Federal grants help support efforts to build and improve communities, boost volunteerism

LANSING - The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is pleased to announce the availability of funds to support new and recompeting Michigan’s AmeriCorps programs

This funding, subgranted by MCSC from the Corporation for National and Community Service, will be based on the following priorities: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, COVID-19 response, racial equity and veterans and military families.

“I encourage all Michigan educational institutions, local government entities, state agencies, and nonprofit organizations to take advantage of this funding opportunity to help address their most pressing needs by implementing support programs in their community,” said Michigan Community Service Commission Director Ginna Holmes. “This funding has proven to be a vital tool for recruiting, placing, and supporting individuals.”

Funding will start in the fall of 2021 for a 12-month program cycle. Grant awardees must:

• Recruit, select, place, train and supervise members.
• Designate a full-time program director to run the program.
• Select and support member service sites.
• Submit quarterly progress reports, monthly expenditure reports and semi-annual federal financial reports.
• Participate in monthly training and technical assistance meetings or calls for program directors.
• Participate in statewide and regional member events and activities.

Michigan’s AmeriCorps provides statewide people power. During the previous funding cycle for the 2019/2020 program year, the MCSC granted out $10,471,869 to AmeriCorps State programs, resulting in a $26,332,176 total in AmeriCorps programs, including local match funds and federal education awards. MCSC funded 28 AmeriCorps programs that engaged 1,000 members in service.

In the 2019/2020 program year, members served 43,513 Michigan youth, treated 1,641 acres of public land and provided 5,384 individuals access to nutrition and hunger resources.

Since 1994, more than 33,000 Michigan residents have served approximately 50 million hours and earned education awards totaling more than $116.6 million.

Learn more about the grant opportunity on the Michigan's AmeriCorps website.

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Background  The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) utilizes service as a strategy to address the state's most pressing issues and empowers volunteers to strengthen communities. In 2019-2020, the MCSC is leveraging more than $21 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. Michigan’s AmeriCorps, Volunteer Michigan and Mentor Michigan are also premier programs of the MCSC. Visit www.michigan.gov/volunteer for more information.

• Michigan's AmeriCorps Funds Press Release.pdf