(Washington, DC)—Congresswoman Gwen Moore, D-Wisc., today announced that five AmeriCorps programs in the Milwaukee area will receive an investment of about $763K from the American Recovery Act to expand their current operations. These Recovery Act funds are a portion of $2.58 million that will go to the Wisconsin National and Community Service Board (Serve Wisconsin AmeriCorps). Rep. Moore helped pass the Economic Recovery Act in February to create jobs, bolster the country’s infrastructure and improve the health of the economy.  

“Funding for AmeriCorps programs not only creates additional jobs for hardworking Milwaukee residents, it also underscores the importance of giving back to our communities,” Rep. Moore said. “This investment will go toward tutoring our most vulnerable youth, skills training for low-income individuals and teacher certification, among other critical services. While improving the health of the local economy, these job-creation dollars will simultaneously improve the health of our entire community.”

Projects for the AmeriCorps programs must be approved by the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance. The following Milwaukee-area AmeriCorps programs will receive Recovery Act funding:

$312,759 -- Public Allies, Inc., Public Allies Milwaukee: These funds will pay for 10 positions. The AmeriCorps members will provide additional assistance to the increased number of Milwaukee residents that are unemployed, homeless and hungry.

$269,289 -- Boys and Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee, Spark Early Literacy Initiative and Camp Whitcomb/Mason Environmental Education Initiative: These funds will pay for 46 positions. The AmeriCorps members will provide tutoring, child literacy, environmental education, and youth leadership training to economically disadvantaged youth.

$88,788 -- Milwaukee Christian Center-YouthBuild (MCCYB): These funds will pay for 11 positions. The AmeriCorps members are competing for scarce jobs with those who have been laid off from higher paying, higher skill employment. MCCYB’s AmeriCorps program addresses the need for skills training, financial literacy, educational development and basic life skills in the city of Milwaukee. The program also provides work for local subcontractors who are struggling in the faltering construction industry.

$65,280 -- YMCA of Metro Milwaukee, YMCA AmeriCorps: These funds will pay for six positions for AmeriCorps members to provide youth and adults with access to health-centered programs.

$27,500 -- Milwaukee Teacher Education Center (MTEC), Learning By Serving Our Community: These funds will pay for 25 positions. The AmeriCorps members will be trained, supported, and certified as teachers to maintain employment or to become employed in high-need teacher certifications areas in the Milwaukee Public Schools.

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For an interview with Congresswoman Gwen Moore, please contact Marni Goldberg at 202-593-8574.

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