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Community Revolving Fund Assistant
Intern with Cooperative Energy Futures though the Minnesota Project
Position Title: Community Revolving Fund Assistant
Time Period: September-December 2009 (can be continued if desired), 5-10 hrs/week, start-end times variable.
Compensation: Volunteer. Can be credit bearing if approved by academic institution.
Supervised By: CEF Strategic Planning and Partnerships Coordinator
Work Format: The Community Revolving Fund Assistant should be able to manage their own time and, after working with CEF leaders to establish initial contacts with potentially interested communities and local banks, be willing to schedule meetings with bank representatives and community leaders on their own. This position will rely heavily on the experience of CEF leaders, but also requires a high degree of personal creativity and professionalism. Applicants should be able to manage their own work schedule, feel comfortable asking for help when it is needed, and be ready to engage partners from widely varied perspectives (such as financial experts and community organizers). Applicants must be able to check in in-person with the CEF Strategic Planning and Partnerships Coordinator at least once every two weeks at Macalester College in St. Paul, and check in via phone (or in-person if preferred) during the intervening weeks. Use of a personal computer and willingness to work offsite on your own is highly encouraged, although applicants are also able to work more closely with CEF leaders if preferred.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities: The CEF Community Revolving Fund Assistant will work with CEF experts, local banks and lending institutions, and community-based organizations to help establish initial revolving funds for energy efficiency and community energy. Using these funds (managed by initial capital providers), CEF will support local organizations in improving the efficiency and clean energy services of a community, with repayments to the fund generated from home energy savings and power production revenue, a highly viable model. This position will be responsible for working with CEF to fully understand the methods and approaches key to making this work, contact and hold meetings with local community development banks and CEF leaders to discuss possibilities for collaboration and scope interest, and conduct background research to refine the payback mechanisms and risk management behind holding such a fund. While the actual establishment of such a community-based fund will likely take longer than the time period of the internship, this position will be responsible for identifying a strong partnership, defining a path forward, and setting CEF, an interested neighborhood, and a finance institution on the path towards successful collaboration.
Experience and Competencies: Applicants should have a background in finance and/or banking and be experienced and ready to talk with financial representatives about creating new financial programs. They should also have some background or understanding of community improvement and be interested in innovative models for helping local people, particularly from low-income and minority communities gain financial access. Ability to present yourself professionally in a business situation is vital, as is the ability to connect with community groups who have very different social and business norms. Some basic understanding of the economic opportunities of energy efficiency or clean energy is a big plus, and an interest in understanding the potential for these industries on a neighborhood level is crucial.
Experience Gained: This position will expose applicants to cutting edge financial mechanisms that have great potential to empower community leadership in the future using the economic potential of a clean energy economy. You will also get an insider view into the start-up phase of an innovation-centered cooperative focused on community-based energy and solutions to climate change. Practice in community development finance and the process of negotiating between community needs and financing norms. Insight into new financial mechanisms like on-bill payment and municipal property tax adjustments that will be used increasingly in the years to come.
How to Apply: Please send a resume describing relevant experiences and a cover letter stating why you are interested in this internship to jasonrodney@gmail.com
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