Community Engineering Corps – Engineering Equitable Infrastructure

In the United States, there are millions of dollars allocated every year for infrastructure improvements, with a subset of that reserved for underserved communities. For many communities, the cost of hiring a consultant to assist with the application is a burden too high to bear. Community Engineering Corps acts as the missing puzzle piece between these communities and the infrastructure they need to thrive. 
The Community Engineering Corps program pairs technical volunteers with underserved communities to work together and identify solutions that meet the community’s infrastructure needs. The communities receive engineering services pro-bono, eliminating the concerns around the affordability. By providing these services, the program is able to assist communities in their infrastructure improvements while providing a meaningful way for technical professionals to give back. 
This session will provide an overview of the Community Engineering Corps program and ASCE’s involvement. This includes outlining the project process, types of scopes the program takes on, and offering ways for volunteers to get involved. 
Additionally, the session will highlight a case study from Clarion County, Pennsylvania. The community had applied for a Community Block Development Grant to mill and repave a portion of their deteriorating roads. This application required an engineering study be done prior to moving forward, however the community was unable to afford the cost to hire a consultant for this study. The ASCE Pittsburgh Chapter adopted the project through CECorps. The team carried out an environmental review, as well as producing draft bid documents with the assistance of the community.