HHS Awards $46 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Create Jobs and Spur Economic Improvement

Georgia grants awarded go to DeKalb County, Spalding County Collaborative Authority for Families & Youth, and Athens based Area Committee To Improve Opportunities Now, Inc.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today awarded $46 million to 84 grantees under a new program, the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF), created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The purpose of the grants is to improve the ability of nonprofit organizations to promote the economic recovery of people with low incomes.

"We are pleased to support nonprofit organizations that train people to land and keep jobs, earn higher wages, and reach economic independence," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "This is what the Recovery Act was meant to do-provide the help people need to help themselves."

The Strengthening Communities Fund is comprised of two programs, both of which will boost the ability of community and faith-based organizations to handle the broad economic recovery issues in their communities, including job training and retention and access to state and Federal benefits. All grants are one-time, two-year awards. The State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity Building Program provides funds for government entities, which then in turn work with community-based organizations. The Nonprofit Capacity Building Program funds intermediary agencies, which also work with community organizations to enhance their economic recovery activities.

"The Strengthening Communities Fund is an important part of the overall recovery effort," said Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Carmen Nazario. "The activities funded under this program will fortify organizations in distressed communities so that they can improve their services to people who need jobs and opportunities to secure healthier, more prosperous futures."

Under the State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity Building Program, 29 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa are receiving awards between $167,000 and $250,000. Awardees include seven state governments, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories, nine city governments, eight county governments, four tribal governments, and 18 nonprofit organizations that have been designated by governments as eligible to apply.

One of the grantees receiving funds under this part of the program is the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families in Madison. Wisconsin has been hit hard by the recession, and this project is directly focused on Recovery Act goals. The grantee will give training and technical assistance, education, and easily accessible information on Recovery Act opportunities to up to 500 organizations that serve the state's most vulnerable populations

Under the Nonprofit Capacity Building Program, 35 applicants will receive grants between $765,000 and $1,000,000. Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri is one noteworthy project in this category with a long history of providing training and technical assistance to nonprofits. Their use of this grant will increase the operational capacity of about 40 local organizations through comprehensive education, mentoring, and funding. Further, the project requires that each nonprofit sponsor one young person who will learn how to manage and grow these organizations, thus creating the next generation of nonprofit leadership.

Another project in this category is in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Knoxville Leadership Foundation will work with partners from the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program as well as organizations focused on general economic recovery. Through a combination of direct funding and intensive technical assistance, the project will help 50 grassroots organizations improve their service to families in need of support.

"Faith and community-based organizations have been the backbone of strong neighborhoods for generations," said Joshua DuBois, executive director, Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. "The Strengthening Communities Fund is an acknowledgement of their key role in reaching the goals of the Recovery Act by helping people weather tough economic times."

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The Time to Volunteer in Your Community is Now

By U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson

BUSINESS WIRE --The State of Georgia has done an exceptional job of growing through economic development, and it is widely regarded as the capital of the New South. Now it’s time to show off our compassionate side by getting out and volunteering in our communities.

According to Volunteering in America: 2008 State and City Trends & Rankings, Georgia is ranked 43rd in the United States. The report, which ranks cities and states according to their performance from 2005 through 2007, states that just 24.2 percent of Georgians – not even one in four – volunteer their time to help their community. The average national volunteer rate is 27.2 percent per year. We can do better, Georgia.

Today, Governor Sonny Perdue is calling on all Georgians to become more involved in their local communities by volunteering during Hands On Georgia Week, which will take place this year from Saturday, September 27, through Saturday, October 4.

I echo Governor Perdue’s call to service and urge each of you to take just a few hours during this week to make a difference in your community.

There are some shining examples in our state, which we can all look to for inspiration. Augusta is one of our state’s leading communities in this regard. Almost 30 percent of its residents volunteer.

And on Saturday, October 4, Georgia will seek to achieve the largest single day of volunteerism in the country. In fact, Hands On Atlanta and Hands On Thomas County alone are expecting to have an estimated 16,200 volunteers devote their day to helping others on that date. This is the kind of outstanding performance that we, as Georgians, are capable of producing.

But we need to do more than show up just one day a year. We all need to commit to support our communities throughout the year. The four most popular ways that Georgians volunteer are fundraising, collecting and distributing food for the needy, tutoring and general labor. All of these tasks can be done during the upcoming Hands On Georgia Week and throughout the year.

Hands On Georgia and its affiliates are located throughout the state, and they are ready to put you in touch with local organizations that need your help. Whatever type of service you choose, there are dozens of organizations that will immediately benefit from your support.

In Congress, we’re also working to assist volunteers. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of legislation that will help volunteers deal with rising gas prices by increasing the mileage deduction rate allowed for charity work. Updating the tax code to reflect today’s costs not only makes sense, but will allow volunteers to continue providing essential services such as driving seniors to doctor’s appointments or delivering meals to homebound individuals in their communities.

Volunteering in your community is easy. It’s rewarding. And it’s needed. Volunteer your time today.

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Gwinnett wins national sustainable communities award

The National Association of Counties (NACo) today announced that Gwinnett County, Ga. is one of 10 recipients of its prestigious 2006-2007 Center for Sustainable Communities Awards and earned special recognition as one of three Outstanding Practices Award winners, which carries a cash prize of $2,500.

The awards, presented every two years by NACo’s Center for Sustainable Communities, recognize the most effective and innovative county-led partnerships with the private sector, other governments or community groups in developing economically prosperous, environmentally safe, and socially equitable communities.

The county was honored for the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. (See project description below.) Honorees received their awards during a reception this evening at NACo headquarters in Washington, D.C. Winners were selected by a panel of independent judges.

“I commend everyone who was involved in developing these outstanding community partnerships,” said NACo President Eric Coleman, commissioner, Oakland County, Mich. “It is our hope that the national awards will spotlight your communities’ great achievements and inspire others across the country to explore similar strategies to develop vibrant and sustainable communities.”

NACo’s Center for Sustainable Communities primary mission is to provide a forum for county leaders to work with other governments, the private sector, and communities to develop policies and programs that will lead to economic enhancement, environmental stewardship and social well-being — the three pillars of sustainable communities. The center helps local elected officials build sustainable communities by promoting community leadership initiatives, facilitating multi-jurisdictional and public-private partnerships, providing technical assistance and training, and conducting community policy and educational forums.

The sponsors for the 2007 Center for Sustainable Communities Awards Program include: Bank of America, the International Center of Shopping Centers, the Institute for Building Technology and Safety, the National Association of Home Builders, and the National Association of Realtors.