Cochran, Wicker Announce $5.0 Million For Mississippi Americorps

Press Release

U.S. Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today announced $5.0 million in AmeriCorps grants to support tutorial and mentor programs in Mississippi.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is awarding $5.0 million between five programs in Mississippi, including $2.26 million in state competitive funding and $1.19 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Award funding. Another $1.5 million was approved for Volunteer Mississippi, the state's service commission, to support AmeriCorps education programs.

"These AmeriCorps grants will be used to improve academic achievement among disadvantaged students. These programs involve universities and service organizations working to improve literacy and other skills," Cochran said. "I'm pleased that this funding will help energize volunteers to provide aid to our youth."

"Mississippi's strong support for volunteerism and service is one part of what makes the state a great place to live and work," Wicker said. "AmeriCorps volunteers have a proven record of improving the lives of citizens and creating lasting change in their communities. I am excited for the educational opportunities these grants will provide for Mississippi's students."

Launched in 1994, AmeriCorps is administered by CNCS and has a National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) campus in Vicksburg. The Vicksburg campus is one of five NCCC centers that in 2016 trained AmeriCorps members to recruit and supervise more than four million volunteers at more than 21,000 locations nationwide, including nonprofit organizations, schools, faith-based and community organizations, and emergency and disaster sites.

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