PR: $3.4 million in federal AmeriCorps grants available to N.C. nonprofits and government agencies

From the office of Gov. Bev Perdue, released Wednesday, Nov. 16:

Nonprofits and government agencies should submit applications by March 16, 2012

Gov. Bev Perdue today announced more than $3.4 million in federal grants are available for North Carolina non-profits and government agencies to recruit AmeriCorps members. Interested non-profits and government agencies that provide tutoring, mentoring, disaster services, environmental stewardship, education on healthy futures, job training and placement and aid to military families should apply.
Logo from AmeriCorps, a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service
The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, housed in the Governor’s Office will coordinate the grants.
“AmeriCorps members will gain great opportunities through these non-profits and government agencies to give back to North Carolina communities,” said Gov. Perdue. “Members will have the chance to make a difference and help solve problems in their communities.”
To apply, interested organizations must attend a training and technical assistance session, which discusses administrative regulations and policies, as well as program and reporting requirements. To register for one of these workshops, e-mail Sallie Bowman, AmeriCorps Training and Development Manager, at Sallie.Bowman@nc.gov, or call 919-715-2279 at least three days prior to the session. Fiscal and programming staff is required to attend. Exact locations will be emailed to you once you register. The workshops are free and will be offered on the following dates:
Friday, Nov. 18, 2011—Webinar
Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011—Raleigh
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011—Statesville
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011—Greenville
Grant applications are due to the N.C. Volunteer Commission by noon on Friday, March 16, 2012. Application forms are available on the N.C. Volunteer Commission’s website, www.volunteernc.org, or by calling the N.C. Volunteer Commission at 919-715-3470 or 1-800-820-4483. Grants will be awarded based on community support, program design, organizational capacity, budget adequacy, sustainability and documented goals.
AmeriCorps is a domestic version of the Peace Corps that engages 85,000 Americans in intensive, result-driven service each year. AmeriCorps members tutor and mentor school-aged youth, improve the quality of childcare for preschool children, assist individuals with disabilities in gaining employment and provide new U.S. Citizens with interpretation and translation services.
The N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, a federal- and state-funded agency housed in the Governor’s Office, administers funding to 12 N.C. AmeriCorps programs for the 2011-2012 program year. Since 1994, more than 12,153 individuals have participated in those national service programs in North Carolina. For more information on the N.C. AmeriCorps programs, visit the N.C. Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service’s website at www.volunteernc.org or call 1-800-820-4483 (TTY: 1-877-877-1765).