Grants will support 195 AmeriCorps members who help meet local needs

Kansas received more than $1.4 million in funding to help 195 AmeriCorps members meet local needs across the state, the Kansas Volunteer Commission announced Monday, June 24.

The funding – which totals $1,427,138 – comes from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs.

The Kansas Volunteer Commission is a governor-appointed state service commission that provides resources and leadership to support local initiatives that tackle community needs, said Jessica Noble, executive director of the organization.

These grants will support 195 AmeriCorps members who will serve with six AmeriCorps programs and two AmeriCorps planning grants across Kansas. AmeriCorps members will tackle some of the toughest problems in Kansas, including education, disaster services, healthy futures, environmental stewardship and economic opportunity, Noble said.

The grants will support organizations operating in Kansas only. Those programs, and the grant amount they received, are:

AmeriCorps’ unique model means that the grants announced will leverage an additional $1,216,233 in public and private funds – further increasing the return on the federal investment, Noble said.

“National service is a strong force of community and social change in Kansas,” she said. “The Kansas Volunteer Commission is proud of the impact AmeriCorps programs and their members make in our local communities.”

CNCS will also provide Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an education award of about $6,000 that they can use to pay for college and vocational training or to pay back student loans.

Since 1994, more than 8,600 Kansas residents have served about 11 million hours through AmeriCorps, earning Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards totaling more than $25.1 million.

Those interested in joining AmeriCorps can learn more at JoinAmeriCorps.gov.

The mission of the Kansas Volunteer Commission is to empower all Kansans to meet community needs through service. The Commission's primary role is to provide resources and leadership to support local initiatives that tackle community needs. As the state service commission, the KVC directs effective national service programs, provides volunteer management training opportunities and supports the work of Mentor Kansas. For more information, visit www.kanserve.org.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is 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, visit www.nationalservice.gov.