GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES $1.4 MILLION IN RECOVERY ACT FUNDS FOR AMERICORPS

 

Gov. Bill Ritter announced seven Colorado organizations have been awarded almost $1.4 million in AmeriCorps*State grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service. These awards are funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Bill signed in April by President Barack Obama. 

 

The funding means communities around Colorado will have 612 AmeriCorps members working on projects to assist in areas impacted by the economic downturn.  The funds will be used to expand existing community activities such as tutoring, building affordable housing, environmental restoration, after school programs, teaching computer skills, responding to disasters, improving health services and others. 

 

"AmeriCorps members are dedicated young people who are committed to making a difference in the world. This additional funding will help strengthen communities and give AmeriCorps members meaningful opportunities," said Gov. Ritter.

 

The following seven organizations receiving awards are:

 

• $832,831 to Mile High Youth Corps to fund 241 positions for the Colorado Youth Corps Leadership and Conservation Program to assist with environmental and community needs in Steamboat Springs, Ft. Collins, Durango, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs and Ft. Morgan.
• $175,231 to the Department of Human Services and the City and County of Denver, to fund six positions to help transition independent youth from foster care to self-sufficiency. 
• $100,800 to the Board of Weld County Commissioners and Weld County Division of Human Services, to fund 16 positions for at-risk youth to learn job and leaderships skills through the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps Program.
• $91,392 to the Colorado Youth Corps Association to fund 333 Colorado AmeriCorps members in the Education Award Program.
• $78,600 to Partners in Routt County to fund six positions for rural youth in the Healthy Lifestyles Mentoring Program for rural communities.  
• $65,500 to Mesa State College to fund five positions for inter-agency cooperation to assist in family, school and behavior issues, through the Mesa State College AmeriCorps Program.
• $2,550 to the United Methodist Church of Center to fund five positions for a program that focuses on education, recreation and the needs of youth in rural communities, through the Saguache United Methodist Church AmeriCorps Program.

 

Mile High Youth Corps is recruiting AmeriCorps members now and will have additional cycles this fall as well as two next year. Other programs begin recruiting through the summer.

AmeriCorps members serve with national and local nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations and other groups. Since 2004, more than 16,724 AmeriCorps Members have served over 13 million hours in Colorado.  AmeriCorps members earn an Education Award which they can use to offset college tuition expenses.  The total value of AmeriCorps Education Awards earned by these members since 2004 is more than $200 million dollars. 

 

The Governor's Commission on Community Service, housed in the Office of Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, administers the Colorado AmeriCorps*State grant program.  For more information on AmeriCorps and other programs of the Colorado Governor's Commission on Community Service, visit www.colorado.gov/gccs.