CENTRAL FALLS, RI – Today in Central Falls, U.S. Senator Jack Reed announced that Serve Rhode Island and five local service-oriented organizations will receive $2,195,439 in federal AmeriCorps funding.

Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, is a champion for AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which oversees the program.  Some refer to the group as a ‘domestic peace corps’ and it is designed to help communities in need while developing the potential of AmeriCorps members themselves, as they gain experience and earn education awards to help pay for student loans and scholarships.

Last year, when Congressional Republicans threatened to cut federal funding for CNCS by more than 30 percent, Reed successfully rejected the cuts and passed a significant increase for AmeriCorps and other CNCS programs.

These new federal grants will support AmeriCorps members across Rhode Island as they provide services to youth and families in need and help disadvantaged students.  Additionally, AmeriCorps members who complete their 1,700 hours of service may earn a $5,750 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that can be used for continuing education and vocational needs or to pay back student loans. 

“Serve Rhode Island and AmeriCorps members make a positive difference in the communities they serve.  This is a smart federal investment that gives people the opportunity to gain valuable work skills while enriching school and community programs for Rhode Islanders throughout the state.  It also helps build the capacity to generate and coordinate more volunteers,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees AmeriCorps funding and a strong supporter of national service.

Serve Rhode Island, which administers the state’s AmeriCorps program, will receive $654,147 in federal funding, which in turn will be used to award grants to non-profit organizations and/or government agencies responding to local needs across the state.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at more than 21,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve. 

Rhode Island organizations that won competitive AmeriCorps grants this year include:

City Year Providence will receive $726,000 to support 60 AmeriCorps members who will provide academic and youth development services in six public schools across the city.

The Learning Community will receive $270,740 to support 20 AmeriCorps members who will provide small group academic intervention for students in grades K through 8 in Central Falls, Providence, and Woonsocket.

NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley will receive $199,715 to support 20 AmeriCorps members who will provide housing assistance to economically disadvantaged renter households, many of whom are at-risk for homelessness, and transition them into safe, healthy, affordable housing.

Brown University will receive $185,237 to continue providing in-school college advising to increase the number of urban, low-income and first generation students seeking higher education throughout the state.

The Providence Children’s Museum will receive $159,600 to continue providing STEM and math enrichment activities for elementary aged children and school readiness activities for children enrolled in Head Start to increase academic success and school readiness among low-income children in Providence, Pawtucket and Central Falls.