Record investment for national service in Texas will support more than 3,600 AmeriCorps members to meet local community needs
AUSTIN – OneStar announced today that Texas received $32.7 million from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. This funding will be distributed to 50 organizations across the state to engage 3,611 AmeriCorps members within in local communities.
This year’s historic funding represents the largest ever investment in national service in Texas and includes money from AmeriCorps’ $1 billion American Rescue Plan allocation, which supports efforts to respond to the public health, education and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding also comprises grant awards for Public Health AmeriCorps, a partnership between AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this year to support the recruitment, training, and development of a new generation of public health leaders.
“This incredible investment in national service is a testament to the impact of our AmeriCorps members and the essential role they play in helping Texas communities thrive and build resilience,” said Chris Bugbee, OneStar President & CEO. “AmeriCorps gives Texans the opportunity to put their values into action and make a difference while also developing civic and leadership skills to last a lifetime.”
In the coming year, AmeriCorps members will address pressing social challenges in Texas through a variety of service opportunities. For example, AmeriCorps members may serve as tutors in low-income schools, advance college access for first-generation college students, train adults in job readiness skills, distribute food to children and families in need, provide support for those experiencing homelessness, respond to Texas communities recovering from disaster and much more.
The $32.7 million in funding, administered by OneStar, will be distributed to the following organizations operating in Texas. This year’s portfolio of grantees includes 11 inaugural AmeriCorps programs and seven recipients of Planning Grants, which support organizations interested in exploring and launching new AmeriCorps programs in the near future.
- Amarillo Independent School District
- American YouthWorks
- Austin Achieve Public Schools
- Big Thought
- Boys & Girls Club of Pharr*
- Breakthrough Central Texas
- ChildFund International USA
- City of Houston*
- City of San Antonio*
- City Year Dallas
- City Year San Antonio
- CitySquare
- College Possible
- Collegiate Edu-Nation*
- Communities In Schools of Central Texas
- Communities In Schools of North Texas
- Communities In Schools of San Antonio
- Creative Action*
- Equal Heart
- Fort Bend Family Health Center*
- Front Steps
- Generation Teach*
- Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
- Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas*
- Imagine Art
- Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston*
- Legacy Community Health Services
- Literacy Coalition of Central Texas
- National College Advising Corps
- Project Transformation
- Reading Partners
- Relay Graduate School of Education
- Sewa International
- Student Conservation Association*
- Teach For America
- Texas Network of Youth Services
- Travis County
- United Way of El Paso County
- University of North Texas
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- Vanguard Academy*
- West Texas A&M University
Planning Grants
- Campus Compact
- City of Killeen
- CLC Inc.
- Health360 Inc.
- Homeward Bound Inc.
- Texas Association of Regional Councils
- Texas Southmost College District
* New AmeriCorps Texas program
AmeriCorps State and National, a federal-state partnership with a central role for governor-appointed state service commissions like OneStar, develops and implements state-specific national service programs. These grants allow organizations to recruit, train and supervise AmeriCorps members who provide services in the areas of education, disaster response & recovery, health, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity and support for veterans & military families.
In addition to the grant funding, AmeriCorps will provide an additional $14.1 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for AmeriCorps members in Texas funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of approximately $6,500 that they can use for tuition at eligible schools and educational programs or qualified student loan repayment.
Programs across the state are currently recruiting AmeriCorps members to serve in the coming year. AmeriCorps Texas members may be eligible to receive benefits including a living allowance, health care, childcare, and the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Visit volunteertx.org to search and apply for AmeriCorps positions in Texas.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and national service, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.
About OneStar
OneStar strengthens Texas communities by creating pathways for individuals and organizations to engage, connect and accelerate their impact. We advance service and volunteering as effective solutions to our state’s toughest social challenges. We are recognized as a statewide voice for the Texas nonprofit sector and a respected partner to foundations, state agencies and the business community. Born from state government in 1974, we carry out our mission with direction and guidance from the Office of the Texas Governor. Learn more at onestarfoundation.org.