Current sites open for applications

Focus Areas: Disaster Resilience, Entrepreneur/Business, Neighborhood Revitalization, Community Outreach, Community and Economic Development

Description: The VISTA will work with the Resiliency Manager to build Huerfano County’s economic development resiliency regionally. The VISTA will: (1) Build upon organizational structure and capacity of the economic development organization to further the goals set out for business support and resiliency (2) Assist in creating documents and programming to guide the long-term approach to community resiliency (3) Build Huerfano County’s capacity to engage in the revitalization of the county by fostering long-term partnerships (4) Increase community involvement and grow volunteer base for various Huerfano County Programs.

To support the community in its efforts to revitalize and strengthen the County by focusing on disaster and small business resiliency. On June 27, 2018 a devastating wildfire started in the neighboring Costilla County. The Spring Fire destroyed more than 100,000 acres and burned down more than 100 homes. Businesses have suffered in the region since this event and were not equipped with the tools to adapt to new conditions. Huerfano County was awarded a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to build resiliency for the county and businesses in the region. The goal of the VISTA would be to work with the Recovery Manager for the County to create a stronger and more resilient economy that retains businesses, tourists, and residents in the region through building a resiliency plan. These efforts will lead to a reduction in poverty in Huerfano County which has an overall poverty rate of 18.5%.

Focus Areas: Community and Economic Development, Neighborhood Revitalization, Homelessness, Community Outreach, Entrepreneur/Business, Housing, Urban Planning, Business/Entrepreneur, Communications, Community Organization

Description: The VISTA will build the City of Montrose’s capacity to address housing and homelessness by creating a forum where stakeholders and community members can convene to discuss the issue; research what other communities have done to develop attainable housing and get at the root of homelessness; build a pilot neighborhood council to improve communication between the city and community and create formal relationships; and to support the local economy by working with the Montrose Development and Revitalization Team (DART).

This position in Montrose, CO (population of 19,132) offers a rare opportunity to build upon the work of the first year VISTA member on solving the need for affordable housing and the issues of homelessness and neighborhood communication within the community. Montrose is situated in a beautiful valley of the western slope of Colorado, right near the Black Canyon and Gunnsion River. In addition to amazing recreation opportunities, the downtown of Montrose offers a variety of brewpubs, restaurants, galleries, and things to do. Applicants who are either fluent or familiar with Spanish are encouraged to apply.

Volunteer Assignment Description (VAD)