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News Releases | May 14th, 2009
Lt. Governor Landrieu Awards AmeriCorps Stimulus Funding
Baton Rouge - Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu and the Louisiana Serve Commission have awarded five organizations $1.35 million in AmeriCorps stimulus funding to address unmet needs in housing rehabilitation and access, education and recovery efforts. AmeriCorps programs in Shreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleans will be recruiting a total of 84 new AmeriCorps members to begin service in the next few months. These organizations include Boys and Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge, City Year Louisiana, Louisiana Delta Service Corps, Shreveport Green, and Trinity Christian Community.
"The national economic crisis and Louisiana's budget deficit mean the demand for critical services is going up while resources are going down. An important part of the solution is to invest in our citizens-their service, their innovations, and their will to make a difference," said Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu.
The Louisiana Serve Commission announces the additional AmeriCorps funding during the third annual AmeriCorps Week (May 9-16, 2009). AmeriCorps Week is an opportunity to shine the light on the work done by AmeriCorps members and to motivate more people to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities.
"Our mission at the Louisiana Serve Commission is to get service resources to the ground in a meaningful way," said Janet Pace, Interim Executive Director of the Louisiana Serve Commission. "We're looking to engage even more citizens who are willing to make a long-term commitment to service."
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed by President Obama in February 2009, includes funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service to expand services provided by AmeriCorps programs in distressed communities. The decision by Congress, supported by Senator Mary Landrieu, to make this investment demonstrates a strong vote of confidence in the value of national service in meeting the needs of vulnerable populations and communities during the current economic recession.
