DENVER - Wednesday, August 7, 2019 - The State of Colorado will receive $5.8 million in federal grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to place nearly 800 AmeriCorps members in 11 programs to serve Colorado communities. AmeriCorps programs will match these funds with an additional $5.3 million in local funding. Together, the total investment of federal and local funding for Colorado communities will be $11.1 million.
"Since AmeriCorps began in 1994, more than 35,000 Coloradans have served to meet critical needs in communities across our great state. The continued support of the federal agency ensures members can serve in all corners of our state," said Dianne Primavera, Lieutenant Governor.
AmeriCorps members dedicate up to one year to help communities with unmet economic, education, health, public safety, disaster preparedness, veterans services, and environmental needs. Members may receive a modest living allowance, student loan deferment, health insurance, child care, and professional development. Members who successfully complete their service receive an education award of up to $6,095 to help pay for college, graduate school, vocational training, or to pay off student loans. On top of the federal grant amount, CNCS will provide up to an additional $2.4 million for education awards this year.
"Building on a strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will change lives, improve communities, and build a safer, stronger, and more united Colorado," said Chester Spellman, CNCS' Director of AmeriCorps. "For 25 years, the AmeriCorps members who pledge to \'get things done\' have represented the best of America while demonstrating the great promise and ideals of our country. I salute all the AmeriCorps members who will join them, and thank those who help make their service possible."
Serve Colorado, the Governor\'s Commission on Community Service, administers the AmeriCorps program in Colorado. Grantees compete in an annual application process which demonstrates the community's need, how their proposed program will meet that need, and their local partnerships.
"AmeriCorps represents the best of state, federal, and local governments working together to get things done for our country. Our joint investment in national service ensures communities all across Colorado are using people power to address our greatest needs," said Antonio A. Mendez, Serve Colorado's Executive Director. "Serve Colorado is excited to work with our partners in 50 counties and are working towards the goal of an AmeriCorps member serving in all 64 counties across our great state."
Below is a listing of the 2019 AmeriCorps grants in Colorado:
- Alpine Achievers Initiative: Led by Alpine Achievers Initiative, this program will place 23 members focused on providing math and literacy tutoring and out-of-school programming to underserved K-12 students. This program serves Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties.
- City Year Denver: Led by City Year, Inc., this program will place 85 members focused on academic and school engagement activities for K-12 students. This program serves Denver county.
- Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Planning Grant: Led by the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education, this program is focused on developing a statewide AmeriCorps program that increases PreK-12 students' environmental knowledge.
- Colorado HIPPYCorps: Led by Parent Possible, this program will place 49 members focused on helping families prepare their preschool-aged children for school. This program serves Adams, Alamosa, Arapahoe, Costilla, Crowley, Denver, El Paso, Larimer, Mesa, Mineral, Otero, Pueblo, Saguache, and Weld counties.
- Colorado Reading Corps: Led by Colorado Youth for a Change, this program will place 76 members focused on improving the proficiency of K-3 students reading below grade level. This program serves Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties.
- Corps for a Change: Led by Colorado Youth for a Change, this program will place 25 members focused on providing attendance support to off-track and disengaged high school students in order to reduce the dropout rate and increase the graduation rate. This program serves Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Jefferson, and Larimer counties.
- CSU Extension 4-H STEM Initiative: Led by Colorado State University, this program will place 22 members focused on providing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities in out-of-school programming for underserved and at-risk youth ages 8-18. This program serves Broomfield, Denver, Dolores, El Paso, Garfield, Jefferson, Larimer, Morgan, Otero, and Weld counties.
- Mountain Roots Healthy Futures: Led by Trailhead Institute and Mountain Roots Food Project, this program will place 20 members focused on food insecurity through health and nutrition education, community gardens, and increased food access. This program serves Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties.
- Rural Alliance for Dignity: Led by La Puente Home, Inc., this program will place 56 members focused on meeting the critical needs of those that are homeless, are food insecure, need academic support (K-12 students), and are elementary students who have experienced neglect, abuse, or homelessness. This program serves Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano, La Plata, Las Animas, Mineral, Montezuma, Park, Rio Grande, and Saguache counties.
- Team Up AmeriCorps: Led by United Way of Southwest Colorado, this program will place 11 members focused on early literacy development, providing food to those who need it, and mentoring children during out-of-school time. This program serves Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, and Montezuma counties.
- Youth Corps for Colorado: Led by Colorado Youth Corps Association, this program will place 414 members focused on disaster relief, proactive mitigation activities, protecting and strengthening outdoor recreation infrastructure, and installing energy efficiency measures in low-income homes. This program serves Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Custer, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Elbert, Fremont, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, Larimer, Las Animas, Moffat, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, Summit, Teller, and Weld counties.
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