$8 Million Available for National Service Training and Technical Assistance
WASHINGTON, DC — The Corporation for National and Community Service today announced the availability of approximately $8 million in funds to support national providers of training and technical assistance for community service programs that use service and volunteering to meet community needs.
The Corporation will award cooperative agreements in five categories to organizations with the capacity and demonstrated expertise to deliver training and technical assistance in one or more of the categories. Organizations may include grantees and potential grantees, sub-grantees, sponsoring organizations and projects, and participants and members in programs administered by the Corporation including AmeriCorps, VISTA, National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), RSVP, Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and Learn and Serve America and in support of other special initiatives of the Corporation.
“Providing high quality training to our grantees is a vital part of the way we support America's nonprofit and volunteer sector,” said Nicola Goren, Acting CEO of the Corporation. “Service is a solution to some of our nation's toughest challenges, especially in these tough economic times. Our training providers are especially critical now, as we embark on an expansion of service to unleash the energy and skills of Americans to meet local needs.”
The recently passed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will usher in a new era of service and volunteering by expanding opportunities for Americans of all ages to serve and focusing service on tackling tough national challenges. Among other provisions, the law reauthorizes and expands the Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs; puts AmeriCorps on a path to grow from 75,000 to 250,000 positions by 2017; increases opportunities for students and older Americans to serve; and strengthens America's civic infrastructure by investing in social innovation and volunteer generation.
The legislation is likely to affect the scope and nature of the cooperative agreements that will result from this competition. The Corporation is particularly interested in new approaches and cutting edge technologies that will creatively support new initiatives and cost-effectively support expansion of national service and the non-profit sector. Organizations selected through this competition will work with and support current and future training and technical assistance provider organizations. Providers use their technical expertise and/or capacity to deliver services primarily through web-based and other distance learning approaches and through targeted face to face training.
The 5 categories are: Technology/Knowledge Management including Specialized Service Learning Services (Approximately $2.5 million for year one, including at least $750,000 for specialized service-learning services); Training Support (Approximately $3.5 million for year one); Training and Technical Assistance to AmeriCorps State*National Programs (Approximately $ 1 million for year one); Effective Practices in Disability and Inclusion Services (Approximately $1 million for year one); and Return on Investment for Managing Volunteers. (Approximately $100,000 for year one).
The grant competition is open to state and local government entities, non-profit organizations, including faith- and community-based organizations, higher education institutions, Indian tribes, and commercial entities. Organizations that operate or intend to operate Corporation supported programs are also eligible to apply.
The deadline for eGrants submissions is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on July 2, 2009. This Notice and other information are available at /for_organizations/funding/nofa_detail.asp?tbl_nofa_id=72. For further information or for a printed copy of this Notice or the Application Instructions, call the TTA NOFA Hotline at 202-606-7515, or send an e-mail to TTANOFO@cns.gov. The TTY number is 202–606-3472.