AUGUSTA -- Volunteer Maine, the state service commission, announced the award of three new planning grant recipients, funded through that AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteering and service programs.
Planning grants give community organizations resources, training and assistance needed to prepare to host a future AmeriCorps program. The grant recipients will lead community partners in a 10-month program design process. The goal is to submit a successful AmeriCorps program proposal in a future AmeriCorps competition for operating awards.
These programs will not host AmeriCorps service members during the life of the planning grant.
2025 Maine AmeriCorps planning grant recipients
Democracy Maine
Democracy Maine will develop a program to address the lack of youth civic engagement and knowledge of “mattering” within community that impacts the lives of teenagers and young people across Maine in the focus area(s) of Franklin, Piscataquis, Somerset, Aroostook, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Hancock, Waldo, Washington, York, Oxford, and Penobscot. The AmeriCorps federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) investment $60,000 will support planning activities carried out in collaboration with JustME for JustUs, Maine Youth for Climate Justice, Maine Youth Power, Maine Department of Education, Maine Civics Network, CanWe Project, and Rural Aspirations.
Food for All Services
Food for All Services will develop a program to serve Cumberland and Androscoggin counties. It will address the lack of nonprofit capacity that impacts the lives of Black people accessing the services in the AmeriCorps focus area(s) of economic opportunity and capacity building. The AmeriCorps federal ARP investment $59,966 will support planning activities.
Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County
Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County will develop a program to serve several locations in Somerset County, Skowhegan, Madison, Pittsfield, Bingham, Jackman, and their surrounding communities. It will help build a community volunteer program that impacts the lives of people who are experiencing an end of life journey due to an illness. The AmeriCorps focus areas are Healthy Futures, Veterans and Military Families and Capacity Building. The AmeriCorps federal ARP investment of $60,000 will support planning activities carried out in collaboration with Redington Fairview General Hospital, Northern Light Health, Sebasticook Valley Hospital, and FQHC’s in Bingham, Madison, Jackman and community members.
For more information on planning grant opportunities, contact Michael Ashmore: michael.ashmore@maine.gov.