Federal Agency Announces $532 Million in AmeriCorps Funding
Funding supports nearly 60,000 AmeriCorps members; provides $174 million
in scholarships to those who serve; Programs begin recruiting this summer
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Corporation for National and
Community Service (CNCS) today announced $532 million in AmeriCorps funding to help
national and local organizations, faith-based groups, and educational
institutions respond to the most critical issues facing communities in the U.S.
This funding will engage Americans in service across all 50 states, including
the District of Columbia.
The federal investment includes AmeriCorps competitive grants
totaling $230 million, providing more than 44,700 Americans the
opportunity to step up and serve their communities through AmeriCorps. This
class of AmeriCorps members will prepare students for college, reduce crime and
revive cities, connect veterans to jobs, rebuild communities following disasters,
preserve public lands, strengthen education, foster economic opportunity, and
more. A complete list of awards can be
found here.
CNCS is making available up to $174 million in education scholarships for AmeriCorps members serving under these grants. After completing a full term of service, members receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,815 to pay for college or to pay back student loans.
AmeriCorps is a public-private partnership,
and every AmeriCorps grantee leverages significant outside resources to operate
their program. The $404 million in federal funding will leverage an additional
investment of $642 million from the private sector, foundations, and other
sources, strengthening community impact and increasing the return on taxpayer
dollars.
In addition to the $404 million in
AmeriCorps funding, CNCS will also award up to $128 million in formula funding to
governor-appointed State Service Commissions, which oversee AmeriCorps
programs and volunteering for the state. State Commissions will award funds to organizations
in their states to support more than 15,000 AmeriCorps members to increase
community impact.
The 2017 AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly
competitive, with a continuing level of strong demand by organizations seeking
AmeriCorps resources. The competition prioritized investments in economic
opportunity, education, governor and mayor initiatives, veterans and military
families, disaster services, and initiatives to build safer communities. Organizations
receiving grants include Habitat for Humanity, AARP Foundation, Teach For
America, YouthBuild, City Year, and hundreds of other nonprofits, community and
faith-based groups, universities, school districts, and local agencies.
The AmeriCorps grants include funding for some of the nation’s leading
nonprofit organizations for work that will improve the communities in the
following areas:
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Veterans and Military Families: Through the Veterans Conservation
Corps, 20 veterans serving as AmeriCorps members will gain skills and complete
certifications that bridge to new careers and opportunities, while providing
energy efficient home repairs and updates for homeowners in Charleston, South
Carolina. Under Catholic Charities USA, 20 veterans will serve as AmeriCorps
Peer Navigators, assisting veterans and military families with accessing
benefits and meeting health, mental health, educational, and social service
needs in Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, and
Virginia.
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Education: Through the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, 20
AmeriCorps members will provide nonviolence training to K-12 students in
Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls, Rhode Island. More than 30
After-School All-Stars Tampa Bay AmeriCorps members will provide in-school and
out-of-school tutoring and mentoring services at six Pinellas County public
schools in Florida.
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Disaster Services: More than 25
AmeriCorps members will serve through the American Red Cross in the Chicago
area, helping 10 Illinois communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from
disasters, as well as leverage additional volunteers to engage in youth safety
presentations and fire prevention activities. Through Points of Light
Foundation’s Disaster Services Project, AmeriCorps members will conduct
disaster preparedness education and engage residents in disaster exercises in
Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan, Missouri, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, New
Jersey, Texas, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, California, and
Washington.
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Economic Opportunity: The Kentucky
Coalition Against Domestic Violence will support 20 AmeriCorps members who will
provide financial education and counseling services for domestic violence
survivors across the state. Under the
NorthEast Washington Educational Service District 101, more than 50 AmeriCorps
members will build or repair low-income housing and help transition individuals
into safe, healthy, and affordable housing in Spokane County. While serving,
these AmeriCorps members will gain skills and experiences to improve their own
economic opportunities, leading to new careers and employment.
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Health: Through the
Area Agency on Aging, 50 AmeriCorps Encore members will serve seniors in
Arizona’s Maricopa County through home visits, telephone reassurance, and build
neighborhood awareness and volunteer support for older adults so they remain
safe and healthy in their own homes. More than 70 AmeriCorps members serving
through Impact America will provide free vision screenings and follow ups to children
in day care centers across Alabama, Tennessee, North Florida, and South
Carolina.
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Environmental Stewardship: More than 20 AmeriCorps members serving through Conservation Corps Iowa
will restore habitat, create and improve trails and waterways, respond to
disasters, and manage volunteers in river clean-ups and rain garden
installations in Polk and Pottawattamie counties. American Conservation
Experience will support more than 80 AmeriCorps who will reconstruct,
revegetate, and restore trails, waterways, and areas that filter and carry
fresh water throughout California.
Organizations are currently recruiting for
AmeriCorps members to begin service this fall. AmeriCorps members typically
receive a modest living stipend and a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, or
scholarship, upon completion of their service. The award can be used to pay for
future education costs or to pay back student loans. Those interested in
serving can learn more by visiting americorps.gov/join.
Last fall, AmeriCorps celebrated a major
milestone when the program surpassed one million members pledging to “Get
Things Done” for America. AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 members in
intensive service annually to serve at 21,600 locations across the country.
These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing
millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.
Since 1994, more than 1 million men and women have served in AmeriCorps,
providing more than 1.4 billion hours of service and earning more than $3.3
billion in scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay
back student loan debt.
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