Asset Building Corps
Click here to see a list of the 2010-2011 host sites.
As part of a partnership between OMEN and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the Oregon Asset Building Corps (OABC) is comprised of 12-16 AmeriCorps*VISTA members per year, who work to develop the capacity of the OMEN affiliate host site organization at which they are placed. VISTA projects are often those projects that organizations have been envisioning for some time but need a person with energy and drive to get them started. OABC VISTAs have worked on projects such as starting a homebuyer’s education class or creating resources for entrepreneurs to start or grow their businesses. The most important aspect of these projects is that they increase the capacity of the host organization in a way that is sustainable for years beyond the VISTA term of service.
Many of the Oregon Asset Building Corps host organizations work specifically with low-income populations in both rural and urban economically distressed areas. In rural areas, VISTAs work on ways of diversifying the economies of rural communities, formerly based mostly on natural resources. In urban areas, VISTAs help their organizations provide financial literacy services to immigrant and minority populations.
Current OABC members are working on Asset Building Initiatives such as the development of an Individual Development Account (IDA) program for youth, development of financial literacy programs, Community Land Trust development, development of a Latino small business cooperative, small business resources for farm and food-based entrepreneurs, downtown revitalization projects, access to capital and legal services for small businesses and Food Security and Source Education. Click here to read the 2009-2010 Annual OABC Report.
Questions? Please contact Margot Edmiston, VISTA Leader via phone at 503-546-9913 or via email at margot@oregon-microbiz.org