Grants keep Maine AmeriCorps working

WASHINGTON – The Corporation for National Service has awarded $1,253,001 in programming grants to allow 207 part-time and full-time AmeriCorps members to continue providing community service throughout Maine.

“This grant funding will enable these volunteers to benefit from the rewards of community service while also earning scholarships toward their education,” Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan M. Collins said in a joint statement. “We are fortunate to have these committed volunteers in our communities as motivators, project leaders and community service project designers. This funding will enable these young men and women to make valuable contributions to communities throughout our state, while giving them valuable experiences as well.”

AmeriCorps funding is distributed to states based on their population. State commissions review and select service projects to receive formula funding. Most AmeriCorps members participating in these initiatives will receive a living allowance during their service and an education award at the end of service.

In addition to programming grants awarded by the Corporation for National Service to finance specific service initiatives, full-time student volunteers are eligible for up to $4,725 in education awards and part-time members are eligible to receive up to $2,362.50 in scholarship funding.

AmeriCorps grants and scholarships were awarded to the following Maine organizations and projects, among others:

. Coastal Enterprises, Maine Service Corps will receive scholarships totaling up to $292,350 that will finance education awards for 25 volunteers serving the communities of Bangor, Lewiston and Wiscasset. The nine-member Lewiston team supports the community service sentencing requirements of 100 juvenile offenders.

Additionally, these members provide conflict resolution-life skills training and health education to youths. The Bangor team, composed of 10 members, renovates housing for the elderly, which addresses the scarce housing needs in the state. The team plans to renovate one multifamily and three single-family homes during the coming year. The remaining six members, serving the midcoast region, is renovating both an 11-unit rental unit that houses special-needs tenants, single parent and lower income families and a 20-unit low income elderly housing complex.

. Jobs for Maine’s Graduates Inc., Project GO@LS, Go Online with AmeriCorps at Libraries and Schools, connects AmeriCorps members to the Maine School and Library Network where members train 2,500 librarians, library patrons, parents and teachers of students grades kindergarten through 12 on the effective use of the Internet for research, education, communication and information. Project GO@LS will receive $281,342.