The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS) is pleased to announce the availability of federal funding in the form of AmeriCorps State grants.  The following entities are encouraged to apply: non-profit organizations, state agencies and local governments, elementary and secondary schools, Indian tribes, colleges and universities, community and faith-based organizations, labor organizations, partnerships and consortia, or intermediary organizations representing a combination of these or similar groups, working together.  This opportunity is for organizations that propose to work in Iowa only. Applicants apply through the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, using the Request for Grant Applications (RFA) in conjunction with the most recent corresponding versions of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) Notices of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions.

OVERVIEW & DEADLINES
AmeriCorps grants provide funding to help organizations plan for or manage an AmeriCorps program, which involves recruiting, training, and supporting AmeriCorps members, who serve on a full-time or part-time basis to help the organization in serving the community.  Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to projects that support education, healthy futures, environmental stewardship, veterans, economic opportunities, disaster preparedness/response, and other identified community needs in Iowa.  Successful programs utilize service as a strategy to meet community needs, while working towards the development and growth of the AmeriCorps members serving with the organization.

ISSUING AGENCY NAME:                    Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS)
ISSUE DATE:                                         September 22, 2011
INITIAL GRANT BUDGET PERIOD:       September 1, 2012-August 31, 2013
LOCATION OF GRANT OPERATIONS:   Statewide, Regional, or Local Areas in Iowa
APPLICATION DEADLINE:                   November 14, 2011, 3:00 PM1

APPLICATION FORMAT: Applications must be submitted to the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service via the on-line eGrants and IowaGrants application systems.  All proposals that do not meet the established deadlines or application requirements will be declined through the on-line system and will not be considered.

EGRANTS:  This web-based system is used by the Corporation for National and Community Service for the submission and tracking of grant applications.  All applicants who wish to apply for 2012-2013 AmeriCorps State Grants must create an eGrants account.  For more information and to create an account please visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/egrants/.

IOWAGRANTS: This web-based system is used by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service for the submission and review of grant applications and for the management of awarded AmeriCorps grants.  All applicants for 2012-2013 AmeriCorps State Grants must create an IowaGrants account.  More information about registering with IowaGrants is available at https://www.iowagrants.gov/index3.jsp. 

LETTER OF INTENT: All interested applicants are strongly encouraged to submit written notice of intent to apply to the ICVS by 5:00 PM on October 13, 2011, using the Letter of Intent response sheet in Section 8 of the RFA.  Letters must include the name of the potential applicant organization, and specify a contact at that agency (name, phone number, and email address).  Letters of intent may be submitted to Program Officer Jamie Nagel by email at jamie.nagel@iowa.gov or by fax at 515.725.3010. 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SESSIONS:  We encourage all potential applicants to participate in these events by registering using the corresponding links.  In order to maximize the benefit of these sessions, please review all materials in advance and be prepared with specific questions.  In the event that there are no registered participants, the events may be cancelled without prior notice.  The WebEx technology service that will be used to conduct the technical assistance session includes a feature that allows audio and any documents and other materials exchanged or viewed during the session to be recorded. Please be aware that we intend to record the webinars and make the recordings available publicly following the live sessions.  For technical assistance with registering for and using the WebEx system, please go to https://iowalifechanging.webex.com/iowalifechanging/mc and click “Support” on the left navigation bar. 

GRANT APPLICATION OVERVIEW WEBINAR:
Date & Time: Thursday, October 6, 2011 9:00 AM
Registration link: https://iowalifechanging.webex.com/iowalifechanging/j.php?ED=182693892&RG=1&UID=0&RT=MiM3

GRANT CLARIFICATION/Q&A WEBINAR:
Date & Time: Thursday, November 3, 2011 1:00 PM 
Registration link: https://iowalifechanging.webex.com/iowalifechanging/j.php?ED=182697062&RG=1&UID=0&RT=MiM3

SOURCE OF FUNDS:  The sources of funds for this competition are anticipated federal awards from the Corporation for National and Community Service. 

ANTICIPATED TIMELINE FOR THE IOWA AMERICORPS STATE GRANT PROCESS:

ALL REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO PAMELA HELFER, PROGRAM OFFICER, AT PAMELA.HELFER@IOWA.GOV OR 515.725.3098.

*Please note that while the CNCS Application Instructions and Notice indicate that the competition deadline is January 18, 2012, states have the opportunity to establish their own deadlines.  So, please follow the application deadlines noted here.

**Please note that notification dates for the grant award are dependent upon the Corporation for National and Community Service.  These are our best estimates for the notification timeframe, and we will inform applicants as soon as we are notified by the Corporation for National and Community Service.