FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sep 02, 2020

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service, today announced the opening of its new Midwest Regional Office in Columbus, Ohio.

An opening celebration was held virtually via Zoom, welcoming more than 300 representatives from AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs from across the region. Ohio Congressman Steve Stivers joined CNCS CEO Barbara Stewart in offering remarks at the event. Midwest Regional Administrator Heather Foster, CNCS staff and community members also shared stories of service from the Midwest Region, including information about a new COVID-19 response project in Ohio which will help connect food banks with additional resources to serve families. 

The new office will serve AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs in five states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. In total, CNCS provides over $81 million in funding to the region and this federal investment leverages an additional $98 million in local, outside investments. The funding provided by CNCS supports nearly 40,600 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members who serve at thousands of sites across all five states.

“Our AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers represent the best of America, and I am grateful every day to the incredible CNCS employees who support them.” said Barbara Stewart, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “I am inspired by the dedication, enthusiasm, and talent of our Midwest Region team, and I look forward to a strong future of service in this region.”

CNCS is the nation’s top provider of grants to support national service and volunteering, harnessing America's most-powerful resource – the energy and talents of its citizens – to help communities address their most pressing needs. AmeriCorps and Senior Corps’ service efforts include mentoring and tutoring our nation’s youth, alleviating food scarcity, and forging pathways to employment for thousands of Americans.

As our country confronts the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, national service plays a more crucial role than ever. Since the start of the national emergency, nearly 12,000 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps have served in direct response to COVID-19, providing assistance to more than 1.5 million Americans. Thousands more are providing critical support to children across the country as they return to school, aiding schools as they transition to remote and distance learning while ensuring that every student stays on track.

Working in collaboration with governor-appointed state service commissions, the Midwest Regional Office will connect communities to national service resources through the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs. Its staff will assist national service applicants and grantees by providing training, technical assistance, and administrative oversight. In addition, they will promote the MLK Day and September 11th national days of service, which provide opportunities for all Americans to serve.

The Midwest Regional Office is one of eight for CNCS and is part of a second phase of regional office openings this fall that also includes offices in Atlanta and Los Angeles. The first regional offices were opened in the fall of 2019 in Denver; Concord, N.H; , and Kansas City, Mo. Two more offices – located in Austin, Texas and Philadelphia – will open this year.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.