2233 PennSERVE: The Governor's Office of Citizen Service notice of funding opportunity; 2013-2014 AmeriCorps State Grant competition

DEPARTMENT OF
LABOR AND INDUSTRY

PennSERVE: The Governor's Office of Citizen Service Notice of Funding Opportunity; 2013-2014 AmeriCorps State Program Grant Competition

[42 Pa.B. 7148]
[Saturday, November 17, 2012]

 PennSERVE: The Governor's Office of Citizen Service announces the 2013-2014 grant competition for the operation of AmeriCorps National service programs. AmeriCorps grants support the efforts of organizations to recruit and deploy AmeriCorps members and the volunteers with whom they work to address unmet community needs. AmeriCorps State Program grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible organizations that identify problems and persuasively demonstrate how deploying AmeriCorps members and community volunteers will produce significant positive impact.

 Eligible applicants include public or private nonprofit organizations, including labor organizations, community and faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, government agencies and partnerships or consortia. Subject to the availability of Federal appropriations for Federal Fiscal Year 2013 (FY 2013), applicants with high-quality proposals may compete with other State and National programs for AmeriCorps State program funding made available through PennSERVE and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). To be considered, an application must request not less than 10 Member Service Years, and the total grant amount request must not exceed $13,300 per Member Service Year. For Professional Corps, an application must request not less than 10 Member Service Years, and the total grant amount request must not exceed $2,500 per Member Service Year.

 Following the initial review of all applications, a decision will be made as to which programs will be recommended by PennSERVE to CNCS for Competitive funding consideration. The remaining applications, and those not selected by CNCS for Competitive funding, will be consid-ered for Formula funding. Notification of grant awards should occur in Spring 2013, with program start dates of August 20, 2013.

 AmeriCorps is a National service network that provides full- and less than full-time opportunities for participants, called members, to serve their communities and build the capacity of nonprofit organizations to meet local human needs. Programs may submit proposals that address specific problems of local communities within or among identified issue areas.

 On April 21, 2009, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (act) (Pub. L. No. 111-13), the most sweeping expansion of National service in a generation. This landmark law not only expands service opportunities, but also focuses National service on key outcomes; builds the capacity of individuals, nonprofits and communities to succeed; and encourages innovative approaches to solving problems.

 In alignment with the act, this AmeriCorps State Notice of Funding Opportunity will focus AmeriCorps grantmaking in six Focus Areas identified by the act:

 • Disaster services

 • Economic opportunity

 • Education

 • Environmental stewardship

 • Healthy futures

 • Veterans and military families

 To carry out Congressional intent and to maximize the impact of the public investment in national service, CNCS and PennSERVE are seeking to fund programs that can demonstrate community impact and solve community problems through an evidence-based or evidence-informed approach (for example, performance data, research, theory of change).

 In the 2013-14 AmeriCorps competition, CNCS and PennSERVE especially seek to prioritize investment in the following areas: Economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services and the governor and mayor initiative. Consistent with Governor Corbett's priorities, a focus will be placed on National service programs that improve academic and career outcomes for children, youth and young adults as well as those that serve veterans and military families or engage veterans and military families in service.

Types of AmeriCorps Grants Available in this Competition

 The types of AmeriCorps grants for which applicants in this competition may apply are described as follows. CNCS and PennSERVE will not provide more than one grant for the same project in one Fiscal Year. Also see the AmeriCorps State and National Fit Finder at http://www.americorps.gov/fitfinder/ to decide which type of grant aligns with the proposed project.

 1. AmeriCorps State Formula/Competitive

 These grants are awarded to fund a portion of AmeriCorps program operational expenses and living allowance and support services for enrolled AmeriCorps members. They are not intended to cover general organizational expenses. Matching funds are required.

 Prior approval from PennSERVE is required to submit an application for an AmeriCorps State Competitive grant.

 2. Professional Corps

 These grants are awarded to organizations that propose to operate a Professional Corps program. Professional Corps programs place AmeriCorps members as teachers, health care providers, police officers, engineers or other professionals in communities where there is a documented shortage of these professionals. Applicants are eligible to apply for funding for a portion of program costs. Professional Corps member salaries are paid entirely by the organizations with which the members serve, and are not included in the budget.

 3. Full-time Fixed Amount Grants (Non-EAP)

 These grants are awarded to organizations operating in a single state (Pennsylvania), including single-state Professional Corps programs. Full-time fixed amount grants are available for programs that enroll full-time members only. Applicants apply for a fixed amount per Member Service Year, and use their own or other resources for the remaining cost of the program. There is no match requirement for fixed-amount grants, but organizations must raise the additional funds needed to run the program.

 Prior approval from PennSERVE is required to submit an application for a Non-EAP Fixed Amount grant.

 4. Education Award Program (EAP) Fixed Amount Grants

 These grants are awarded to applicants that apply for a small fixed-amount grant for program operations, and use other resources for members' living allowances (if applicable) and additional program costs. There is no match requirement for EAP grants. Unlike full-time fixed-amount grants, EAPs may enroll less-than-full-time members in addition to full-time members.

Match Requirements

 1. Cost Reimbursement Grants (Non-Fixed Amount)

 A first time successful applicant is required to match at 24% for the first 3-year funding period. Starting with year 4, the match requirement gradually increases every year to 50% by year 10, according to the minimum overall share chart found in 45 CFR 2521.60 (relating to to what extent must my share of program costs increase over time).

 Section 121(e)(5) of the National Community Service Act requires that programs that use other Federal funds as match for an AmeriCorps grant report the amount and source of these funds to CNCS on the Federal Financial Report.

Table: 2013-2014 Grantee Match Requirements based on year of funding

AmeriCorps Funding Year	1, 2, 3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10+
Grantee Share Requirements	24%	26%	30%	34%	38%	42%	46%	50%

 2. Fixed Amount Grants

 There is no match requirement for fixed-amount grants. However, the fixed-amount grant does not cover all costs. Fixed-amount grantees provide the additional resources needed to operate the program.

Requirements Regarding Member Living Allowance:

 The proposed budget must include a living allowance for full-time members that is between $12,100 (minimum) and $24,200 (maximum) per member, except as noted as follows.

 For cost reimbursement grants, this amount must be included in the proposed budget. The living allowance is not required for members serving in less than full-time terms of service. If a program chooses to provide a living allowance to a less than full-time member, it must comply with the maximum limits in the chart below.

Table: 2013-2014 Minimum and Maximum Living Allowance

Service Term	Minimum # of Hours	Minimum Living Allowance	Maximum   Total   Living Allowance
Full-time	1,700	$12,100	$24,200
One-year Half-time	900	n/a	$12,800
Reduced Half-time	675	n/a	$9,600
Quarter-time	450	n/a	$6,400
Minimum-time	300	n/a	$4,260

 All eligible applicants must meet all of the applicable requirements contained in the Request for Applications (RFA). The RFA, which will contain additional information and instructions, is expected to be available in late October 2012 on the PennSERVE web site at www.dli.state.pa.us/pennserve or at the PennSERVE office.

 The deadline for submission is Monday, December 17, 2012, by 5 p.m. Applications must be entered into the CNCS eGrants online system and all required hard copy documents must be submitted to PennSERVE. Late applications will not be accepted.

 For additional information contact PennSERVE: The Governor's Office of Citizen Service at [e-mail] or (866) 6-SERV-U.

JULIA K. HEARTHWAY, 
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 12-2233. Filed for public inspection November 16, 2012, 9:00 a.m.]