Delegation Announces $3 Million for AmeriCorps in Vermont

BURLINGTON, Vt., July 2 – Vermont’s congressional delegation today announced that Vermont will receive $3 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).



“AmeriCorps members have an enormous impact on the lives of Vermonters through the excellent programs they support. Here in Vermont, that includes serving at-risk youth, promoting affordable housing, protecting the environment and lots more. We are very pleased these funds will allow a new group of AmeriCorps members to continue this important work,” Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) said.



Five Vermont projects will receive $1,662,814 in competitive funding from CNCS to support approximately 189 AmeriCorps members (see list of organizations and grant amounts, below).



The Vermont Commission on National and Community Service, the governor-appointed state service commission, will also receive $688,014 in non-competitive formula funding. The Commission will award these funds in the coming months to Vermont organizations to support additional AmeriCorps members.



After successfully completing their service, Vermont AmeriCorps members will receive a stipend of up to $6,000 to cover the costs of college education or to help pay back qualified student loans. Collectively, that is another $758,762 for the Vermont AmeriCorps members.



Since 1994, AmeriCorps members have provided more than 1.4 billion hours of national community service all across the country. Currently, 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve through 21,000 schools, nonprofits, and community organizations each year.



In Vermont, the following organizations receiving grants are:



- Washington County Youth Service Bureau/Boys and Girls Club, Montpelier: $357,637;

- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Montpelier: $335,822;

- Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Montpelier: $393,588

- Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, Richmond: $214,175;

- The DREAM Program, Inc., Winooski: $361,592





Contact:

David Carle (Leahy): 202-224-3693

Dan McLean (Sanders): 802-862-6695

Kate Hamilton (Welch): 202-440-3340