(Washington D.C.) - The Corporation for National and Community Service has announced the availability of $1 million in funding to support AmeriCorps Professional Corps programs that engage professionals to provide health, public safety, education, and other human services in needy communities. In addition to grant funding, an additional $5 million is available to provide members who complete their service with an AmeriCorps Education Award that can be used to pay for college, graduate school, or pay back student loans.

"The AmeriCorps Professional Corps program is a great way to attract talented and dedicated men and women into serving in high-need areas, and I hope many organizations will apply to take advantage of this excellent source of support," said David Eisner, Corporation CEO. “This program is especially attractive to those embarking on a professional career who want to put their training to work to provide services to people in need.”

AmeriCorps Professional Corps programs operate where insufficient numbers of qualified professionals exist to serve a critical need, and engage AmeriCorps members in service to address that need. These grants will support AmeriCorps members serving as nurses, doctors, emergency medical technicians (EMT), and other health care providers, teachers, social workers, early childhood development staff, engineers, lawyers, paralegals, police officers, firefighters and volunteer managers. Members could serve as experienced professionals, paraprofessionals, pre-professionals and entry level professionals. Programs must operate in two or more states.

Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations, including labor, faith-based and secular community organizations; institutions of higher education; subdivisions of states (e.g., cities, counties); and Indian tribes who are proposing a multi-state program. Partnerships and consortia consisting of the above are also eligible. Public or private nonprofit employers must agree to pay AmeriCorps members’ salaries and benefits. The Corporation will consider requests for grants of up to $1,000 per full-time equivalent AmeriCorps member for program and administration costs, and will provide an AmeriCorps education award of $4,725 for members who successfully complete their full term of service. The Corporation will make awards covering a period not to exceed three years, with continued funding contingent upon satisfactory performance, the availability of funds, and other criteria established in the award agreement.

The deadline for applications is May 3, 2005. All applicants are asked to use eGrants, the Corporation’s web-based application system, which is at www.nationalservice.org/egrants. The Corporation expects to announce its selections in August. For further information, contact the AmeriCorps Professional Corps hotline at (202) 606-5000, ext. 130, or professionalcorps@cns.gov. The TTY number is (202) 565-2799. Further information about this funding opportunity is available at www.nationalservice.org under the Funding and Initiatives section. In addition, there will be a series of four conference calls in March for organizations interested in learning more about this funding opportunity.

The Corporation for National and Community Service provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and country through three programs: Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.org.

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