KITTANNING -- When Armstrong County government officials needed to collect data concerning the county's businesses, government services, charities and agencies, they didn't call on a high-priced consultant. They called AmeriCorps, instead.
Now, AmeriCorps worker Nicole George of Ford City will get an opportunity to participate in a learning opportunity that relates to her college education while helping the county.
George, 19, is a Ford City High School graduate and a full-time accounting major at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Northpointe Campus in South Buffalo.
Her task is to collect and research data from the varied resources of the county, including schools, hospitals, agencies, foundations, businesses, fire, police and government departments.
"I have to find out who they are, what they're contributing to the county, how the county is using those assets right now and try to fill in the gaps of what they're doing and what could be done," George said.
She has started collecting data, working three days a week at the commissioners' office in the courthouse annex building.
AmeriCorps is a government volunteer agency that partners with local and national nonprofit groups and government. It uses federal grant money matched with local funds.
The AmeriCorps program allows workers to gain experience and apply skills while receiving a living stipend and a grant to help with college tuition or student loans.
"From this experience, I can add a minor in database," George said. "This has opened up a new door for me."
George's information will be put into a database that will be made available for any county residents to access. County officials said the eventual goal is to have the information on the county's Web site, www.co.armstrong.pa.us.
County Commissioner Patty Kirkpatrick worked with AmeriCorps volunteers before becoming commissioner. She thought of AmeriCorps when the county decided to tackle the project.
"We knew no county workers were available to do the research, and we weren't going to hire another employee," Kirkpatrick said. "We saw it as giving an opportunity to someone for community service. That's what AmeriCorps is about -- an education. Nicole fits it well. It will expose her to a broad array of leaders coming together to find solutions in this county."
In conjunction with the Armstrong County Economic Development Alliance, Kirkpatrick wrote a grant proposal to the Armstrong County Community Foundation to fund the position. The county received a grant of $3,200 from the Richard G. and Barbara A. Snyder Charitable Fund.
The county will provide a work area for George as an in-kind match. Kirkpatrick is supervising George's data research.
"The county had a project that it needed extra hands to do," AmeriCorps project director Carol Vogel said. "And for the AmeriCorps worker, it gives them a chance to get behind the scenes and network with people. They get an education that promotes a real sense of civics.
"They tend to volunteer more after they've done that because they see how much is needed to support a community."
