FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct 01, 2021

Funds from the American Rescue plan invested will make national service sustainable, equitable and accessible

WASHINGTON, D.C. – AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and service, today announced more than $265 million in American Rescue Plan funding to strengthen national service and provide relief to organizations and communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Approximately $205 million was awarded to governor-appointed State Service Commissions to provide states additional flexibility and resources to increase living allowances, stabilize their state AmeriCorps programs, and expand AmeriCorps opportunities over the next four years.

An additional $60 million in American Rescue Plan funding was provided through an augmentation process to more than 230 existing AmeriCorps grantees. These organizations will use funds to implement increased the living allowances and make service more accessible and inclusive in their communities.

"The American Rescue Plan will allow AmeriCorps to empower local, state, and national service partners to address the most urgent needs facing their communities.” said Sonali Nijhawan, director of AmeriCorps State and National. “These funds will make service more accessible by increasing the living allowance and strengthening programs, enabling more AmeriCorps members to get things done for America."

These awards are the largest to date from AmeriCorps as part of the $1 billion invested by American Rescue Plan to sustain and increase national service. Additional funding announcements will be made later this year. View a state-by-state breakdown.

More than 1.2 million AmeriCorps members across all AmeriCorps programs have served the nation, giving more than 1.6 billion hours of service and earning nearly $4 billion in education awards since 1994. Every year, thousands of AmeriCorps members prepare students for success, rebuild communities and revitalize cities, support veterans, fight the opioid epidemic, respond to disasters, preserve public lands, strengthen education, foster economic opportunity, and more.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and national service, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency invests more than $800 million in grants for local nonprofit, community, tribal, and state organizations; places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.