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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

94.006:  AmeriCorps

Objectives:  AmeriCorps is the cornerstone of the Corporation's national service programs. AmeriCorps addresses pressing education, public safety, human, and environmental needs of our Nation's communities by encouraging Americans to serve either part or full-time. AmeriCorps programs have four goals: 1) Getting things done by providing services with direct and demonstrable results; 2) strengthen communities and uniting individuals of different backgrounds in a common effort to improve their communities); 3) encourage responsibility through service and civic education (AmeriCorps enables members to see themselves as leaders and problem solvers and fulfill their responsibilities to their communities); and 4) expand opportunities in return for devoting a year of their lives to national service. AmeriCorps members may receive education awards for qualified postsecondary education expenses or to pay off qualified student loans.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

94.006 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Tribes, Territories, national nonprofit organizations, professional corps, and multi-State organizations may apply.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Tribes, Territories, national nonprofit organizations, professional corps, and multi-State organizations will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

94.006 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Contact the Corporation for specific information.

Award Procedure:  Contact the Corporation for specific award information.

Deadlines:  Contact the Corporation for deadline dates.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  The time ranges from 2 to 3 months.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Criteria are contained in the application guidelines.

Examples of Funded Projects:  AmeriCorps members serve in area elementary schools as teaching assistants, tutors, mentors, and role models. AmeriCorps members develop and lead after school programs, work with community volunteers to develop community service projects, assist in immunization projects, renovate housing in low-income areas, tutor elementary children, and staff a crisis help-line for parents of at-risk children; work to improve relationships between community youth and local law enforcement officials by performing outreach, developing public safety instructional materials, conducting conflict resolution classes, and developing crime watch programs. AmeriCorps members have worked to transform a city sludge farm into a nature preserve, restore a polluted swamp to a thriving natural lake, test area drinking water, and create environmental public service announcements.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  The anticipated program grant sizes (excluding planning grants) for fiscal year 2000 will range from about $200,000 for State formula programs to $3,000,000 for National Directs.

94.006 RELATED PROGRAMS:

94.006 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

94.006 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $237,000,000; FY 00 est $234,000,000; and FY 01 est $284,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  95-2720-0-1-506.

Authorization:  National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  As described in the Law. Contact the Corporation's headquarters office for further details.

94.006 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  A list has been included in Appendix IV of the Catalog. State commissions should also be contacted.

Headquarters Office:  Corporation for National and Community Service, 1201 New York Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20525. Phone: (202) 606-5000, Ext. 474.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

94.006 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Fifteen percent living allowances for AmeriCorps members; 33 percent operating and support expenses must be matched. (The funds are allocated as follows: 1) State formula programs. One-third of the fiscal year 1999 AmeriCorps funds will be allocated to States according to a population based formula; 2) State competitive programs. At least one-third of the fiscal year 2000 AmeriCorps funds will be distributed to programs that are first selected by the States and then submitted to the Corporation for competitive consideration; 3) National direct. Remaining fiscal year 2000 funds will be distributed directly to programs operated by national nonprofit organizations, professional corps and programs operating in more than one State; and 4) Set-asides are estimated at two percent of the fiscal year 2000 AmeriCorps funds. Set-aside for Indian Tribes and Territories, one percent each.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  A time frame has not been established.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Funds must be used to operate or plan national and community service programs.

94.006 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  As required by the Law.

Audits:  Audits must be performed as required by the Law.

Records:  All records necessary to perform a proper audit must be retained.