Nurturing new careers in ecological restoration

By Kerri on January 28, 2014 in Blog

In 2014, Women, Food and Agriculture Network (WFAN) is sponsoring an exciting opportunity for aspiring female ecological restoration professionals in Iowa. For one full year, four women will gain valuable business skills through mentorship, applying their technical restoration abilities toward creating a small business.

The program will train women with ecological restoration backgrounds to translate their scientific and technical skills into a succesful part-time or contracting business. Through WFAN’s network, the crew will work with landowners to gain skills in site analysis, advisory services, land planning and business basics. The application for the 2014 positions is due Feb. 10.

“We hope that at the end of the one year mentorship, the four crew members will have a business plan in place, be able to work with landowners to spec jobs, have what they need to make it as an individual contractor, know what equipment they need and know the value of running a small business,” says Danielle Wirth, an experienced educator and restorationist who will lead the four women.

If you would like more information on this opportunity, contact Wirth by email.

Click here for the online application due by midnight Feb. 10. The project advisory team, which includes a Iowa DNR prairie technician, business trainer and various landowners with restoration and ecological experience, will review all applications after February 10 and contact applicants about their status on or around February 24.