NH Delegation Announces $1.3M in AmeriCorps Funding to Enhance Participation & Retention in NH Programs
(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) announced that New Hampshire has received $1,307,965 to increase the AmeriCorps living allowance to make service more accessible and inclusive, and to incentivize individuals to participate in the program. The funding is provided through both AmeriCorps and the American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law in March.
“I’m glad to welcome this funding to the Granite State to increase participation and retention in Americorps programs. AmeriCorps members provide essential services in our communities, from assisting survivors of domestic violence to mentoring children in underserved areas. Prioritizing national service is always a top concern for me because it is an investment in the well-being of our communities and families across New Hampshire and the nation,” said Senator Shaheen.
“AmeriCorps volunteers are integral to the communities that they serve across New Hampshire, and their work is even more important amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad to announce that AmeriCorps programs in New Hampshire will receive American Rescue Plan funding to make service more inclusive, and in turn, strengthen AmeriCorps overall.”
“This funding from the American Rescue Plan is wonderful news for New Hampshire, and will help to ensure AmeriCorps can deliver crucial services and support to those in need throughout our state,” said Representative Kuster. “The AmeriCorps members receiving these federal dollars have been hard at work providing essential services for our communities and Granite Staters in underserved areas, and this funding will help them expand their reach even further. I look forward to seeing the positive impact of these programs, and will continue working to ensure no one is left behind as we recover and rebuild from this pandemic.”
“For more than 30 years, the dedicated Americorps members working across New Hampshire have provided vital services and critical assistance to those in need, while becoming part of the communities they serve,” said Representative Pappas. “Whether in our schools, in our neighborhoods, or in nonprofits and community groups, it’s important that we work to expand these opportunities to all and encourage more young people to join the ranks of Americorps and remain in New Hampshire when their service has ended. That is why this funding to make Americorps service more accessible and more inclusive is so important. I’m pleased this funding, approved through the American Rescue Plan, will be coming to New Hampshire, and I look forward to seeing the continued good work that our Americorps members do every day.”
“The American Rescue Plan funding will provide the opportunity to expand service into new communities, increase the amount of members serving and provide a higher living allowance making service more equitable,” said Gretchen Stallings, Executive Director, Volunteer NH.
Senator Shaheen is a strong supporter of national service programs. In May 2020, Shaheen introduced the Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act, legislation that would fund 750,000 national service positions over a three-year response and recovery period, in part to meet the projected need for as many as 300,000 public health workers. Shaheen has also cosponsored legislation that would provide tax relief for AmeriCorps members who earn federal Segal Education Awards. Earlier this year, the New Hampshire delegation announced $149,811 in AmeriCorps funding to expand community services for senior citizen volunteers. This comes in addition to $4.7 million in AmeriCorps funding for New Hampshire programs and an $360K in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) in July 2020. In August, the congressional delegation announced $1.8 million in federal funds to support the AmeriCorps VISTA program.
The delegation-backed American Rescue Plan included $1 billion in funding for AmeriCorps.
