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BMVP - Urban Food Security & Economic Prosperity
 
 
 
The Community Development Division is a catalyst for joining community partners with resources to increase access to housing, to create a sustainable community, and to promote neighborhood revitalization. Low income citizens residing in Yellowstone County are strongly impacted by the overarching issue of income disparity; health status is less favorable than that of residents with higher incomes. Nearly 16,000 residents in Yellowstone County are experiencing poverty. These cohorts are more likely to experience: housing cost burden; lack of access to affordable, fresh produce / food insecurity; inadequate access to healthcare; poor mental and physical health including addiction and obesity; and limited opportunities for physical activity. Increased access to affordable, fresh produce helps to reduce the risk of many costly health conditions including obesity, malnutrition, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Travel costs are also reduced when fresh food can be purchased or harvested in local neighborhoods. Smart urban agricultural design significantly reduces utility costs for low income households. Creating community and container gardens to enhance low income, food desert areas results in increased access to affordable fresh produce, increased food security and physical activity, health improvements, and lower health care costs. Promoting the distribution of retail venues selling healthy food options in food desert / low income neighborhoods reduces household transportation costs. Finally, the promotion of xeriscaping in low income neighborhoods lowers household utility costs.
 
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Please note:
This listing is currently not accepting applications.




Member Duties : Help increase food security along some of Billings’ food deserts through the development of new garden initiatives! The City of Billings is spearheading a three-year urban agriculture initiative to promote food security, economic prosperity, and promote cost-saving urban agriculture design to save utility costs for low income households. The goal of this project is to increase access to food security and ensure economic prosperity through the promotion of container and community gardening, farmers markets, cost-saving urban agriculture design, and heirloom seed banking. This will require a community assessment, the creation of materials, strategic planning, and outreach activities. This project will help alleviate poverty by: increasing access to low cost, fresh produce; reducing transportation costs to obtain healthy food; eliminating food deserts in low income neighborhoods; and promoting water- and money-saving urban agriculture design for low income households.
 
Program Benefits : Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend ,  Childcare assistance if eligible ,  Living Allowance ,  Training ,  Relocation Allowance . 
 
 
*For details about AmeriCorps VISTA healthcare benefits, please visit https://americorps.gov/members-volunteers/vista/benefits.
 
Terms :
Permits working at another job during off hours ,  Car recommended ,  Permits attendance at school during off hours . 
 
Service Areas :
Health ,  Hunger ,  Education ,  Housing ,  Children/Youth ,  Homelessness ,  Community Outreach ,  Entrepreneur/Business ,  Community and Economic Development . 
 
Skills :
Writing/Editing ,  Communications ,  Fund raising/Grant Writing ,  Public Speaking ,  Community Organization ,  Leadership ,  General Skills ,  Environment ,  Counseling . 
 
 
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SUMMARY
Program Type:
AmeriCorps VISTA

Program
BMVP - Urban Food Security & Economic Prosperity

Program Start/End Date
07/06/2020  -   07/05/2021

Work Schedule Full Time

Education level
College graduate

Age Requirement
Minimum:  18    Maximum:  None

Program Locations MONTANA  

Accepting Applications
From  04/17/2020  To  05/20/2020 

Contact Carly Collins
2825 3rd Ave N
Billings   MT   59101
406-247-8675
collinsc@billingsmt.gov
www.CityofBillings.net/vista

Listing ID 73825


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