Kentucky will use s$6 million in federal AmeriCorps dollars to support 19 programs and more than a thousand members. AmeriCorps supports service programs including those at EKU and Berea College.
When grants, local matching funds, and educational awards are included, the total AmeriCorps investment in Kentucky comes to more than $15 million. Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service Director Joe Bringardner says new this year for AmeriCorps workers is the United Way of the Bluegrass aims to move ten thousand families to self-sufficiency by 20-20.
“Some working in schools, some doing job and tech training. It’s a pretty varied way of empowering folks and kind of just joining them in their fight,” said Bringardner.
Thousands of dollars will go to disaster readiness programs through Eastern Kentucky University and a program through Berea College to help increase school attendance in Clay, Knox and Perry counties.?
