RAIN Joins IEDC in U.S. EDA-funded Economic Recovery Corps Program
The Regional Accelerator & Innovation Network (RAIN) Catalysts, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is thrilled to join a distinguished group of partners in the U.S. EDA-funded Economic Recovery Corps (ERC) program, which is led by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). RAIN’s role in this project is to deliver a comprehensive training program on community-based engagement and stakeholder engagement, as well as ongoing support, for an inspiring cohort of Fellows, who will be recruited, hired, and placed in economic development organizations in underserved communities throughout the United States. RAIN Catalysts will also ensure the communities invite the Fellows in to help them accelerate their region’s economic development and be prepared for a changing economy.
Since its inception in 2014, RAIN Catalysts has worked to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and innovation for underrepresented populations and communities, while helping cities and regions build inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and innovation economies. Through these endeavors, RAIN Catalysts has developed a successful model for entrepreneurial development that has been implemented in 52 communities in the Pacific Northwest states of Oregon and Washington, as well as three cities in Pakistan. On a local level, these efforts focus on connecting local entrepreneurs to the people (mentors, peers, talent, etc.), educational programs, and capital they need to start and grow successful businesses. And at the community level, RAIN Catalysts engages local stakeholders and helps to leverage strengths, identify gaps, and map the resources of the entrepreneurial ecosystem.
While it may sound like RAIN Catalysts has created a “playbook” for entrepreneurial development, the success of the model is actually founded in its approach to investigating and listening to the unique needs of every community rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution. RAIN’s approach is investigative, not prescriptive. In recent years, RAIN Catalysts has been invited to serve communities far beyond its original charter, and it has been exciting to see how this model can be applied, adapted, and refined for such a wide range of people and places. As part of the Economic Recovery Corps, RAIN Catalysts looks forward to sharing these best practices with the passionate and talented group of Fellows who will be tasked with accelerating economic and entrepreneurial development efforts in underserved communities throughout the nation.
Communities that want to host a Fellow to help advance their region’s economic development and do it in an inclusive and sustainable manner should apply. To learn more about this opportunity, we encourage you to visit the ERC program’s homepage and fill out the interest form to stay in touch.
