care, making clinical decisions, or independently directing emergency responses.
The Member will assist with the customization, buildout, and testing of the Rural Response app (estimated completion February 2027). The Member will support staff-led efforts to expand the IUFA program to additional communities in Iowa. This includes contributing to community recruitment, technical support activities, volunteer recruitment efforts, policy and procedure development, community engagement, and communication activities. All activities will be consistent with the approved AmeriCorps State and National grant and its performance measures.
The Member will have the opportunity to participate in statewide meetings of the Empower Rural Iowa task force and Iowa Rural Development Council and contribute to a variety of projects and initiatives, including the annual Rural Summit and a potential national Rural Prosperity event convening in Iowa in June 2027.
All functions and activities performed by the RPC Member are completed under the guidance, supervision, and direction of program and host site staff.
Key Responsibilities
The RPC fellow will:
1. Rural Response App Support
The Member will serve as a secondary point of contact, under staff supervision, for the Rural Response app development team and the three pilot communities during app customization (estimated completion February 2027). Activities may include:
Attending discovery meetings with staff, stakeholders, and community representatives.
Assisting with user testing and feedback collection.
Supporting documentation and communication related to project deliverables.
2. IUFA Program Expansion Support
The Member will support staff-led expansion of the IUFA program to three additional communities in Iowa. Activities may include contributing to:
Refinement of program application materials and guidelines.
Creation of informational resources…