Government Finance Research Center (GFRC) Graduate Hourly Positions - UIC

The Government Finance Research Center (GFRC) at the University of Illinois at Chicago is seeking up to four graduate students for Research Hourly position to work with the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) on competitive grant applications under the Tourism Attraction and Festivals Grant.

Please send resume and brief statement of interest and experience to GFRC Director, Dr. Deborah A. Carroll at deborahc@uic.edu. Applications due by Friday, November 11, 2022, with an anticipated start date of November 16, 2022.

Hours Per Week: 10 hours/week

Duration: 6 weeks, with the possibility of extension

Rate of Pay: $28.96

Please note this position is not eligible for tuition and fee waivers.

 

Duties:

Assist DCEO in evaluating competitive grant applications under the Tourism Attraction and Festivals Grant program. Students will access, download, and evaluate projects for merit and readiness across a variety of criteria such as project impact, visitor attraction and community benefit.

About Tourism Attraction and Festivals Grant

The Tourism Attraction and Festivals Grant Program is aimed to revitalize the hard-hit industry by bringing back new and returning tourism attractions and festivals to the State. Grants up to $500,000 will be awarded to establish and enhance tourism attractions and festivals.

Tourism Attractions are defined as fishing and hunting areas, State parks, historical/cultural sites, areas of historic or scenic interest, museums, recreation areas, botanical gardens, theme/amusement parks, interpretive programs and other facilities or businesses that attract or serve visitors that are open to the public for a minimum of 100 days per year and are marketed and promoted to visitors from more than 50 miles away. 

Tourism Events are defined as an event, such as a major convention, trade show, sporting activity or festival, with potential to attract visitors from outside a 50-mile radius and to produce significantly increased economic impact for the State of Illinois through overnight stays. 

Tourism Festivals are defined as an organized series of public activities for a specific duration which may include but is not limited to the following activities: fairs, carnivals, exhibitions, musical and cultural performances with potential to increase economic activity within the tourism, travel and hospitality industries while generating foot traffic in neighborhoods and business corridors which have experienced a decline in economic activity due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

DCEO will provide scoring rubrics and guidelines that outline considerations for determining merit scoring.

 

Expectations and Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a graduate-level degree program and have completed at least one semester of coursework. Preference is given to graduate students in CUPPA.
• Knowledge of the State of Illinois, including infrastructure and economic development patterns outside the northeastern Illinois counties. 
• Students must be able to work remotely and access and score applications digitally though their own computer and internet connection.

Please send resume and brief statement of interest and experience to GFRC Director, Dr. Deborah A. Carroll at deborahc@uic.edu. Applications due by Friday, November 11, 2022, with an anticipated start date of November 16, 2022.