Manchin Announces $8.1 Million for Six West Virginia AmeriCorps Programs

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the National Service Congressional Caucus, announced $8,165,865 to support six West Virginia AmeriCorps programs. The funding was made possible in part by the American Rescue Plan and will support at least 555 AmeriCorps volunteers based in Morgantown, Wheeling, Hillsboro, Charleston and Elkins.

“West Virginians have a long history of lending a hand to their neighbors in times of need. AmeriCorps programs continue to make incredible impacts on our state, and I am pleased these six programs are receiving awards today. These critical initiatives will support West Virginians by increasing youth literacy, combatting the drug epidemic, expanding access to healthy, locally-grown produce and more,” said Senator Manchin. “As a proud supporter of AmeriCorps and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue advocating for resources to support these programs across the Mountain State.”

Individual programs listed below:

• $1,724,777 – West Virginia University, Morgantown
• This program will support 360 AmeriCorps members who will serve as literacy mentors for young children in rural communities across the state.
• $1,678,722 – Volunteer West Virginia, statewide
• This funding will be used by the state service commission to distribute additional resources to various AmeriCorps members in the coming months.
• $1,610,047 – National Council on Aging, Wheeling
• This program will support 24 AmeriCorps Senior volunteers in the Northern Panhandle receive certifications to fill one of three in demand positions: echocardiogram (EKG) technicians, phlebotomists or certified nursing assistants.
• $1,154,600 – High Rocks Educational Corporation, Hillsboro
• This program will support 64 AmeriCorps members who will support education, leadership development, community engagement and health and wellness in all 55 counties of West Virginia, with a focus on southern West Virginia.
• $894,735 – United Way of Central West Virginia, Charleston
• This program will support 50 AmeriCorps members who will facilitate an opioid prevention program to students in grades 6-12, provide Money Smart financial literacy training to low-income adults in West Virginia and provide peer-to-peer support for Veterans and military families across the state.
• $792,000 – Appalachian Forest Heritage Area, Elkins
• This program will support 36 AmeriCorps members who will improve environmental assets and raise stewardship awareness, while building capacity for communities in 16 rural counties across the state.
• $310,984 – Grow Ohio Valley, Wheeling
• This program will support 21 AmeriCorps members who will address dramatic diet-related health disparities by improving access to healthy, locally produced food in underserved, low-income communities in Ohio, Brooke and Marshall counties.