Washington D.C. — The Corporation for National and Community Service announced today that it will award 141 grants totaling $81.5 million to support approximately 13,000 AmeriCorps positions - a major step toward reaching the agency's goal of supporting 75,000 AmeriCorps members in its 10th anniversary year.

In addition to the $81.5 million in grants announced today, the Corporation has set aside sufficient funds to cover the education awards that AmeriCorps members receive after successfully completing their terms of service. If all the positions announced today are filled and all members earn and use their awards, the amount received by members to pay for college or to pay back qualified student loans would total $45.6 million.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the quality of the applications we received both from state and national organizations," said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation, which administers AmeriCorps. "We had to make some extremely difficult choices and in the end had to say "no" to some very worthwhile programs. But we are very excited about the terrific mix of programs and organizations that we were able to fund. These awards represent a critical leap forward to support the 75,000 AmeriCorps members called for by the President and Congress."

The grants announced today were in two categories. The first is a competition among programs nominated by state service commissions, and represent programs and organizations that operate in individual states. The second is a competition among programs and organizations that operate in more than one state. In both competitions, the awards will be made to programs and organizations that had never previously received an AmeriCorps grant or that had previously received a grant but were required to compete again to receive a new three-year grant. Grants in both these categories for the second and third years of the AmeriCorps grant cycle were announced May 25. (View grants.)

The grants announced today break down as follows. In the state competitive category, the Corporation announced 120 grants totaling $55.9 million to support 7,281 AmeriCorps positions. (View state competitive grants.) In the national category, the Corporation will award $25.7 million in grants to 21 organizations to support 5,721 AmeriCorps positions. (View national grants.)

The grants will support a wide range of activities by AmeriCorps members in more than 40 states and the District of Columbia. The largest grant announced today - for $4.6 million - will go to YouthBuild USA, a national nonprofit group that teaches unemployed and undereducated young people construction skills by having them build affordable housing for homeless and low-income people. Grants to other organizations will meet community needs in education, public safety, public health, the environment, homeland security, and many other areas. In a significant number of these grants, the AmeriCorps members will be called upon to mobilize additional community volunteers.

The fiscal 2004 budget signed by the President in January contained a $167 million increase for AmeriCorps. This funding level will allow the program to support 75,000 positions, the highest number in the program's 10-year existence. Most of the positions will be available starting in the fall. Interested individuals can learn about available opportunities and submit an online application by visiting www.americorps.org.

"Whether you are graduating from college or high school, taking time off from school, or changing careers, AmeriCorps is a great way to get skills and college aid while making a difference for your community," said AmeriCorps Director Rosie Mauk. "AmeriCorps will have more members in more places serving more people in need than ever before, and we urge Americans of all ages to log onto www.americorps.org to find an opportunity that fits your needs."

Mauk added that many graduating seniors in the class of 2004 are looking at AmeriCorps not only as a way to make a difference but as a career-booster. "AmeriCorps is a fantastic way to jump-start a career. You learn valuable skills in leadership and problem-solving that most people never get in an entry-level job. These are exactly the skills employers are looking for."

At the end of a successful full-time term of service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award of $4,725 that they can use to pay for college or to pay back qualified student loans. Part-time members earn awards in "pro-rated" amounts. Most AmeriCorps members also receive health benefits, student loan deferment, and a living allowance to offset food and housing costs during their term of service.

In addition to the AmeriCorps*State and National grant programs, AmeriCorps also includes AmeriCorps*NCCC, a 10-month, full-time, team-based residential program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 24, and AmeriCorps*VISTA, whose members help bring individuals and communities out of poverty by serving full-time to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, increase housing opportunities, or bridge the digital divide.

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. The programs of the Corporation engage more than two million Americans each year in service to their communities. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.org.

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