January 4, 2018
The interim Grant Officer is Maryalice Crofton. This is the summary of related grant activity through end of December.
Major projects completed:
- By the time Commissioners read this, the AmeriCorps State Competitive grant assessment process will be complete and task force recommendations ready for consideration on January 12. Given the amount of time required to do both continuations and new in a six week timeframe, there was not much room for other projects. Following Commission votes, the federal application will be prepared. While it is an electronic submission, there are narrative questions for the Commission and documents to be digitally submitted.
- The review of Maine Conservation Corps (ME-CC) AmeriCorps member records is complete. There is one instance of noncompliance that will result in disallowance of funds. ME-CC staff self-reported so the disallowance will be about $250 which will be returned to CNCS.
- The Resource section of OnCorps has been restructured to become our grant management guide for grantees. OnCorps is the web platform MCCS uses (along with 30 other states) for grant management. Financial, programmatic, and member information is handled.
- The hiring process for a new Grants Officer was completed. If all goes according to plan, you will meet the person at the January 12 Commission meeting.
Issues to be aware of:
- Eastern Maine Development Corp will be declining its AmeriCorps grant award. The letter notifying MCCS is expected January 5. They did attempt to replace the lost WIOA funds that made up a significant part of local share; however, the private funding would not be available soon enough for the program to operate.
- A recommendation has been made to the Grant task force concerning the way we describe the smaller AmeriCorps program grant (2-5 members, no prior experience, etc.). In using the title, Maine Rural AmeriCorps Grant, MCCS meant to reflect the recognition of rural state agency sizes and resource management capacity. The title is being understood by Maine agencies to mean rural areas and places like Ellsworth, Belfast, and Skowhegan are presuming they are ineligible to apply. Ideas welcome before February.
- The AmeriCorps State Formula request for proposals should be ready for publication in mid-February. Staff will recommend issuing two RFPs – one for the small grant of 2-5 positions and one for the standard grant of 10 positions.
Major focus of effort for the next month:
- Negotiating with CNCS about reprogramming the EMDC funds.
- Reviewing the first quarter performance reports (quarter ending 12/31) from grantees.
- Orienting/training the new grant officer.
- Issuing final monitoring report for Maine Conservation Corps.
- Drafting AmeriCorps Formula RFPs.