[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7757-7760]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4192]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


AmeriCorps: State, National, Indian Tribes, and U.S. Territories 
Programs

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds for New and Renewal Grants, 
Notice of Availability of 1997 Application Guidelines, and Responses to 
Public Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(Corporation) announces the availability of funds for new and renewal 
AmeriCorps program grants in the approximate amounts of: (1) $162 
million for AmeriCorps State program grants (CFDA # 94.003); (2) $40 
million for AmeriCorps National program grants (CFDA # 94.004); and (3) 
$5 million for AmeriCorps Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories program 
grants (CFDA # 94.004). The application forms and guidelines for 
completing these applications are contained in the (1) ``1997 
AmeriCorps Guidelines and Instructions for State Commissions'', (2) the 
``AmeriCorps National 1997 Application Guidelines'', and (3) the ``1997 
AmeriCorps Application Guidelines for Indian Tribes and U.S. 
Territories'' respectively.
    The second section of this notice addresses comments submitted in 
response to the Corporation notice published in the Federal Register on 
August 6, 1996, which described proposed changes to Corporation grant-
making guidelines, policies, and priorities for 1997, and invited 
comments with regard to its AmeriCorps State, National, Indian Tribes, 
and U.S. Territories programs. The changes proposed for the Fiscal Year 
1997 grant cycle were non-regulatory in nature. In response to this 
notice, the Corporation received comments from eleven organizations.

DATES: All AmeriCorps State program applications must be received by 
3:30 p.m. (E.S.T.), April 15, 1997. Although AmeriCorps State program 
applications must be received at the Corporation by that date, 
applicants seeking AmeriCorps funds from State Commissions should 
contact their respective State Commissions since individual State 
Commissions set their own deadlines. Applicants for new AmeriCorps 
National grants must be received by 3:30 p.m. (E.S.T.), April 1, 1997. 
Notice regarding the renewal application deadline for AmeriCorps 
National grants will be provided to existing grantees at a later date. 
All AmeriCorps Indian Tribe and U.S. Territory applications must be 
received by 3:30 p.m. (E.S.T.), April 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: All applications should be submitted to the Corporation for 
National Service, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Box AS (for AmeriCorps 
States), Box ACD (for AmeriCorps National), Box ITT (for AmeriCorps 
Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories), Washington, D.C. 20525. Facsimiles 
will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the AmeriCorps State 
application process should be directed to the State Commission offices. 
Copies of the ``AmeriCorps National 1997 Application Guidelines'' and 
``1997 AmeriCorps Application Guidelines for Indian Tribes and U.S. 
Territories'' should be requested by calling (202) 606-5000, extension 
260. If potential applicants have questions about the AmeriCorps 
National and AmeriCorps Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories application 
guidelines or the application process, they should contact the 
Corporation for National Service, AmeriCorps Direct, 1201 New York 
Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20525. Phone: (202) 606-5000, extension 
125. Organizations interested in applying for the AmeriCorps National 
program funds may participate in conference calls on February 27, 1997, 
and March 7, 1997, during which Corporation staff will provide 
technical assistance to potential applicants. Both calls will commence 
at 10 AM and end at 12 PM (E.S.T.). To register for these calls, please 
contact Baqiya Adam at (202) 606-5000, extension 549. The Corporation 
staff will also conduct conference calls to provide technical 
assistance to potential applicants seeking AmeriCorps Indian Tribes and 
U.S. Territories program funds on March 3, 1997, and March 10, 1997. 
All calls will commence at 2 pm (E.S.T.). To register for these calls, 
please contact Rosa Harrison at (202)-606-5000, extension 433.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corporation's requirements for 
AmeriCorps programs are set forth in the Corporation's authorizing 
statute (42 U.S.C. section 12501 et seq.), its implementing regulations 
(45 CFR Part 2500 et seq.), and grant application guidelines. In 
addition to being thoroughly familiar with the statute and its 
implementing regulations,

[[Page 7758]]

prospective applicants should read the application carefully because, 
in some cases, more specific information is provided there.

I. AmeriCorps Program Fund Availability

    AmeriCorps engages thousands of Americans on a full and part-time 
basis to help communities address their toughest challenges while 
earning support for college, graduate school, or job training.

A. AmeriCorps State

    Approximately $74.5 million in program funds are available for new 
and renewal grants to States under State allotments, and approximately 
$87.5 million in program funds are available to States for new and 
renewal grants on a competitive basis.
    The Corporation is committed to supporting only high-quality 
AmeriCorps programs, and State allotments are not entitlements.
    (1) Eligible applicants.
    States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, through a 
Corporation-approved State Commission or Alternative Administrative 
Entity (AAE), are eligible to submit a State application to the 
Corporation for funds available through the AmeriCorps State program.
    (2) Estimated amount and quantity of awards.
    The following chart details the amount of funding for which each 
State may apply. The chart also lists the number of new program 
applications that each State may submit for funding on a competitive 
basis.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Number of 
                                                  Formula     allowable 
                     State                       allotment   competitive
                                                             submissions
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Alabama.......................................   $1,142,224            8
Alaska........................................      450,000            5
Arizona.......................................    1,132,813            8
Arkansas......................................      667,066            7
California....................................    8,483,903           29
Colorado......................................    1,006,221            8
Connecticut...................................      879,476            7
Delaware......................................      450,000            6
District of Columbia..........................      450,000            5
Florida.......................................    3,804,449           16
Georgia.......................................    1,933,942           10
Hawaii........................................      450,000            6
Idaho.........................................      450,000            6
Illinois......................................    3,177,168           14
Indiana.......................................    1,558,639            9
Iowa..........................................      763,213            7
Kansas........................................      688,970            7
Kentucky......................................    1,036,739            8
Louisiana.....................................    1,166,221            8
Maine.........................................      450,000            6
Maryland......................................    1,354,248            9
Massachusetts.................................    1,631,174            9
Michigan......................................    2,564,671           12
Minnesota.....................................    1,237,987            8
Mississippi...................................      724,399            7
Missouri......................................    1,429,739            9
Montana.......................................      450,000            6
Nebraska......................................      450,000            6
Nevada........................................      450,000            6
New Hampshire.................................      450,000            6
New Jersey....................................    2,133,870           11
New Mexico....................................      452,648            6
New York......................................    4,870,809           19
North Carolina................................    1,932,399           11
North Dakota..................................      450,000            0
Ohio..........................................    2,994,693           13
Oklahoma......................................      880,289            7
Oregon........................................      843,467            7
Pennsylvania..................................    3,242,136           14
Puerto Rico (1995)............................    1,008,515            8
Rhode Island..................................      450,000            6
South Carolina................................      986,535            8
South Dakota..................................      450,000            0
Tennessee.....................................    1,411,618            9
Texas.........................................    5,028,705           19
Utah..........................................      524,090            6
Vermont.......................................      450,000            5
Virginia......................................    1,777,493           10
Washington....................................    1,458,588            9
West Virginia.................................      490,984            6
Wisconsin.....................................    1,375,850            9
Wyoming.......................................      450,000            5
                                               -------------------------
    Total.....................................   74,545,951          446
------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. AmeriCorps National

    Approximately $40 million is available for new and renewal grants 
through the AmeriCorps National program competition.
    (1) Eligible applicants.
    National nonprofit organizations, Indian Tribes, public or private 
nonprofit organizations (including labor organizations), subdivisions 
of states, and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply 
for AmeriCorps National program funds. For the purpose of this grant 
process, a national nonprofit organization is any nonprofit 
organization whose mission, membership, activities, or constituencies 
are national in scope. However, an organization described in Section 
501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4), 
that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to apply, serve as 
a host site for Member placements, or act in any type of supervisory 
role in the program.
    Eligible applicants that propose programs in more than one State 
are encouraged to seek funding directly from the Corporation. These 
applicants may operate programs directly or provide subgrants to local 
chapters or affiliates. The Corporation strongly encourages applicants 
that propose programs in a single State to apply to that State's 
Commission on National and Community Service.
    (2) Estimated amount and quantity of awards.
    The Corporation expects to make fewer than forty (40) awards for 
new AmeriCorps National operating programs in Fiscal Year 1997 grant 
cycle. The grant size will vary by circumstance, need, and program 
model. The Corporation anticipates that it will not be able to fund 
AmeriCorps National programs at the same level as it has in the past 
because of a congressionally-imposed cap and a lack of available 
carryover funds. For this reason, grantees that have previously 
received AmeriCorps funding should consider significantly reducing the 
amount of requested support.

C. AmeriCorps Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories

    Approximately $2.5 million is available for new and renewal 
AmeriCorps Indian Tribe program grants, and approximately $2.5 million 
is available for new and renewal AmeriCorps U.S. Territories program 
grants under a population-based formula.
    (1) Eligible applicants.
    Eligible applicants include Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories. For 
the purposes of this grant program an Indian Tribe is an: (a) Indian 
Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including 
any Native village, as defined in 43 U.S.C. section 1602(c), whether 
organized traditionally or pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934 
(commonly known as the ``Indian Reorganization Act,'' 26 U.S.C. section 
l461 et seq.); (b) any Regional Corporation or Village Corporation, as 
defined in 43 U.S.C. section 1602 (g) or (j), respectively, that is 
recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided 
by the United States under Federal law to Indians because of their 
status as Indians; and (c) any tribal organization controlled, 
sanctioned, or chartered by an entity described in (a) or (b) of this 
paragraph. For the purposes of this grant program, U.S. Territories are 
(a) American Samoa, (b) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, (c) Guam, and (d) the U.S. Virgin Islands.
    (2) Estimated amount and quantity of awards.
    Eligible applicants may apply for operating funds to establish 
AmeriCorps programs. The Corporation expects to make fewer than ten 
(10) AmeriCorps Indian Tribe program grants, and fewer than ten (10) 
AmeriCorps U.S.

[[Page 7759]]

Territories program grants. The average award under each program will 
be under $300,000.

II. Education Awards

    On September 4, 1996, the Corporation published a Notice of 
availability of education awards that describes the AmeriCorps 
Education Award program. Applicants for AmeriCorps State, National, and 
Tribes and U.S. Territories program grants are advised that instead of 
applying through the AmeriCorps Education Award program, they may 
include in their AmeriCorps State, National, or Tribes and U.S. 
Territories applications a request for positions for participants who 
receive only education awards from the Corporation. AmeriCorps State, 
National, or Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories programs that include 
these positions are subject to all of the requirements that apply to 
AmeriCorps State, National, or Indian Tribes and U.S. Territories 
programs.

III. Professional Corps

    The Corporation particularly invites applications for professional 
corps programs. A professional corps program is defined in 42 U.S.C. 
section 12572(a)(8). These programs must be sponsored by public or 
private nonprofit employers who agree to pay 100 percent of AmeriCorps 
Members' salaries and benefits (excluding the national service 
education award which is provided by the Corporation). Members' 
salaries may exceed the maximum living allowance in other national 
service programs.

IV. 16-Year-Old AmeriCorps Participants

    In general, an individual must be at least 17 years of age at the 
time he or she begins the term of service in order to be eligible for 
receipt of an education award. However, certain 16-year-olds may enroll 
as AmeriCorps participants. Applicants who have an interest in 
enrolling 16-year-olds are advised that the participant must be an 
``out of school youth'' as defined in 42 U.S.C. section 12511(16) and 
serve in one of two types of youth corps programs described in the 
authorizing statute. (See 42 U.S.C. section 12572(a)(2) and (a)(9)).

V. Responses to Public Comments on Proposed Changes to Corporation 
Grant Making Guidelines

A. Renewals, Re-competition and New Applications 1997 Issue Area 
Priorities

    The Corporation received one comment requesting that specific 
language be added to permit existing or former operating sites of 
AmeriCorps National grantees to apply for new grant funds through State 
Commissions while continuing their contractual relationship for 
training and technical assistance with the AmeriCorps National grantee 
organization. The Corporation decided not to add the language because 
any grantee or subgrantee can currently contract with any other 
national, State or local organization for technical assistance. 
Therefore, we do not need to specifically state this for operating 
sites or subgrantees of AmeriCorps National grantees only.

B. 1997 Priorities

    The Corporation received several comments on the Corporation's new 
FY97 focus on children and youth within the four issue areas of 
educational, public safety, environmental and other human needs. The 
comments were divided equally between those favoring the new priorities 
and those suggesting that the priorities needed some clarification and 
should not be focused so narrowly. The Corporation has decided to 
maintain its focus on children and youth for the 1997 priorities. 
However, clarifying language was added to recognize that some high 
quality programs have different expertise and would dilute their 
effectiveness if they redesign their programs to focus on children and 
youth. Those programs are encouraged to apply if they are high quality 
programs and can demonstrate compelling needs. Applicants who received 
funding from the Corporation for the first time in 1995 or 1996 are 
considered renewals and therefore, may continue to address areas 
covered by the 1995 or 1996 priorities and need not change their focus 
to meet the Corporation's new priority focus on children and youth.

C. Summer Programs

    The Corporation received several comments requesting some 
clarification on summer programs and a recommendation that the 
applicants be encouraged to apply for summer programs that are operated 
as components of AmeriCorps programs, rather than as free-standing 
programs. The Corporation added clarifying language to this section of 
the grant application guidelines indicating that the Corporation 
encourages, but does not require, applicants to operate summer programs 
as a component of their year-round AmeriCorps programs and to ensure 
that a summer component is consistent with the overall mission of the 
applying organization and its AmeriCorps programs.

D. State Coordination with AmeriCorps National Applicants

    The Corporation received four comments about the grant application 
guideline language related to coordination between State Commissions 
and AmeriCorps National applicants. The comments were equally divided 
between concurrence with the language and requests for changes. Based 
on the comments received, the Corporation decided not to change the 
requirements for coordination and to continue such requirements. 
Additional language was added to the grant application guidelines 
describing the Corporation's expectations of AmeriCorps National 
applicants and of State Commissions with regard to better coordination 
between the two.

E. Issue Area Specialization

    The Corporation received three comments suggesting that limiting 
programs to one issue area may restrict their ability to raise match 
funds and fulfill program objectives. The Corporation's experience is 
that when programs try to meet many needs at once, it is more difficult 
to demonstrate impact and fulfill program objectives. Therefore, the 
Corporation will continue to encourage programs to focus their efforts 
on one issue area. The grant application guidelines do recognize that 
certain types of programs (e.g., volunteer generator models or programs 
operating in rural areas) may not be able to focus on singles issues. 
Programmatic needs or designs that lead an applicant to focus on multi-
issues will be taken into consideration during the grant application 
review and selection processes.

F. Program Focus and Service Ethic

    Several responders suggested that language in the grant application 
guidelines which indicates that the Corporation will not fund programs 
whose primary focus is job training should be softened. However, given 
the requirements in the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as 
amended, and its implementing regulations, the emphasis on imparting 
the service ethic and providing service to communities is appropriate. 
The Corporation did change the word ``primary'' to ``major'' to clarify 
the Corporation's intent to continue to support programs that do assist 
participants in job development activities, so long as it is not the 
major focus of the program.

G. Living Allowance

    Four responders recommended that the Corporation continue its 
current

[[Page 7760]]

flexibility concerning the amount of living allowances provided to 
AmeriCorps members. This recommendation suggests a misunderstanding of 
the Corporation's intent. The current language does not require 
programs to pay the lowest living allowance. It only encourages it. The 
Corporation has emphasized this in the final grant application 
guidelines, but continues to encourage programs to offer the minimum 
statutorily permitted living allowances--not more than the average 
annual subsistence allowance provided to VISTAs.

H. Corporation Cost per Member

    All responders addressed this issue in their recommendations. Some 
indicated that lowering the allowable cost per Member would have a 
negative impact on program quality and the Corporation should take 
varying local conditions and program designs into account and allow for 
some flexibility. Others felt the reduction in Member costs is within 
reason, but wanted some clarification concerning what was included in 
the calculation.
    The Corporation cannot increase the limit on the Corporation share 
of the cost per Member, but it does provide flexibility to applicants 
by allowing them to meet the target as an average across all programs 
within the application rather than as an absolute number for each 
program. For example, a single State must meet the Corporation's 
required maximum cost per member as its average cost per member in that 
State. In addition, the Corporation only limits the cost per member of 
the Corporation share. Programs are free to have a higher cost per 
member so long as it comes from a funding source other than the 
Corporation. The Corporation also delineated in the grant application 
guidelines all items included in the calculation of cost per Member.

I. Timelines

    Only one responder requested that the deadlines for grant 
applications be extended. Other responders expressed appreciation that 
the Corporation is providing more time between grant application 
deadlines and actual program start-up. One responder asked that the 
grant application deadlines remain the same, but that the Corporation 
make final decisions at least two months before programs are expected 
to begin.
    The Corporation cannot change the grant application deadlines and 
still meet a reasonable timeline for final decisions. Therefore, the 
grant application deadlines will remain as published in the Federal 
Register and reflected in this notice. Currently, the Corporation does 
notify potential grantees of decisions at least two months before 
programs are expected to begin. However, the actual grant award letters 
may not reach the grantee two months ahead of start dates.

J. Application Evaluation and Selection of New Programs

    The Corporation received several comments concerning the ``ability 
to monitor'' section of the review criteria. Several felt that the 
Corporation needed to reexamine its assessment that individual 
placements are ``hard to monitor'' and suggested that the ``ability to 
monitor'' criterion be dropped from the application review criteria. In 
addition, one responder recommended that the Corporation base its peer 
review criteria on results rather than systems.
    The Corporation considered these comments and their bases and 
decided not to eliminate the ``ability to monitor'' criterion, and to 
add language in the grant application guidelines asking applicants with 
individual placements to describe what they will do to ensure that they 
would be able to monitor their sites effectively despite their 
geographically-dispersed locations.
    The Corporation has not changed its overall review criteria because 
those criteria do place a heavy emphasis on results. Currently, the 
Corporation's review criteria base 65 percent of the evaluation on 
results related to getting things done, strengthening communities and 
developing Members, and the ability of the program to evaluate those 
results.

K. Miscellaneous

    The Corporation also received other comments requesting some 
clarification on how the selection criteria will be applied and whether 
or not organizations that have already received funding will be 
eligible to apply. Additional language was added to indicate that 
organizations that have already received three years of funding from 
the Corporation are eligible to apply but will be competed as new 
applicants rather than renewal applicants. The Corporation also added 
language that distinguishes the Corporation's request for individual 
programs to focus on fewer priority areas from the Corporation's need 
to ensure that we select programs that meet priorities in all four 
issue areas within the overall group of selected programs. The language 
states that, while we encourage individual programs to focus on an 
issue area, the Corporation will ensure that it has diversity among 
priorities across the programs that it funds.

    Dated: February 14, 1997.
Barry W. Stevens,
Acting General Counsel, Corporation for National and Community Service.
[FR Doc. 97-4192 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P