Community Benefits AmeriCorps*Volunteer in Service to America at MSU Center for Community & Economic Development

Community Benefits (CB) are defined as “legal agreements” (or binding and non-binding contracts) to bring stakeholders such as labor organizations, racial justice groups, environmental entities, faith communities and more together and to ensure the benefits of government dollars are optimized for their communities. For example, benefits may include commitments to hire directly from a community or region, contributions to economic trust funds, local workforce training guarantees and more according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Impact and Diversity. In Michigan, many communities are unaware of this opportunity for local wealth building. Therefore, to serve Michigan “hotspot” communities, a VISTA member will assist to research, draft, share for feedback, compile and assist to evaluate CB plans and agreements of action for both rural and urban spaces as part of a larger Michigan-oriented toolkit. They will also support the convening and facilitation of a community advisory board and help develop impact analyses. This will assist to determine if CB plans and agreements are effective ways to leverage investment from those who can afford it to directly meet the community-identified stakeholder needs.