Gov. Jay Inslee announced today that Serve Washington, the state’s commission on national and community service, has been awarded $15.8 million in AmeriCorps funding.
“AmeriCorps members help us build beautiful communities across Washington and their 2020 contributions during a global pandemic have shored up our communities and provided relief during tough times,” Inslee said. “These programs are a critical component of our community safety net and it’s fitting that AmeriCorps members can benefit from these funds as they strengthen our communities.”
The 1,355 AmeriCorps members will earn up to $8 million in education awards. Members will receive approximately $6,195 after they complete 1,700 hours of service to pay for college or pay off student loans.
Serve Washington Executive Director Amber Martin-Jahn said the award is a testament to the hard work that AmeriCorps members do for Washington.
“The law creating AmeriCorps gave a key role to states in determining how national service resources are used,” Amber Martin-Jahn said. “Serve Washington is honored to partner with nonprofits and state agencies across Washington to bring these federal resources to our communities.”
Local resources will match the $15.8 million in federal funds by almost $25 million. Funds from the highly competitive award process come from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs.
Chester Spellman, director of AmeriCorps, said Americans have answered the call to serve for more than two decades by pledging to ‘get things done’ as AmeriCorps members.
“Through their dedication and sacrifice, I know our nation is in good hands,” said Spellman. “We are so pleased to be supporting more AmeriCorps members in Washington, where their service will help to create a brighter tomorrow for the communities they serve. I salute all of our AmeriCorps members – past, present, and future – and thank those who help make their service possible.”
AmeriCorps is based on public-private partnerships. That means AmeriCorps grantees need to leverage significant outside resources to operate their programs.
Serve Washington AmeriCorps grants and member positions will be distributed as follows:
|
Competitive grants (operational) |
Total award |
# of AmeriCorps members |
|
City Year, Inc. – City Year Seattle |
$1,428,048 |
94 |
|
College Possible |
$464,000 |
32 |
|
EarthCorps |
$450,000 |
40 |
|
Educational Service District #101, NE Washington – Spokane Service Team |
$331,165 |
64 |
|
Washington Department of Ecology – Washington Conservation Corps |
$2,004,975 |
285 |
|
Washington Department of Veterans Affairs – Vet Corps |
$636,600 |
50 |
|
Washington Employment Security Department – Washington Reading Corps |
$498,050 |
35 |
|
Washington Employment Security Department – Washington Service Corps |
$6,305,000 |
500 |
|
Formula grants (operational) |
Total award |
# of AmeriCorps members |
|
Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council – Intermountain AmeriCorps |
$309,422 |
20 |
|
College Success Foundation – College and Career Coaches Program |
$294,101 |
19 |
|
Common Threads Farm |
$303,840 |
20 |
|
Community Youth Services – AmeriCorps Youth in Service |
$371,496 |
24 |
|
Kitsap Community Resources – KCR AmeriCorps |
$308,000 |
20 |
|
Life Works – Cowlitz AmeriCorps Network |
$464,370 |
31 |
|
Pasco School District #1 – Serve Tri-Cities |
$309,580 |
22 |
|
Port Angeles School District – Port Angeles School District AmeriCorps |
$278,542 |
18 |
|
United Way of King County – United Way of King County AmeriCorps |
$586,644 |
60 |
|
Up2Us Sports, Inc. |
$151,005 |
18 |
|
|
|
|
|
Formula grants (planning) |
|
|
|
iFoster – iFoster WA |
$65,021 |
|
|
Local Government Commission - Civic Spark Washington |
$74,233 |
|
|
Safe Streets Campaign – Youth-Serving Agencies Network |
$39,407 |
|
|
Sea-Mar Community Health Center |
$75,000 |
|
|
United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties |
$24,543 |
|
|
United Way of Spokane County |
$50,296 |
|
A multi-state program (Mt. Adams Institute VetsWork Environment programs) and a tribal program (Bands of the Yakama Nation) also received funding. Both are headquartered in Washington. This funding comes from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Organizations are now recruiting for AmeriCorps members to begin service this fall. AmeriCorps members typically receive a modest living stipend and an education award after they complete their service. Those interested in serving can learn more on the Serve Washington website.
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About: Serve Washington advances national service, volunteerism and civic engagement to improve lives; expands opportunity to meet the local critical needs of residents of Washington; and strengthens community capacity while creating healthy and resilient communities. For more information, visit servewashington.wa.gov.
This funding is provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering, civic engagement, and national service programs like AmeriCorps. For over 25 years, more than 1 million dedicated Americans have joined AmeriCorps and pledged to ‘get things done.’ This year, the 75,000 AmeriCorps members serving in schools, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, will do the same as they rebuild communities, support veterans, fight the opioid epidemic, prepare students for success, foster economic opportunity, and more. Those interested in serving can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/Join.