Lt. Governor Guadagno Announces 2015 AmeriCorps Grant Recipients

On Jul 22, 2015

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno today announced that the New Jersey Commission on National and Community Service (Commission) will receive more than $4 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) for each year of a new three-year funding cycle.

“National service is an essential part of the solution to many of the challenges facing our state,” said Lt. Governor Guadagno. “These AmeriCorps members will meet pressing local needs and strengthen communities as they develop leadership skills to last a lifetime.  I congratulate the outstanding organizations that were selected as grant recipients and thank all those who serve their communities through AmeriCorps.”

The Commission will distribute grants supporting more than 1,300 AmeriCorps members serving with 16 organizations.  Members help meet critical needs by tutoring and mentoring children, restoring the environment, and recruiting and managing volunteers, among other efforts.

“We are extremely grateful to receive this funding, as it will enable AmeriCorps members to serve in a variety of capacities in communities in need across the state of New Jersey,” said Commission Chair Anthony Campbell.

An additional $224,723 in funding is being awarded to multi-state programs headquartered in New Jersey, creating up to 1,262 additional AmeriCorps positions.  CNCS also will make available more than $2 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants.

The highly competitive 2015 grant cycle prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, and disaster services.  The grant recipients include:

• Governor/Mayor Initiative (Camden PowerCorps) – 60 AmeriCorps members will serve the City of Camden by assisting in the maintenance of parks, storm water inlets, rain gardens, and other green infrastructure projects.  AmeriCorps members will recruit community volunteers for environmental projects through the city, such as cleaning waterways and planting trees.

• The College of New Jersey (National Bonner AmeriCorps Program) – 1,262 AmeriCorps members will provide services in the areas of Disaster Services; Economic Opportunity; Education; Environmental Stewardship; Healthy Futures; and/or Veterans and Military Families.

• NJ Department of Environmental Protection Watershed Ambassadors Program – 20 AmeriCorps members will give watershed presentations, coordinate watershed activities, and perform waterbody assessments in the 20 watershed management areas in New Jersey.

A full list of grant recipients is available HERE.

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