Grants will aid projects that support Maine communities in the areas of youth mentorship, K-12 education support, and poverty outreach, among others
AUGUSTA --New grant funding will allow AmeriCorps service projects in Maine to recruit a total of 53 new service members for the 2020-21 program year. These awarded funds will bolster projects in youth mentorship, K-12 education support, and poverty outreach throughout the state.
Volunteer Maine, the state service commission, has approved funding of seven Maine AmeriCorps programs with a total of $480,572 using monies provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency supporting National Service programs. These initiatives will be bolstered by an additional $436,471 in local funds and in-kind contributions. The seven organizations applied for an AmeriCorps Formula Grant, which are awarded to states each year based on a population formula.
Volunteer Maine Commissioners have approved a new AmeriCorps grant to University of Southern Maine’s Campus Compact Maine. The service project will have 26 AmeriCorps members serve to increase energy efficiency and cost savings for economically disadvantaged populations and community organizations. The Commission awarded a three-year grant to the project, with $158,000 of funding for the first year.
The other six service projects have been allocated funds from previously-awarded grants to continue operating. Service projects receive three-year grants, and after an initial year of funding, must compete to finance the second and third years of their AmeriCorps project.
Five-of-the-seven community organizations applied for funds through the Maine Rural State AmeriCorps Grant Initiative. This grant design allows organizations in rural states, such as Maine, to scale their programs down to a size appropriate for the community and host two to five members instead.
2020-21 AmeriCorps Formula Grant Awards
(Awards listed by program name followed by grantee in brackets. Asterisk indicates Maine Rural State AmeriCorps grantees.)
- Colby College Maine Rural AmeriCorps* (President and Trustees of Colby College), Waterville: $31,086/two members
- First4 AmeriCorps (Kennebec Valley Community Action Program/Educare Central Maine), Waterville: $154,603/15 members
- Game Loft AmeriCorps Program* (Maine Youth Alliance), Belfast: $30,683/two members
- Seeds of Hope AmeriCorps* (Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center), Biddeford: $28,736/three members
- Skowhegan AmeriCorps Outdoor Recreation Program* (Maine Street Skowhegan), Skowhegan: $46,436/three members
- Trekkers AmeriCorps Aspirations Project* (Trekkers, Inc.), Rockland: $30,678/two members
- University of Southern Maine: Maine Campus Compact AmeriCorps (Campus Compact Maine), Lewiston: $158,350/26 members
About Volunteer Maine
Volunteer Maine, the state service commission, builds capacity and sustainability in Maine's volunteer sector by funding service programs, developing volunteer managers and service-learning practitioners, raising awareness of the scope and the impact of the volunteer sector, and encouraging an ethic of service. On Oct. 16, 2019, the Maine Commission for Community Service adopted the public identity Volunteer Maine.
About AmeriCorps and CNCS
AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering, service, and civic engagement. The agency engages millions of Americans in citizen service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation's volunteering and service efforts. For more information, click the link to visit the offical CNCS website.
Media contact
Bryan Roche, communications officer
Office: (207) 624-7836
Cell: (207) 446-3471
View additional media coverage
"Volunteer Maine awards more than $480K to AmeriCorps programs" -- Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel -- view here
"Game Loft receives AmeriCorps grant" -- The Courier-Gazette -- view here
"Volunteer Maine gives 480k to seven AmeriCorps programs -- The Republican Journal -- view here