Governor Gregoire Announces AmeriCorps Expansion

For Immediate Release: May 18, 2007

OLYMPIA � Governor Chris Gregoire today announced that Washington will receive over $5.7 million in federal AmeriCorps funds, the third highest award after California and New York. These funds will support programs administered by the Employment Security Department, Educational Service District 101 in Spokane, Kitsap Community Resources and the Department of Ecology.

�This is a tremendous opportunity for more Washingtonians to become more involved in their communities,� said Governor Gregoire. �AmeriCorps is a program that shows that people really can make a difference. When we give our time and our effort, we build stronger communities.�

The new federal award will support stipends and a post-service education award for 457 new AmeriCorps service members, bringing the total number of AmeriCorps volunteers serving in Washington to just over 1,000.

The Employment Security Department will enroll 230 new AmeriCorps members to serve at 86 Washington Reading Corps schools, which have some of the highest numbers of students not reading at grade level. Reflecting Governor Gregoire�s focus on early learning, these AmeriCorps members will also expand on activities that prepare children for school at pilot early learning sites in 12 locations across the state. Visit www.wa.gov/esd/wsc for more information.

ESD 101 in Spokane will enroll 48 new AmeriCorps members to continue building houses for first-time low-income home buyers and developmentally disabled adults.

Kitsap Community Resources will enroll 44 AmeriCorps members to help with tutoring, emergency preparedness and support for needy families.

The Department of Ecology will enroll 135 AmeriCorps members to focus on stream restoration and emergency response. Visit www.ecy.wa.gov/wcc for more information.

AmeriCorps is a national network that connects members with service organizations to help meet critical needs in education, health care, public safety and the environment. Members serve for terms of up to two years. Since it was established in 1994, more than 19,000 people from Washington have served in AmeriCorps. Young adults, college graduates and others over 18 who want to make a difference in their communities should apply to become an AmeriCorps member now for projects that will begin in September.

Please visit the web site of the Washington Commission for National and Community Service for more information: www.ofm.wa.gov/servewa/.

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