ICMA's Economic Mobility and Opportunity Special Assistants (EMO SA) Program offers a rare, significant infusion of resources to bolster local leadership and align actions and stakeholders around factors that enable all residents to climb the economic ladder.

ICMA invites applications from local governments interested in hosting a full-time, senior level position to spearhead coordinated efforts to advance economic mobility and opportunity for residents. 

Local governments selected for this opportunity will receive a grant from ICMA to support salary for and programming directed by their special assistant. Reporting to executive leadership in the local government, the EMO SA will work across departments and external partners to identify strategic priorities and develop a tailored implementation plan informed by a community-engaged co-design process during their 2+ year tenure. ICMA will also facilitate coaching, training, and customized technical assistance to support EMO SAs, individually and as a cohort. ICMA anticipates selecting 15 local governments to serve as host communities for EMO SAs.

This opportunity is made possible with support from the Gates Foundation.