Granholm Says American Recovery Act Will Expand AmeriCorps Program in Michigan
Press Release
Granholm Says American Recovery Act Will Expand AmeriCorps Program in Michigan
Federal funds will add up to 76 volunteers to state
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Michigan will receive $966,875 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) for Michigan's AmeriCorps program, allowing Michigan organizations to put up to 76 additional AmeriCorps members to work weatherizing homes, tutoring students, and helping Michigan citizens access adequate housing and health care.
"The enthusiasm and hard work of these AmeriCorps members will bring positive change to communities all over Michigan," said Granholm. "Whether tutoring children, making homes more energy efficient, or teaching job skills, these volunteers will provide much-needed help to Michigan families struggling to make ends meet in these tough economic times."
AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the nation's largest grant-maker supporting service and volunteering. Recovery Act funds will flow from CNCS to the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC), an agency of the Michigan Department of Human Services, which will select specific Michigan programs that will benefit from the additional AmeriCorps volunteers. Only current AmeriCorps grantee organizations are eligible for the additional Recovery Act funds. The MCSC expects many new Michigan AmeriCorps members will begin their service as early as June 2009.
AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance of $11,400 for a year of service, student-loan forbearance, health coverage, and child care for those who qualify. After successfully completing their term of service, members receive an AmeriCorps education award of up to $4,725, which can be used to pay off qualified student loans or to finance college, graduate school, or vocational training at eligible institutions.
Currently, there are 1,060 AmeriCorps members serving in 80 Michigan counties, lending their time and talent to projects such as:
- City Year Detroit, where 55 Michigan AmeriCorps members provide tutoring and mentoring for elementary, middle school, and high school students in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties;
- The 4-H Mentor Michigan Initiative, with 60 full-time Michigan AmeriCorps members statewide serving with Michigan State University Extension 4-H staff and the other community-based youth mentoring programs to recruit and train volunteers to serve as mentors;
- The Michigan Habitat's AmeriCorps program, with 10 full-time, 12 half-time, and 27 summer-time Michigan AmeriCorps members working with Habitat for Humanity affiliates in 11 counties.
Some specific efforts additional AmeriCorps members may undertake in Michigan include, but are not limited to:
- providing job counseling and skills training to the unemployed;
- constructing or rehabilitating housing, including weatherization and other energy-efficiency technologies;
- assisting nonprofit organizations facing increasing need and decreasing resources;
- helping citizens facing eviction or foreclosure to find housing and access to legal help;
- connecting children and families to health care;
- staffing after-school centers that have lost funding and are in danger of closing.
"AmeriCorps members represent the perfect blend of commitment to service and old-fashioned hard work," said Granholm. "Their service to Michigan families will help all of us through these hard times, and I believe they will inspire a new generation to help others and give back to their communities."
Michigan organizations will use these funds to extend opportunities for service to citizens. To become an AmeriCorps member, you must be at least 17 years of age and have received or are working toward a high school diploma or GED. For more information on how to apply, visit the Corporation for National and Community Service website at www.cns.gov and the Michigan Community Service Commission website at http://www.michigan.gov/mcsc.
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