Local nonprofits to benefit from more AmeriCorps VISTA members

PEP awarded grant to expand program in area

Posted 10/15/19

Powell Economic Partnership (PEP) has been awarded a grant to expand its current AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America Program to help local nonprofits better serve their communities. The grant …

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Local nonprofits to benefit from more AmeriCorps VISTA members

PEP awarded grant to expand program in area

Posted

Powell Economic Partnership (PEP) has been awarded a grant to expand its current AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America Program to help local nonprofits better serve their communities. The grant has a value of approximately $240,000 for one year.

The grant expands PEP’s role in the program from a single site supervising two VISTA members, to coordinating the recruitment and management of up to nine VISTA members and one VISTA leader position among eight sub-sites in Park and Big Horn counties.

The main tenants of the VISTA Program focus on supporting current and new programs that address poverty at the local level, by increasing the capacity of organizations and communities. PEP says the AmeriCorps VISTA grant supports one of its strategic priorities “to champion community vibrancy and the foundations for progress.”

PEP initially received the AmeriCorps VISTA grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service in 2015 to support two VISTA positions at the Powell Makerspace. Since then, PEP has sponsored five VISTA positions. PEP leaders say the VISTA members have been critical “to expand the capacity of the Makerspace to meet the growing entrepreneurial and technological education needs of the Powell community.”

“Because of the AmeriCorps VISTA program, the Powell Makerspace has been able to develop relationships with multiple partners in the community for technical education including Powell Valley Community Education, Parks and Rec and the Park County Library Foundation,” said Christine Bekes, PEP executive director and a Powell Makerspace board member.

The Makerspace’s current VISTA is working in partnership with PEP and other regional economic development partners to launch a program for entrepreneurs, she said.

“The Makerspace is an ideal leader with the technology equipment, commercial kitchen and co-workspace, but it lacks the capacity that this VISTA is developing,” Bekes said.

The expanded grant funding will allow PEP to place additional VISTA members at other nonprofits, including the Homesteader Museum, Northwest College, the Northwest College Foundation, Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wyoming, Plaza Diane and Lovell, INC — PEP’s counterpart in Lovell.

VISTAs will fill roles in one-year service periods. The intent is that when they leave, their capacity-building efforts will be able to be sustained long-term by their supervising organization.

VISTA Member Assignment Descriptions are being posted on the AmeriCorps VISTA Portal while PEP also plans to advertise the positions.

All VISTA positions come with a monthly living stipend, relocation support and an education or cash award upon completion of service. Additional supplemental benefits may be offered at the discretion of each sub-site. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps.

For more information on the AmeriCorps VISTA Program, VISTA Positions or other PEP initiatives, contact PEP Grants Manager Jessica Lum at grantsmanager@pepinc.org, or Bekes at Christine.bekes@pepinc.org or 307-754-3494.

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