Serve Washington receives $17.6 million to support AmeriCorps members statewide

Gov. Jay Inslee announced that Serve Washington, the state’s commission on national and community service, has been awarded $17.6 million in federal AmeriCorps funding.

“AmeriCorps members serve our communities’ most vulnerable residents. This has never been truer than during the past two years, when many AmeriCorps members pivoted to support pandemic relief efforts such as assisting with virtual education, food security, assembling test kits and setting up shelters,” Inslee said. “AmeriCorps members are an essential component of our community safety net at all times, but I especially want to thank them for their response to the pandemic and the ongoing support they will provide in supporting Washington’s recovery.”

Over the next year, 1,445 AmeriCorps members will earn up to a combined $8.6 million in education awards. Members will receive approximately $6,345 after they complete 1,700 hours of service to pay for college or pay off student loans.

In this funding, local Americorps opportunities are available either through the statewide fundings, or through the over $2 million coming to Washington Conservation Corps which serve Grays Harbor, Clallam, Jefferson, and a few more limited counties.

For the past year, AmeriCorps members have continued their service, adapting to meet the needs caused by the pandemic. Members helped communities respond and recover from the impact of COVID-19, developing new ways to deliver the same services to keep both themselves and those they serve safe.

Serve Washington Executive Director Amber Martin-Jahn said this year’s award is a testament to the hard work that AmeriCorps members do for Washington.

“AmeriCorps members stepped up during the pandemic and supported Washington communities in many ways, including through the WA COVID Response Corps, which played a key role in supporting food security in communities most in need of support,” Martin-Jahn said. “Serve Washington is honored to partner with philanthropies, nonprofits and state agencies across Washington to bring these federal resources to our communities.”

After a successful first year of teaming with the Schultz Family Foundation, the Washington COVID Response Corps has been renewed for the 2021–22 service year. The partnership is focused on continuing to build the capacity of local non-profits helping underserved communities while also creating meaningful opportunities for young people from diverse racial, ethnic and financial backgrounds.

The youth service corps leverages philanthropic funding with the AmeriCorps federal funding to deploy more than 200 AmeriCorps members between the ages of 17 and 25. Members assist community non-profits focused on alleviating food insecurity and other challenges resulting from the pandemic, such as learning loss, mental and physical health challenges, and gaps in basic needs to help more underserved communities through a post-pandemic recovery.

Local resources will more than match the $17.6 million in federal funds with an additional $28.6 million. Funds from the highly competitive award process come from AmeriCorps, the federal agency also known as the Corporation for National and Community Service, responsible for AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors.

AmeriCorps is based on public-private partnerships. That means AmeriCorps grantees need to leverage significant outside resources to operate their programs.

Serve Washington AmeriCorps grants and member positions will be distributed as follows: 

Competitive grants (operational) Total award # of AmeriCorps members County(ies) Serving
City Year, Inc. – City Year Seattle $1,428,048 94 King
College Possible $464,000 32 King
EarthCorps $450,000 40 Island

King

Pierce

Skagit

Snohomish

Educational Service District #101, NE Washington – Spokane Service Team $331,165 64 Spokane
Washington Department of Ecology – Washington Conservation Corps $2,105,224 285 Chelan

Clallam

Clark

Grant

Grays Harbor

Jefferson

King

Kitsap

Washington Department of Veterans Affairs – Vet Corps $636,600 50 Statewide
Washington Employment Security Department –

Washington Reading Corps

$1,778,750 126 Statewide
Washington Employment Security Department –

Washington Service Corps

$6,124,500 450 Statewide

 

Formula grants (operational) Total award # of AmeriCorps members County(s) Serving
Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council – AmeriCorps $407,500 25 Chelan
College Success Foundation – College and Career Coaches Program $319,700 19 King

Pierce

Yakima

Common Threads Farm $489,000 30 Island

King

Whatcom

iFoster – TAY AmeriCorps WA $244,500 30 King

Pierce

Snohomish

Spokane

Yakima

Pasco School District #1 – Serve Tri-Cities $498,680 30 Benton

Franklin

Port Angeles School District AmeriCorps $260,759 16 Clallam
Safe Streets Campaign – Imagine Justice $364,000 20 Pierce
Sea-Mar Community Health Center $306,000 17 Clark

Grays Harbor

King

Pierce

Skagit

Snohomish

Thurston

Whatcom

United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties $224,674 17 Benton

Franklin

United Way of King County $945,400 82 King
Up2Us Sports, Inc. $151,005 18 King

Pierce

 

AmeriCorps federal grants are also awarded to two multi-state programs headquartered in Washington state: Mt. Adams Institute VetsWork Environment and Western Washington University-Washington Campus Compact.

Organizations are now recruiting for AmeriCorps members to begin service this fall.

AmeriCorps members typically receive a modest living stipend and an education award after they complete their service.

Those interested in serving can learn more on the Serve Washington website.