Bill Overview
Title: To amend the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 and the National Community Service Act of 1990 to provide training for certain individuals to identify and apply for certain Federal grants, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill expands training under the national service programs (e.g., AmeriCorps) to provide participants with the skills to apply for federal grants for entities in rural and underserved communities.
Sponsors: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Target Audience
Population: People in rural and underserved communities
Estimated Size: 4000000
- The bill targets participants of national service programs like AmeriCorps.
- These participants will receive training to identify and apply for federal grants.
- It specifically focuses on training related to serving rural and underserved communities, which implies the participants will be those who are interested or already involved in these areas.
- These participants will potentially impact the residents of rural and underserved communities by facilitating the acquisition of federal grants for community development.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on AmeriCorps participants, who are already inclined towards public service, thereby increasing the likelihood of uptake.
- A substantial portion of AmeriCorps are young adults looking to serve communities, likely to be interested in rural and underserved areas.
- Budget constraints might limit the number of people who can receive training directly, but there's an indirect benefit through skill dissemination.
- Training focuses on federal grant applications, an essential tool for rural and underserved communities often lacking such skills.
- Indirect beneficiaries include residents of underserved communities who could see community improvements funded by successful grant acquisitions.
Simulated Interviews
AmeriCorps Member (Boise, Idaho)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited about this policy. Having the skills to help my community get funding could make a big difference.
- I hope the training is comprehensive and easy to apply in real-world scenarios.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
AmeriCorps Supervisor (Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a good step in empowering our members to make a more substantial impact.
- Training in grant applications is a skill that can have lasting benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Non-Profit Grant Writer (Tucson, Arizona)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to more structured training would improve my skill significantly.
- I worry about the quality and reach of the training due to budget constraints.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Elementary School Teacher (Jackson, Mississippi)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm cautiously optimistic that this will bring more resources into our schools.
- Support for AmeriCorps means support for our entire community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Community Organizer (Appalachia, Kentucky)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having AmeriCorps members better equipped to handle grant applications is absolutely pivotal.
- I'm hopeful, but also realistic about the challenges our region faces.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Retired Nurse (Houston, Texas)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This kind of practical training is exactly what AmeriCorps needs to maximize its impact.
- I hope it can reach volunteers across the country effectively.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
College Student (New York City, New York)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will be a great addition to my career development.
- Acquiring these skills early in my career will be advantageous.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Salem, Oregon)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy attracts more people to AmeriCorps who can then help businesses like mine.
- Rural areas need all the help they can get.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Local Government Official (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This training is an investment in skills that can impact regional development positively.
- Coordination between government and AmeriCorps is crucial for optimal outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
AmeriCorps Alumni (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 25 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Wish this policy was there when I was serving; it would have helped me a lot.
- I'm worried about how accessible the training will be for those who need it the most.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $45000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $47000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $49000000, High: $64000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $53000000, High: $68000000)
Year 10: $64000000 (Low: $59000000, High: $74000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $110000000)
Key Considerations
- The cost and effectiveness of the expanded training programs will vary with the types of grants targeted and the specific needs of rural areas.
- The policy aims to address structural challenges in rural and underserved areas, which can result in variable implementation success.
- Effective collaboration with local entities will be critical to tailoring the programs to meet diverse local challenges.