Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jennifer Berrier announced the department is accepting applications for Penn SERVE's 2023-24 AmeriCorps grant for PennSERVE's 2023-24 AmeriCorps grant competition, which funds community-service projects across Pennsylvania and offers AmeriCorps members opportunities to build job skills and serve their communities.

This is also the first year that PennSERVE grants are available to Public Health AmeriCorps programs through funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

            "The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need to enhance public health resources across the country and to support the recruitment, training and development of the next generation of public health leaders," said Secretary Berrier. "This effort is consistent with the ?Wolf Administration's commitment to investing in a future workforce that will be ready to respond to the public health needs of our local communities."

            PennSERVE, housed within L&I, is Pennsylvania's grantmaking partner of AmeriCorps, the leading federal agency tasked with connecting individuals with organizations through service and volunteering in key focus areas, including economic opportunity, education, disaster preparedness, environmental stewardship, healthy futures and veterans and military families.

            This year marks the first time that PennSERVE AmeriCorps Program grants are available for the operation of Public Health AmeriCorps programs.

            AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention joined forces to launch Public Health AmeriCorps, which aims to address the public health needs of local communities by providing support in state and local public health settings and advancing more equitable health outcomes for underserved communities.

            If selected by PennSERVE, applications will be submitted to the federal AmeriCorps agency to compete with other single-state and multi-state applicants.

            PennSERVE AmeriCorps State Program grants are also available for the operation of AmeriCorps programs. Program grants enable organizations to recruit and support AmeriCorps members as they serve unmet community needs.

            PennSERVE's 2023-24 AmeriCorps Grant Competition will include two opportunities to apply for fall and spring funding, with the grant periods beginning in July/August 2023.

            Fall Funding – Program Operating Grants Only: If selected by PennSERVE, applications are submitted to the federal AmeriCorps agency to compete with other single-state and multi-state applicants.

            Spring Funding – Program Operating Grants and Planning Grants: Applicants will compete at the state level. An agency that is not funded through the fall competition may be considered for funding in the spring grant competition. PennSERVE anticipates releasing the request for applications for spring funding no later than January 2023.

            Additional details and the grant applications for both Public Health AmeriCorps State Grants and for AmeriCorps State Program Grants can be found on L&I's website.

            Applications for Public Health AmeriCorps State Grants and for AmeriCorps State Program Grants (Fall Funding) are due by Wednesday, October 12, at 5 p.m.