Grants to Support 370 AmeriCorps Members in Meeting Diverse State and Local Needs

 

TRENTON, NJ – Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno announced today that 15 organizations have received new or continued AmeriCorps grant support from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The federal grants will support 370 AmeriCorps members across the state who will provide disaster services; support in-school and after-school tutoring and enrichment programs for at-risk youth; serve in homeless shelters and food pantries for families in need; assist individuals with disabilities to become more independent in the community; and work with watershed agencies to test and clean New Jersey's waterways.

The New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service, which is located with the New Jersey Department of State's Division of Programs, will distribute the more than $2.9 million in funding to organizations selected in a highly competitive process.

“Civic-minded service is an essential part of the solution to many of the social challenges facing our communities,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno, who oversees the Division of Programs in her dual capacity as Secretary of State. “With this support, AmeriCorps members will continue their fine work in meeting pressing local needs while strengthening the fabric of communities throughout New Jersey. In doing so, they will develop essential civic and leadership skills that will last a lifetime.”

The current year's AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive, due to the strong and growing demand by organizations seeking AmeriCorps resources. Overall, the CNCS received a record-breaking 582,000 AmeriCorps applications in 2011 – a dramatic increase from the 360,000 seen in 2009.

“AmeriCorps members are improving the lives of millions of citizens and having a positive and lasting impact on the toughest challenges facing our communities,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “I congratulate these organizations for their strong applications in a highly competitive year. Thanks to the dedicated service of AmeriCorps members, these organizations will increase their reach and impact on meeting local needs.”

The grants advance the priorities of the bipartisan 2009 Serve America Act and focus AmeriCorps resources on six key service areas: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans and military families.

On a national level, AmeriCorps engages 80,000 Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet critical needs. Members serve through more than 14,000 organizations in rural and urban communities throughout the nation. Among other accomplishments, AmeriCorps members last year mobilized 3.4 million community volunteers and tutored, mentored, or served more than 3.5 million disadvantaged youth.

Below is a listing of 2013 AmeriCorps grants in New Jersey.

Category: New Applications

Agency	Funding Recommended	Slots Recommended	Focus Areas	Areas Affected By Project
The United Way of Monmouth County	$266,000	35	Disaster Services/Veterans & Military Families	Monmouth and Ocean counties
Somerset Hills YMCA	$133,143	38	Healthy Futures/Economic Opportunity	Somerset County
Jewish Renaissance Foundation	$205,467	23	Education/Capacity Building	Middlesex County

Category: Re-Competing Grants

Agency	Funding Recommended	Slots Recommended	Focus Areas	Areas Affected By Project
NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection	$260,000	20	Environment	Statewide – all watersheds
Montclair State University	$265,883	20	Education/Environment/ Capacity Building	Essex, Sussex, Passaic, Morris and Union counties

Category: Grant Continuations

Agency	Funding Recommended	Slots Recommended	Focus Areas	Areas Affected By Project
Boys and Girls Clubs in NJ	$195,208	44	Education/Capacity Building	Statewide
Enable, Inc.	$129,931	18	Capacity Building	Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset counties
Great Oaks Charter School	$121,000	10	Education	City of Newark
Jersey Cares	$131,575	10	Capacity Building	Statewide
NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault	$133,000	12	Education/Capacity Building	Bergen, Burlington, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Mercer and Warren counties
NJ Community Development Corporation	$266,000	20	Education/Healthy Futures	City of Paterson
St. Paul's Community Development Corp.	$264,803	33	Education/Healthy Futures/Economic Opportunity	City of Paterson
The College of NJ, Bonner Leaders	$235,933	50	Education/Healthy Futures/Economic Opportunity	Mercer and Middlesex counties
The Salvation Army	$187,680	34	Education/Disaster Services	Cities of Newark and East Orange
United Way of Central Jersey	$120,419	10	Education	Middlesex County and Franklin Twp. In Somerset County