 |
Disaster Recovery Initiatives
Volunteer Program and Resources
» Volunteer your time and skills today!
» Request volunteer assistance for your organization (PDF)
» Current Volunteer Opportunities
» Resources
» Notes from the field
The IEDC Economic Recovery Volunteer Program, funded by grants from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), deploys economic development professionals to key regions of the hurricane impact zone. The objective of the program is to increase the post-disaster survival rate of small- and medium-size businesses and assist with long-term economic recovery.
Volunteers provide services as specifically requested by the economic development organization (EDO) to which they are assigned. Activities include one-on-one business counseling, business retention & expansion technical assistance, policy analysis and research, strategic economic development planning assistance to EDOs, and much more. Volunteers commit to at least one week and are reimbursed for all expenses.
IEDC is pleased to announce that it has expanded the activities of the volunteer program with a second grant from the EDA. We are proud of the hard work of all who collaborated on IEDC’s recovery efforts in Mississippi and Louisiana. With the second grant, IEDC has extended the program’s reach to hurricane-impact zones in Texas. To view a summary of achievements, view the Semi-Annual Program Assessment (795 Kb PDF).
For more information, please contact Anne Berlin at (202) 942-9481, or by email at aberlin@iedconline.org.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
IEDC's Economic Recovery Volunteers are needed for the following assignments:
- The Alabama Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) in Mobile, AL, a program of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce, is seeking volunteers to address the following needs:
- Organizational strategic planning: MBEC is faced with a set of organizational targets provided by the Minority Business Development Agency, without any specific strategies in place to accomplish and track those goals.
- Tying client businesses into ongoing efforts to market and promote the region: MBEC would like to get more involved with incoming and expanding prospects, so as to assist in positioning minority businesses to benefit.
- Staff training on workforce development strategies: MBEC seeks volunteers with knowledge of Alabama workforce development initiatives to bring staff up to speed on this issue.
- Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce in Beaumont, TX, needs volunteers for:
- Development and Implementation of Workforce Recruitment Initiatives as outlined in the Southeast Texas Industrial Workforce Alliance Strategic Plan (PDF)
- Expanding Industry requires 10,000+ skilled industrial craft workers
- Grant Writing advisory services:
- Consult on how best to approach Dept of Labor and State of Texas Governor’s Workforce Commission (GWC) for workforce recruitment funding to complement existing $2.5 million for training
- Specific applications of funding include: identification and outreach to populations of dislocated industrial and military workers, representation at job fairs, branding and marketing of Southeast Texas, radio advertising
- Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation in Hammond, LA seeks volunteer assistance with the following projects:
- TEDF has opportunities to develop vacant tracts of land that can include some role of ownership and/or development control by the Foundation. Ideal volunteers have experience packaging public/private development partnerships that include air rights agreements, long term (i.e. 99 year) land lease agreements and similar instruments to induce and promote targeted development. The work could entail site specific and/or boiler plate products that could be applied by TEDF in the future, or both.
- TEDF is a 501(C)3 economic development organization and in need of relevant capacity building and support for the identification and development of new resources. Critical needs include new funding streams for technical and professional support to increase staffing capacity to promote new programs and projects, and funds to assist in business retention, small business growth, and inducing development projects. An expert in public and private sector grant opportunities, new revenue development through a 501(C)3 vehicle, and creation of related increased funding opportunities is desired. Primary volunteer project outcomes are the identification of relevant opportunities, and consultation on appropriate steps to secure such new funding streams.
- St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation, the fastest growing parish in post-Katrina Louisiana, seeks volunteers with the following skill-sets:
- Identifying grants—both federal and foundation—for 501c3 economic development nonprofits, and writing winning proposals in such areas as capacity building, capitalizing loan pools, infrastructure financing, marketing, and designations (i.e. CDFI).
- Harnessing 501c3 status as the catalyst for developing business parks through public/private partnerships.
- Organizational assessment and growth management, including staff expansion plans, project timeline and feasibility evaluation, and goal setting for a nonprofit EDO facing significant expansion.
- The MS Gulf Coast Chamber is looking for IEDC volunteer help in the following areas:
- Introduce the "Open for Business" program to businesses in a tri-county area. Open for Business is a disaster planning and recovery expertise program specifically designed for small to mid-sized businesses.
- Expand the Coast Young Professional program. An extension of the MS Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, this 400+ member group is a source of communication between individuals and businesses. The Chamber is seeking assistance with staff policies/procedures, organizational structure, and website development for the group.
- Workforce development strategies: how to reach local schools for mentoring programs/ educate students on career tracks available in the community, how to link schools and local business.
- Leaaf Environmental, LLC, in Gretna, Louisiana, is looking for a volunteer to assist with general accounting practices.
Resources
Volunteer Database (23 Kb Excel spreadsheet)
This spreadsheet lists all volunteers who have agreed to serve as an off-site resource. This means they will provide off-site technical assistance, counsel, or meet other needs for Gulf Coast communities. The database offers current, past, or future volunteers an opportunity to communicate with one another, with the host organizations, as well as with businesses. Likewise, organizations, communities, or businesses in the Gulf Coast can use the database to locate off-site volunteer assistance.
Important Volunteer Documents
• Travel reimbursement policy (PDF): please refer to this document for details about reimbursable expenses
• Volunteer expense form (PDF): return this form at the end of your mission for reimbursement of travel expenses
• Volunteer program evaluation form (PDF): return this form with as much detail as possible, so we can continue to improve the program
Louisiana Volunteer Resources
• Bring New Orleans Back (summary PDF): Visit www.bringneworleansback.org for more information about the BNOB Commission
• Louisiana Recovery Authority: www.lra.louisiana.gov
Mississippi Volunteer Resources
• Hancock County information (PDF)
• Harrison County Business Resource Guide (PDF)
News sites:
Regional websites:
Notes from the field
Collected here are reports, articles, and comments from IEDC members, staff, and past volunteers. They serve to best represent the impact of the volunteer program on the reconstruction of Gulf Coast businesses and economies.
IEDC Program Reports
IEDC in Ink
- November 2, 2007 – The Charleston Gazette
PCDA Director volunteers in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi
- July 26, 2007 – Standard Times
Art that grew from hurricane finds New Bedford shelter
- July 11, 2007 - Lebanon Daily News
LVEDC chief to help New Orleans
- Feb 16, 2007 – The Times
Connecting with business owners in New Orleans
- February 1, 2007 – SouthCoastToday.com
Opinion: Gulf Coast has lessons for all of us
- February 1, 2007 – SouthCoastToday.com
Gulf Coast has lessons for all of us
- December 10, 2006 – Beaumontenterprises.com
LNG projects in SE Texas puts area on global stage
- December 8, 2006 –The Port Arthur News
Area has golden opportunity for growth, experts say
- December 2, 2006 – Beaumontenterprises.com
Southeast Texas getting economic help
Individual Reports and Articles
- Rebuilding Bayou Business: A Volunteers Guide to Enhance Economic Vitality After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (PDF) by Tim Johnson, volunteer to Louisiana Economic Development and the Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development.
- IEDC Hurricane Rita Economic Recovery Report (PDF) by Kevin Wilkins, CecD, volunteer to the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce
- Helping in the Katrina Recovery, by Nancy Bowen, New Orleans volunteer and Director, Van Wert City (OH) Extension Educator, Community Economic Development
- Picking Up the Pieces in Hancock County, Mississippi: An IEDC Volunteer’s Experience by Dan Keefe, Policy Analyst, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunities
- WEDC to Participate in Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts by the Wayne Economic Development Council, about the volunteer program in Hancock County, Mississippi
- Waterbury Development exec helped Louisiana businesses in hurricane's wake, about Anthony Price, Director of Business Growth Group, Waterbury (CT) Development Corporation
- John Zakian volunteered in New Orleans twice. Read his report (PDF) to see how he compares his volunteer experiences in early December 2005 and early March 2006.
- In Observations from a Graduate Student (PDF), Nicole Guanzon, a graduate of Tufts University and former IEDC intern, details her volunteer experience with Greater New Orleans, Inc. in March 2006.
- In Assessment of Fundamental Challenges: Helping with Business and Economic Development Recovery and Growth Plans in the Katrina/Rita Affected Gulf Coast Region (Louisiana and Mississippi), third time IEDC volunteer John R. Zakian, CEcD, provides a general guide for volunteers who do not have any first hand experience in the region.
- Recovering from Disaster (member exclusive), by Louise Anderson
Comments
“Comments back to me such as ‘this is the best thing to happen to me’, and ‘this is just what I needed’, and ‘you've really got me thinking about this in a whole new way--one that is positive!’…made the whole trip worthwhile."
–- Dr. Scott Taylor, volunteer in Lake Charles, LA
“I feel I was able to use many skill sets to assist businesses in evaluating their business plans post Katrina. The assignment was useful because many business owners benefited from having another objective opinion on their business strategies and options.”
–- Lindsey Ballas, Tampa Bay Partnership, volunteer in New Orleans
“Part of the beneficial impact was the encouragement to local officials to look beyond mere survival mode to future development of economic activity. Volunteers should remember that the local business officials are busy trying to rebuild their personal lives as well as the business community.”
–- Leslie Quinn, CEcD, volunteer in Bay Saint Louis, MS
“I truly felt the counseling was effective in terms of advice that was provided on anything from debt restructuring, disaster financing programs available, or organizational expansion, insurance issues, and an encouragement to these businesses.”
–- Larry Lallo, CEcD, Barberton (OH) Community Development Corporation, volunteer in New Orleans
|
|
