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Kentucky Receives $6.7 Million in Service Grants
Kentucky Ag Connection - 08/13/2018

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) announced today that Kentucky has received nearly $6.7 million in AmeriCorps federal funding for 20 programs with more than 900 total members.

Most of the programs were funded through an annual grant competition by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a federal agency that engages Americans of all ages in service. The remaining programs are funded through formula grant funds that are allocated to Kentucky by CNCS based on state population.

AmeriCorps is a national service program administered by Serve Kentucky -- formerly known as the Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service -- in the CHFS. AmeriCorps grants are awarded to eligible organizations proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence-informed interventions to strengthen communities. Members serve faith-based and nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, local government entities and state agencies.

"This funding will help address critical issues across the commonwealth -- like teaching and tutoring students, combatting homelessness, providing drug resistance education, protecting environmental resources, serving veterans and military families, empowering victims of domestic violence and assisting low-income senior citizens," said CHFS Secretary Adam M. Meier. "Service is a wonderful way to build our workforce and our community resources."

Meier added that including additional local match funding and educational grants, AmeriCorps programs will result in a $21 million investment in Kentucky.

"Kentucky AmeriCorps is making an enormous impact, both now and for the future of our Commonwealth," continued Meier. "I am proud that this funding is strengthening both individuals and communities."

Serve Kentucky Executive Director Joe Bringardner said he is proud of Kentucky programs' showing among the national grant awardees.

"These programs have distinct goals to help educate youth, provide comfort to seniors and rebuild families' lives by building homes," Bringardner said. "Our AmeriCorps members use their talents, their vision and their boundless energy to establish immediate and long-lasting change in Kentucky."

Kentucky received $4 million for 10 programs in national competitive grant funding and was also allocated $2.6 million in formula grant funding to support additional state programs. The law creating AmeriCorps gave a key role to state service commissions in determining how national service resources are used to promote service and volunteering to meet specific community needs. With the state allocation, Serve Kentucky awarded grants to 10 additional AmeriCorps programs.

AmeriCorps program sponsors are also contributing a total of $10.6 million in local funding matches, money from the private sector, foundations, community partnerships and other sources.

In addition to the grant funding, CNCS will make available $3.7 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, members receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $5,920 to pay for college, postsecondary education institutions, or to pay back student loans.

From an economic standpoint, AmeriCorps is a good investment in workforce training, spurring personal and professional growth. In fact, eight out of 10 alumni say AmeriCorps helped them get a job, with 42 percent finding employment due to an AmeriCorps connection. AmeriCorps members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. Recent studies also show a strong connection between volunteering and employment, particularly in rural areas, where volunteers are 57 percent more likely to find employment.

Bringardner said AmeriCorps can pave the way to higher education and a selected career for many Kentuckians.

"Kentucky AmeriCorps provides millions of dollars for postsecondary education," he said. "It gives members a way to move toward a degree and gain specialized skills in their areas of professional interest while they serve their communities."

Bringardner said many AmeriCorps members continue helping others in their full-time careers.

"The passion for service is what drives so many of our members," he said. "Service often gives them the chance to step up, take charge, and work on their organizational skills. They become true leaders."

Since 1994, more than 12,000 Kentuckians have served approximately 19 million hours through AmeriCorps, earning Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards totaling more than $44.3 million. Data collected from the last completed program year reveals that Kentucky AmeriCorps members recruited more than 17,000 volunteers who provided more than 117,430 hours of service to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and its citizens.

Competitive grants are awarded nationally for fixed time periods for specific projects and costs. Formula grants are awarded by the bipartisan Serve Kentucky commission based on local needs, Governor's Office priorities, geographic and program diversity, performance measurements and CNCS focus areas.


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