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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

94.007:  Planning and Program Development Grants

Objectives:  Planning and program development grants have two major objectives: (1) Demonstration grants support demonstration community service programs that may not be eligible under other subtitles of the Trust Act, including AmeriCorps Promise Fellowships; and (2) disability grants support reasonable accommodation needs of individuals with disabilities to ensure their participation as AmeriCorps members.

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

94.007 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  State, local governments, and nonprofit organizations are eligible for demonstration grants. State commissions, national nonprofit organizations, and operating AmeriCorps programs are eligible for disability grants.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  State and local governments and nonprofit organizations are beneficiaries of demonstration grants. Persons with disabilities who are participants in AmeriCorps programs operated by State commissions, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and governments are beneficiaries of disability grants.

Credentials/Documentation:  None.

94.007 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

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

Application Procedure:  States and local governments and nonprofit organizations may submit applications to the Corporation for demonstration grants. AmeriCorps programs apply to the appropriate State or national nonprofit organization for disability grants that are awarded to the State on a formula allotment based on the percentage of AmeriCorps members serving in the State.

Award Procedure:  The Corporation for National Service awards the grants.

Deadlines:  Deadlines vary according to the program.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  There is a two to four month range.

Appeals:  None.

Renewals:  Demonstration grants are renewable for up to three years. Disability grants are renewable annually.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The Corporation is looking for high quality programs that have the potential to be replicated. The quality of proposals are evaluated on the following criteria: program design (60 percent); organizational/capacity (25 percent); and budget/cost-effectiveness (15 percent).

Examples of Funded Projects:  More than 500 AmeriCorps Promise Fellows are spearheading community efforts to provide young people with the five fundamental resources identified at the Presidents Summit for America's Future: caring adults in their lives as parents, mentors, tutors, and coaches; safe places with structured activities in which to learn and grow; a healthy start; an effective education that equips them with marketable skills; and an opportunity to give back to communities through service. In California, 22 Fellows serve on projects that promote increase use of health screening and immunization services in underserved areas, that expand the number of after-school programs, and that create job shadowing and community service activities for youth. In New York, 12 Fellows will coordinate technology-based Family Learning Centers that will train children to be peer tutors and enable students to achieve grade-level skills in reading and math. In Maryland, a Fellow is creating a national mentoring program for first-time juvenile offenders.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Demonstration grants generally range from $25,000 to $500,000. Disability grants range from $5,000 to $50,000.

94.007 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 94.006 AmeriCorps.

94.007 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

94.007 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $23,093,000; FY 00 est $19,717,000; and FY 01 est $28,521,000.

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

Authorization:  National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  For final guidelines, contact the headquarters office.

94.007 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  A list of field offices is available in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:  Corporation for National Service, 1201 New York Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20525. Phone: (202) 606-5000, Ext. 470.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

94.007 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Matching requirements differ from program to program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  The length of time varies by program.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Disability grants are restricted to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities to facilitate their participation in AmeriCorps or for funds to conduct outreach to individuals with disabilities, provide technical assistance to programs on disability issues, and to operate demonstration programs.

94.007 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Reports must be submitted in accordance with the Law. Disability and demonstration grants require semiannual reports.

Audits:  Audits are performed annually.

Records:  Records must be maintained as required by the individual grant.