Senator Hirono Announces $4.2 Million in AmeriCorps Funding for Hawaii

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Senator Hirono today announced that Hawaii has received $4.2 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service programs.

“This federal funding will support educational opportunities for students, increase environmental stewardship, and help low-income individuals and families receive access to key legal resources, and is an investment in Hawaii’s future,” said Senator Hirono. “Helping to address local issues, AmeriCorps members are a valuable resource for nonprofits, communities, and the individuals they serve. I congratulate the successful grantees and thank all those who serve in AmeriCorps for their dedication to ‘get things done.’

The federal investment includes three grants totaling $2 million, which will support 490 AmeriCorps members. AmeriCorps members in Hawaii serve as educators in high-needs schools, provide legal services for low-income families, and engage in environmental stewardship and conservation.

CNCS will also provide up to $1.5 million in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps members to help pay for college, vocational training, or pay back student loans. The federal investment is projected to generate an additional $6.8 million in local support to increase community impact and return on federal investment.

The federal investment announced today also includes $645,437 for the Governor-appointed Hawaii Commission on National and Community Service. Later this summer, the Commission will make additional grants to support AmeriCorps programs in the state.

This year’s AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive, with a continuing level of strong demand by nonfaith and faith-based organizations seeking AmeriCorps resources. The 2017 competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, governor and mayor initiatives, veterans and military families, disaster services, and initiatives to build safer communities.

Below is a listing of 2017 AmeriCorps competitive grants in Hawaii:

• Teach For America Hawaii – AmeriCorps members will serve as full-time teachers in 38 high needs schools on Oahu and Hawaii Island. (109 AmeriCorps members)

• Project Kaulike – AmeriCorps members will help low income individuals and families navigate the justice system, providing legal information and resources at Legal Aid offices and courthouse-based self-help centers. (18 AmeriCorps members)

• Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps – AmeriCorps members will improve Hawaii's public lands and increase knowledge of environmental stewardship and environmentally-conscious practices. (363 AmeriCorps members)

Earlier this year, Senator Hirono cosponsored S.Res.86, a bipartisan resolution recognizing the contributions of AmeriCorps members and alumni to the lives of the people of the United States, which passed the Senate on March 9, 2017, during national AmeriCorps Week.

Last fall, AmeriCorps celebrated a major milestone when the program surpassed one million members pledging to “Get Things Done” for America. AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 21,600 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

AmeriCorps is administered by the CNCS, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads volunteer initiatives for the nation. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.

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