Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that Georgia nonprofit organizations will receive more than $9.7 million in federal AmeriCorps grants to engage hundreds of Georgia residents in intensive community service to meet education, housing, environmental and other local needs.

The grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service will support AmeriCorps members across the state who will serve as classroom teachers, build homes for low-income families, tutor at-risk youth, provide after-school enrichment and strengthen the capacity of Georgia nonprofits to address local problems.

“Citizen service and volunteerism is an essential part of the solution to many of the challenges facing our state,” said Deal. "From teaching and tutoring to building homes and preserving our environment, the work carried out by these AmeriCorps members will have a positive and lasting impact on our people and communities."

Six nonprofit organizations will receive $6.2 million to support up to 710 AmeriCorps members through the grants announced today. The Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism, an agency of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, plays a key role in administering AmeriCorps programs in the state and will oversee four of the grants. Two of the grants – to Habitat for Humanity and Points of Light Institute – go to national organizations headquartered in Georgia to support AmeriCorps members in Georgia and other locations across the country.

The Georgia Commission for Service and Volunteerism will announce additional AmeriCorps grants supported by $3.4 million in AmeriCorps formula funding in July.

“I congratulate these outstanding organizations for rising to the top in a highly competitive grant competition, and thank all those who have answered the call to service by joining AmeriCorps,” said Eric Tanenblatt, vice-chair of the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “At a time of great social need, AmeriCorps is a critical, cost-effective investment that taps the power of citizens to solve problems.”

This year more than 1,200 Georgia citizens serve in AmeriCorps, providing intensive result-driven service to meet education, environmental, health, economic and other pressing community needs. Last year Georgia’s AmeriCorps members tutored or mentored more than 31,030 disadvantaged children and youth, provided more 845,000 hours of service, and recruited 41,640 volunteers. Since 1994, more than 13,000 Georgia residents have served 16 million hours and have earned more than $32 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to help pay for college or pay back student loans.

Below are AmeriCorps grants announced today:

• Habitat for Humanity International, Inc. in Atlanta will receive $3.9 million to engage 300 AmeriCorps members in Georgia and other states to build and rehabilitate homes, recruit and mange volunteers, and work towards greater affordable housing and stronger neighborhoods.
• Points of Light Foundationin Atlanta will receive $793,285 to support 78 AmeriCorps members serving in Georgia and other states to develop volunteer projects in partnership with community-based agencies, and recruit, train and manage volunteer leaders to lead community-based service projects.
• Teach For Americain Atlanta will receive$331,200 to support 184 AmeriCorps members to serve as teachers for high-need subjects in high-needs schools in seven counties.
• Hands on Atlanta, Inc.will receive $991,520 to support 80 AmeriCorps members who will provide support to students facing academic trouble through one-on-one and small group tutoring, classroom assistance, after-school enrichment, and service projects in Atlanta.
• The New Teacher Projectin Augusta will receive $45,250 to support 50 AmeriCorps members to serve as full time teachers in elementary and secondary schools to improve the educational outcomes of children in Burke, Chatham, Dougherty, Meriwether, Muscogee and Richmond Counties.
• The Georgia Sea Turtle Center(Jekyll Island State Park Authority) in Jekyll Island will receive $222,558 to support 18 AmeriCorps members to assist with sea turtle tracking, rehabilitate turtles and promote community awareness of the importance of preserving turtles and their habitat on Jekyll Island.