[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 83 (Friday, April 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24920-24922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10554]



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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Notice of Availability of Funds to Support Americorps*State 
Competitive and National Programs, and Learn and Serve America K-12 
School-Based Programs, in Efforts to Help Overcome the Digital Divide 
and Provide Digital Opportunities

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service (the 
Corporation) will use approximately $12,500,000 to award grants under 
the AmeriCorps*State Competitive and AmeriCorps*National programs, and 
Learn and Serve America K-12 School-based programs, to eligible 
organizations to support efforts to help overcome the digital divide 
and provide digital opportunities.

DATES: All proposals must arrive at the Corporation for National 
Service no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, June 23, 2000. 
The Corporation anticipates announcing its selections under this 
announcement no later than August 8, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted to the Corporation at the 
following address: Corporation for National and Community Service, 
Attn: Nancy Talbot, 1201 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20525. This 
notice may be requested in an alternative format for the visually 
impaired.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, or to obtain 
an application, contact Maria Diaz at (202) 606-5000, ext. 372.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Corporation is a federal government corporation that encourages 
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage in community-based 
service to meet the nation's educational, public safety, environmental 
and other human needs. In doing so, the Corporation fosters civic 
responsibility, strengthens the ties that bind us together as a people, 
and provides educational opportunity for those who make a substantial 
commitment to service. This year, the Corporation will support over 
40,000 AmeriCorps members who perform substantial service in 
communities across the country and over one million students in 
service-learning programs.
    Announcements concerning the availability of Corporation funding 
for AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America programs in fiscal year 2000 
were previously made known to eligible applicants and publicized (see 
the Federal Register notice dated February 16, 2000 (65 FR 7857) and 
information at the Corporation's website at www.nationalservice.org). 
The Corporation is now making available approximately $12.5 million for 
the purpose of supporting AmeriCorps members and students in grades K-
12 in efforts to overcome the digital divide. Of the $12.5 million: 
approximately $5 million is being made available under AmeriCorps*State 
competitive grants; approximately $5 million is being made available 
under AmeriCorps*National grants; approximately $2 million is being 
made available under Learn and Serve America: School-based programs; 
and approximately $500,000 is being made available to Indian tribes 
under Learn and Serve America: School-based programs. The Corporation 
anticipates making grants in each of these categories; proposals within 
each of the specified categories will be judged against each other. The 
Corporation anticipates making approximately 30 grants in 
AmeriCorps*State Competitive, approximately 20 grants in 
AmeriCorps*National, and approximately 10 grants in Learn and Serve 
America: School-based programs.

Purpose of Grants

    Americans increasingly have access to computers and the Internet. 
It is estimated that more than 42 percent have access to computers at 
home and 26 percent have access to the Internet at home. At the same 
time, however, studies find that there is a significant ``digital 
divide'' separating Americans into information ``haves'' and ``have 
nots.'' In some instances, the gap is widening. By some estimates, the 
gaps between White and Hispanic households, and between White and 
African American households, are now approximately five percentage 
points larger than they were in 1997. The disparity based on education 
and income levels also has increased in the last year. (To learn more 
about the digital divide, go to www.digitaldivide.gov to view the 
Department of Commerce's study, Falling Through the Net: Defining the 
Digital Divide.) At the same time, schools are gaining more access to 
computers and the Internet. A Department of Education report states 
that about 95 percent of schools are now connected to the web. However, 
many schools do not have the trained personnel to effectively use 
technology in the curriculum. Nearly 50 percent of today's teachers 
have little or no computer experience, much less the training and 
confidence they need to fully integrate networked computers into their 
classroom teaching.
    People power will be a critical resource in successfully overcoming 
the digital divide and creating digital opportunities. They are needed 
to ensure that technology is reaching all communities and that it is 
being used effectively. Without people who can provide training and 
technical support, children and families in low-income communities will 
not develop the skills needed to keep up in the digital age.
    AmeriCorps members and Learn and Serve America students can help 
bridge the digital divide by serving in programs that (1) Assist in 
delivering technology access to low-income individuals and families, 
(2) help train school teachers and staff in community organizations so 
that they will become adept at using technology in their work with 
young people; (3) build the technology skills of those Americans, 
especially children, who have not yet been exposed to computers; and 
(4) use technology to meet the needs of communities.

Eligible Applicants

    There are different eligible applicants for each category of funds.
    For AmeriCorps*State competitive funds, most states and Puerto Rico 
are eligible to submit an application to the Corporation, through a 
Corporation-approved state commission or alternative administrative 
entity. Generally, any entity, including an Indian tribe, proposing to 
operate a program within a single state should apply to its state 
commission for funds. However, because North Dakota, South Dakota, the 
District of Columbia, and U.S. territories do not have state 
commissions, entities proposing to operate a program within these 
states or territories are not eligible for AmeriCorps*State competitive 
funds. However, such entities may be included in a program funded under 
AmeriCorps*National.
    Under the AmeriCorps*National category, national nonprofits, 
professional corps programs, and multi-state programs are eligible to 
apply for national service funds directly to the Corporation. We define 
a national nonprofit organization as one whose mission, membership and 
activities, or constituencies are national in scope. National nonprofit 
organizations may operate programs directly, replicate successful 
models, or provide subgrants to local chapters or affiliates.
    Eligible applicants proposing programs that operate in more than 
one state must seek funding under this

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category. Eligible applicants also include partnerships or consortia 
formed across two or more states, consisting of institutions of higher 
education, Indian tribes, or other nonprofits including labor and 
religious organizations.
    For Learn and Serve America School-based programs, eligible 
applicants include: State Education Agencies, Grantmaking Entities, 
Indian tribes, and U.S. territories. A Grantmaking Entity is a public 
or private nonprofit organization that must (1) Have experience with 
service-learning; (2) have existed for at least one year; and (3) make 
subgrants in two or more states. A state commission or community-based 
organization that does not qualify as a Grantmaking Entity may 
participate in carrying out a School-based program, provided that the 
application is submitted by an eligible applicant.
    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 or receive any assistance under 
this Notice.

Purpose of assistance

    The following are examples of the types of programs that a grant 
may support:

     Programs that train teachers and/or staff and 
volunteers in youth-serving organizations in the use of technology 
so that they, in turn, will become adept at using technology in 
their ongoing work.
     Community-based programs that provide in-school and 
after-school tutoring to younger children in the use of the internet 
and other computer technology.
     College-based programs in which AmeriCorps members and/
or service-learning students, including Federal Work-Study students, 
serve at schools, community centers, and computer learning centers 
in low-income, multi-family housing projects.
     Programs in which AmeriCorps members recruit community 
volunteers and individuals in organizations with technology 
expertise to provide computer installation, wiring, classroom 
instruction, e-mail mentors, and staff for computer labs and after-
school and weekend programs.
     Programs designed to assure that community centers are 
wired and connected to the Internet.
     Programs that expand the technology capacity of 
nonprofit organizations.
     Projects that use technology as a tool in welfare-to-
work or job-training programming. AmeriCorps members could serve in 
nonprofit agencies to develop and provide technology training 
programs geared to the needs of local businesses.
     Programs that involve AmeriCorps members, Learn and 
Serve America participants, and seniors.

    The above are examples only; local programs will determine the best 
strategies for overcoming the digital divide and providing digital 
opportunities.
    The Corporation strongly encourages applications that involve all 
streams of service in efforts to overcome the digital divide. We 
encourage programs to make use of volunteers, including senior 
volunteers and intergenerational programs, in their design. We also 
recommend considering ways in which AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve 
America programs can work effectively together. Because of statutory 
requirements, an entity seeking to sponsor both AmeriCorps and Learn 
and Serve America activities must submit separate applications, noting 
its proposed relationship between the two programs.
    The Corporation also encourages efforts that will have a lasting 
impact in the communities being served. It may be advantageous, for 
example, for a program to train teachers, who in turn will use their 
new skills to educate children for coming decades. Applicants should 
consider these and other ways to assure the sustainability and long-
lasting effects of activities supported with these grants.
    For more information on the programs supported by the Corporation, 
see the Corporation's website or contact the Corporation representative 
listed above.

Contents of the Proposal

    All eligible applicants must submit an application that meets all 
of the criteria and requirements contained in the application package 
and accompanying guidelines previously published for the year 2000 and 
available on the Corporation's website.
    Eligible applicants under AmeriCorps*State competitive funds, other 
than state commissions themselves, should contact the state commission 
for an application. A listing and contact information is available on 
the Corporation's website.
    Eligible applicants under AmeriCorps*National can obtain a copy of 
the requirements, including the application package itself and 
accompanying guidelines from the Corporation website.
    Eligible applicants under Learn and Serve America School-based 
programs can obtain a copy of the requirements, including the 
application package itself and accompanying guidelines, ``2000 School- 
and Community-Based Grant Application and Guidelines,'' from the 
Corporation website.
    For a printed copy of any of these materials, please contact Maria 
Diaz at (202) 606-5000, ext. 372.
    Applicants are urged to pay close attention to these materials. 
They govern a wide variety of relevant requirements, including matching 
funds, the amounts AmeriCorps members may be paid, the activities 
AmeriCorps members may engage in, the requirement that Learn and Serve 
participants cannot be paid, and the requirements for organizations 
proposing to operate a program.
    In addition, applicants must propose activities for AmeriCorps 
members and students that seek to overcome the digital divide. 
Proposals that do not address the digital divide will be judged 
nonresponsive under this Notice of Funding Availability.
    Applicants currently operating or applying for AmeriCorps and Learn 
and Serve America funding may apply for funding under this notice. In 
doing so, the applicant must also differentiate between the proposed 
objectives and activities and those of its currently-funded national 
service program or pending application.
    All applicants must submit an estimated budget to carry out the 
program, consistent with the requirements contained in the applicable 
application package.

Budget and Finances

    The grant may support reasonable and necessary costs typically 
associated with a program of this type. The otherwise applicable limit 
on the percentage of grant funds that may be used to purchase equipment 
(10 percent of the total grant amount) may be increased by the 
Corporation for grants under this Notice.
    Applicants for AmeriCorps funds are required to meet previously 
published limitations on per-member costs to be paid by the Corporation 
(see the guidelines referenced earlier). State commissions are advised 
that this grant is to be included in calculating averages to meet the 
statewide per member ceiling in funding for AmeriCorps.
    Under AmeriCorps, the Corporation will make awards covering a 
period not to exceed three years. Applications must include a proposed 
budget and proposed activities for the entire award period. If the 
Corporation approves an application and enters into a multi-year award 
agreement, at the outset it may provide funding only based on the first 
year's budget. The Corporation has no obligation to provide additional 
funding. Additional funding is contingent upon satisfactory 
performance, the availability of funds,

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and other criteria established in the award agreement.
    For Learn and Serve America, grants will be for up to $500,000 over 
a three-year period, with the entire amount awarded at one time.

Selection Criteria

    In awarding these grants, the Corporation will consider: program 
design (60%); organizational capacity (25%); and budget/cost 
effectiveness (15%). The details of the selection criteria are 
contained in the applicable application package. The Corporation will 
make all final decisions concerning awards and may require revisions to 
the grant proposal in order to achieve the objectives under this 
Notice.

Notice of Intent To Submit

    If you intend to submit an application, please send us a notice of 
intent to submit by May 30, 2000 addressed to: Maria Diaz, Corporation 
for National Service, 1201 New York Avenue N.W., Washington, DC 20525.
or email to [email protected]. The letter of intent should state that you 
plan to submit an application for the digital divide competition for 
the June 23, 2000 deadline. If you do not send a notice of intent to 
submit, you may still submit an application. Conversely, if you send a 
notice of intent to submit, you are not obligated to submit an 
application. Although submission is not mandatory, we encourage you to 
submit as it will help the Corporation to plan more efficiently for our 
review.
    The notice should include the name of your organization, address, 
contact person, phone number and the program under which you will 
submit an application, i.e., AmeriCorps*State Competitive, 
AmeriCorps*National, Learn and Serve America School-based programs. 
State commissions should submit a letter of intent that includes all 
subgrantee programs they plan to submit to the Corporation.

CFDA Nos.
94.004  Learn and Serve America School-Based
94.006  AmeriCorps

    Dated: April 21, 2000.
Gary Kowalczyk,
Coordinator, National Service Programs, Corporation for National and 
Community Service.
[FR Doc. 00-10554 Filed 4-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-28-P