WASHINGTON, DC— Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) announced today that Maine will receive over $2 million in American Rescue Plan and State and National AmeriCorps grants to support child development and the environmental stewardship in Maine. The funding will support 113 AmeriCorps members in collaboration with the Maine Conservation Corps, Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP), Educare Central Maine (ECM), and the Maine Department of Education's Child Development Services (DOE-CDS). Awards include funds from both FY22 Appropriations and the American Rescue Plan, which was used to increase the AmeriCorps minimum living allowance and to stabilize and expand AmeriCorps programs in Maine.

“The impact of the pandemic has been far reaching, affecting virtually all ways of life in our communities. Now more than ever, AmeriCorps members are vital in helping our communities recover and rebuild, and thanks to the funding made possible by the American Rescue Plan and the FY2022 Appropriations package, they will have the tools to do so,” Senator King and Congresswoman Pingree said. “Through these significant, targeted investments, more AmeriCorps members will be united by a mission to better our great state as we tackle climate change, support our children, and recover from the pandemic.”

“Maine is serious about its commitment to end hunger by 2030, as evidenced by “Everyone at the Table,” the strategic roadmap our state has developed to achieve this important goal,” said Amanda Beal, Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. “AmeriCorps is a wonderful partner in that effort, and the community partnerships we’re fostering through our VISTA program are helping ensure that everyone has a place at the table as we tackle this complex issue.”

“The Kennebec Valley Community Action Program is delighted to continue our AmeriCorps program, embracing diversity, education, and collaboration to support young learners. This opportunity, through KVCAP and the Educare Lab School & Learning Hub, creates an expanded approach to build career pathways in early care and education, in partnership with the Maine Department of Education. It will increase much needed Education Technicians in childcare settings, Head Start programs, and public schools. We are grateful for the support of this funding,” said Suzanne Walsh, CEO of KVCAP.

Three grants totaling $2,292,452 will support organizations operating in Augusta and Waterville, Maine. These include: 

• $1,163,146 – Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry’s Maine Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Program (Augusta): 
  
  $894,240 in grant funding and $268,906 in Education Award funding to support 88 AmeriCorps members who will accrue marketable skills and experiences, while completing vital environmental stewardship and capacity building activities. Team based placements will focus on trail rehabilitation and construction as well as habitat restoration; individual placement members will be engaged in host site specific objectives, such as ecological monitoring, environmental education, community engagement, and expanding volunteer management practice. AmeriCorps members will be responsible for treating or constructing 200 miles of trail and providing capacity building services to 15 host site agencies. AmeriCorps members will leverage 600 community volunteers who will be engaged in skill development activities to perpetuate the stewardship efforts of members. This program will concentrate on the AmeriCorps focus area of Environmental Stewardship and Capacity Building.
• $783,460 – Volunteer Maine
  The state service commission will receive $783,460 in formula funding, which will be disbursed to state organizations in the months ahead to support additional AmeriCorps members.
• $345,846 – KVCAP/ECM and DOE-CDS First4 AmeriCorps (Waterville):

$265,896 in grant funding and $79,950 in Education Award funding to support 25 AmeriCorps members who will directly support children in Head Start/Early Head Start/Child Development Services classrooms as they develop foundational social-emotional skills necessary for school readiness. AmeriCorps members will be responsible for growth shown in children's pre- and post-assessments in the School Readiness Goals benchmarks, particularly in the social-emotional domain, using the child development assessment tools. AmeriCorps members will leverage 12 community volunteers who will be engaged in adding diverse skills and experience to the programs. This program will concentrate on the AmeriCorps focus area of Education, specifically improved school readiness for disadvantaged young children.

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 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.