Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero announced today that the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee has received an AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

The grant, in the amount of $493,964, will support 40 AmeriCorps members who will engage in a variety of programs including removing invasive species and enhancing park lands; building rain gardens; improving waterways; and training residents in disaster preparedness. Members will also recruit and supervise volunteers as well as help local nonprofits develop more effective volunteer management systems.

"Citizen service is an essential part of the solution to many of the challenges facing communities today," said Mayor Rogero. "These AmeriCorps members will meet pressing local needs and strengthen our City as they develop civic and leadership skills that can last a lifetime. I congratulate CAC for receiving this grant and thank all those who have answered the call to service by joining AmeriCorps."

In addition to grant dollars, CNCS is setting aside funding to pay for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for individuals who will serve in positions funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an education award of $5,550 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.

The current year's AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive. Demand is also strong from individuals wanting to serve. CNCS received a record-breaking 582,000 AmeriCorps applications in 2011, a dramatic increase from the 360,000 seen in 2009.

The grants advance the priorities of the bipartisan 2009 Serve America Act and focus AmeriCorps resources on six key service areas: disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans and military families.

AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet critical needs. Its members serve through thousands of nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Among other activities, AmeriCorps members tutor and mentor youth, expand health services, build affordable housing, run after-school programs, help veterans access employment and other services, respond to disasters, and recruit and train other volunteers. Interested individuals can learn about available opportunities and apply online by visiting AmeriCorps.gov.