National Service Agency Announces AmeriCorps Funding Opportunities for Indian Tribes

Priority areas include disaster services, economic opportunity, education and veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The nation's leading federal agency for service says tribal groups now have the opportunity to apply for funding that would put AmeriCorps members on the ground to help them tackle the unique challenges facing Native American communities.

The Corporation for National and Community Service today released the notification of possible funding. The grant competition is designed to help national service programs achieve greater impact by targeting resources on a core set of challenges: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans and military families. Language preservation

“AmeriCorps members are an indispensable resource for nonprofits and the individuals they serve,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “Tribal leaders have the opportunity to build on programs that are working in their communities. AmeriCorps members can be important partners in creating jobs, addressing health-care needs, or helping veterans adjust to life after the military.”

The AmeriCorps State and National performance measures reflect a broader set of agency-wide Priority Measures that will be central to the way CNCS assesses its performances and impact going forward.

“The agency has a longstanding commitment to working with tribal nations on a government-to-government basis,” said Ron Lessard, Strategic Advisor for Native American Affairs. “We want to ensure that the tribal nations are heard, their concerns are amplified and that our programs are responsive to their needs.”

The AmeriCorps program engages more than 70,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through 15,000 national and local organizations. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

Though the actual level of funding is subject to the availability of annual appropriations, CNCS anticipates it will award new, recompeting, and continuation AmeriCorps grants for fiscal year 2013. CNCS expects the 2013 competition to be highly competitive.

Applications are due on January 23, 2013. Successful applicants will be notified no later than June 14, 2013.

Potential applicants are encouraged to utilize the tribal-specific technical assistance made available by CNCS, including FAQ, webinars and a schedule of the agency's upcoming assistance calls. More information on technical assistance, as well as contact information for questions specific to the Native American community, can be found at http://go.usa.gov/YPR4.