Serve Idaho, the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism is accepting grant applications for Public Health AmeriCorps programs.

Earlier this year, Public Health AmeriCorps, a $400 million American Rescue Plan partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was launched as a way to recruit, train and develop of a new generation of public health leaders.

The 2023 grant competition focuses on programs addressing community public health needs, including health inequities made worse by the ongoing pandemic. The competition is open to nonprofit, faith-based, tribal and community-based organizations; higher-education institutions; state, local and territorial government entities; and local public health departments. Organizations that have not yet received AmeriCorps funding are encouraged to apply.

“Communities across the nation are still recovering and rebuilding from the COVID-19 public health crisis,” said Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps CEO. “AmeriCorps is recruiting organizations and Americans to serve to rebuild and improve our strained public health systems. We welcome any organization with innovative solutions to apply for Public Health AmeriCorps funding.”

An intent to apply form must be complete by 4 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday Oct. 7. Applicants are required to attend two mandatory training and technical assistance calls:

  • Thursday Oct. 6 at 11 a.m. Mountain Time to review the full grant requirements
  • Thursday Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. Mountain Time to review Idaho specific requirements.

The application deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, at 4 p.m. Mountain Time. Successful applicants will be notified in April 2023. Details about the grant criteria and technical assistance opportunities can be found at https://serve.idaho.gov/grantsfunding/

Public Health AmeriCorps awarded more than $60 million to 82 Public Health AmeriCorps programs in April 2022. This included more than $1.6 million to Idaho State University’s Gem State Public Health AmeriCorps program. Those programs are currently recruiting nearly 3,000 AmeriCorps members. Individuals interested in serving with the Idaho’s Gem State Public Health AmeriCorps program can learn more here.

AmeriCorps continues to invest in the nation’s COVID-19 recovery. With existing programs in more than 40,000 locations across the country, AmeriCorps is uniquely positioned to bolster community recovery efforts.

In 2021, AmeriCorps committed more than $5.2 million to support Idaho communities as they carried out a variety of initiatives. This federal investment leveraged more than $1.2 million in other resources to strengthen community impact, build local support and increase return on taxpayer dollars.

Serve Idaho is a division of the Idaho Department of Labor and receives federal funds to administer Idaho’s AmeriCorps programs.

Learn more about Serve Idaho and AmeriCorps service opportunities at serveidaho.gov.