MHC Fellows - Michigan Office of Rural Prosperity

MI Healthy Climate Fellows:
Join the MI Healthy Climate Fellows (MHC Fellows) and make a lasting impact on Michigan's carbon-neutral future! The MHC Fellows program accelerates Michigan's climate action through capacity building and leadership development. Fellows serve across the state to advance the MI Healthy Climate Plan's (MHCP) goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The plan, unveiled by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in April 2022, aims to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis; create good-paying jobs; position Michigan as a climate action leader; and build a healthier and more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Michigan for all Michiganders.

About the Host Partner:
( Office of Rural Prosperity works across sectors to foster strategic and coordinated investments in people and places, with an intentional focus on building the capacity and resources necessary to meet complex rural needs. Our office works collaboratively with state, federal, philanthropic and university partners, as well as directly with rural communities. Rural Michigan is home to 20 percent of the state's population and comprises nearly 94 percent of the state's land area. Founded in 2022 as the Office of Rural Development by Executive Directive in 2022-01, the office was renamed the Office of Rural Prosperity by Executive Order in 2023 (EO 2023-06).

MHC Fellow Role and Responsibilities:
● Advancing communities in the earliest stages of climate planning with visioning, assessment, asset mapping, and facilitation/engagement direct support.

● Coaching rural communities as they consider how revenue generated from renewable energy projects could serve as a tool to reach their short and long-term community development goals.


● Facilitating connections between and among rural communities working on similar projects to promote peer-to-peer learning and networking.

● Serving as a conduit between the Office of Rural Prosperity, rural communities, and climate related programming to increase rural awareness of and engagement with technical assistance and funding opportunities that advance the seven objectives found in the MI Healthy Climate Plan.

● Curating climate and energy funding and technical assistance opportunities that will be of particular interest to rural communities for promotion.

● Empower the community to access climate resources by planning meetings, educational programs, and/or other activities to consistently share information.


● Participate in MHC Fellows development shared learning and collaboration activities including four MHC Fellow in-person convenings and, MHC Fellows monthly virtual trainings (will be provided by program staff).

● Fellows will host a community input session with their host site to collect community feedback and advance the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan.

Position Type: Remote (with travel)

MHC Fellows can expect to serve in a fully remote capacity; however the MHC Fellow must be able to travel to occasional travel to events and rural communities.

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 5 pm

Site Location: 320 S. Walnut St., Lansing, MI 48933