FEDERAL CUTS LEAD TO SHUTDOWN OF DAVENPORT AMERICORPS PROGRAM
The City of Davenport will end its AmeriCorps program after a sudden decision by the federal government to cut all funding for the service commission nationwide. On Friday, April 25, Volunteer Iowa, the state agency working directly with the City, received formal notice of termination, with instructions to close out all local AmeriCorps grant programs within 14 days. Nationwide, nearly $400 million in AmeriCorps grant funding was immediately cut, ending the service of 30,000 members across more than 1,000 programs.
At this time, the City of Davenport AmeriCorps program is no longer taking host site or member applications. All 22 currently serving members and those who had committed to serving in the summer have been placed on temporary leave pending grant termination.
General information about the City of Davenport AmeriCorps Program
- The grant funding plus the City’s match amounted to about $920,000 for this grant year.
- Locally, this decision impacts 22 AmeriCorps members currently serving in Davenport, along with six others about to start summer contracts.
- These cuts also impact two grant-funded City of Davenport employees.
- In the 14 years of the program, the City of Davenport hosted 870 members who served on year-round and summer contracts.
- Throughout the whole life of the program, AmeriCorps members have supported programs in the Parks and Recreation Department and with outside partners including Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley, Common Chord, Davenport Community School District, Davenport Public Library, Freight House Farmers Market, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois – Quad Cities, Project Renewal, and the Putnam Museum and Science Center.
- Beyond the invaluable service to our community, AmeriCorps offered members professional development opportunities for members entering the workforce from high school and college.
Statements from City Staff and Community Partners
“The City of Davenport is incredibly thankful to our members for their commitment to service,” said Doug Maxeiner, Davenport City Administrator. “Given the sudden nature of the decision, the City is still evaluating the immediate and long-term impact the loss of this program will have on City services and the important work of our community partners.”
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley has benefited from hundreds of AmeriCorps service members over the years, helping recruit and engage new mentors, support our current matches and families, conducting background checks and references for new mentors, and coordinating match activities that help grow match relationships,” said Jay Justin, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mississippi Valley. “They make our organization stronger, as well as our community and our country.”
“The AmeriCorps program not only aided Common Chord in improving our community through music, but also better equipped members for a lifetime of service to their community and country,” said Tyson Danner, Common Chord Executive Director. “The shortsighted and foolish decision to end this valuable program will cause direct harm to our community, weakening the impact that nonprofits and city services create for all citizens.”