Rep. Huffman Announces More Than $1 Million in AmeriCorps Funding for California’s 2nd District

June 22, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today announced that the second Congressional District of California has received more than $1 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service programs.

“I am grateful to see the Backcountry Trail Program and the Watershed Stewards earn these competitive AmeriCorps grants for their work on the North Coast of California,” said Rep. Huffman “Citizen service is an essential part of the solutions to many of the challenges we face, and I look forward to seeing the work that these qualified AmeriCorps members will do for our national parks and for much-needed watershed recovery.  I thank all those who serve in AmeriCorps for their commitment to serving our whole country.”

The federal investment includes 2 grants totaling $812,994, which will support 128 AmeriCorps members. AmeriCorps members will tackle some of the toughest problems along the Northern Coast including conducting vital watershed and trail restoration in state and national parks. 

CNCS will also provide up to $508,200 in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants to help pay for college, vocational training, or pay back student loans. The federal investment is projected to generate an additional $2.4 million in local support to increase community impact and return on federal investment.

The current year’s AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive, due to the strong demand by organizations seeking AmeriCorps resources. The 2016 competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and continued a new initiative for governors and mayors.

Below is a listing of 2016 AmeriCorps competitive grants in California’s 2nd District:

  • California Conservation Corps Backcountry Trails:  The Backcountry Trails Program AmeriCorps members will perform trail work that will result in trail condition being improved in Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks, Big Basin State Park, and the Inyo, Klamath, Shasta-Trinity and Stanislaus National Forests. (80AmeriCorps members)
  • California Conservation Corps Watershed Stewards: The Watershed Stewards Program AmeriCorps Members will conduct vital watershed recovery and protection activities, recruit local volunteers to assist with salmonid habitat restoration, and educate students and the public about coastal watersheds throughout California. (48 AmeriCorps members)

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 21,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

Over the past two decades, more than 980,000 Americans have served in AmeriCorps providing more than 1.3 billion hours of service, and earning more than $3.1 billion in education scholarships. Later this year, the one millionth AmeriCorps member will take the AmeriCorps pledge, committing to ‘get things done’ for America.

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.

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