AmeriCorps NCCC: Round E Concept Forms Due May 5

Posted by AmeriCorps NCCC North Central Region on April 21, 2020

AmeriCorps NCCC can help get things done in your community.  NCCC deploys teams of young adults to tackle compelling community needs in communities all around the country.  AmeriCorps NCCC is currently accepting Concept Forms for service projects within Round E (September 21 – November 7 and October 21 – December 5, 2020). Concept Forms are due on or before Tuesday, May 5, 2020. Our Round E period has two timeframes in which we will have teams available and we encourage getting an early start on the Concept Form if you are considering requesting a team. Please feel free to share this with other partners within your network who may also benefit from an NCCC team.

While the current environment has caused some temporary adjustments in the way we operate for the safety of our members, partners, and community members, we are still planning for teams and projects to support important community needs – now more than ever.  If your community has a disaster related need which falls outside our posted dates and to which you may be considering an NCCC team, please reach out to Jeff Moeur (jmoeur@cns.gov).

What is AmeriCorps NCCC?

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) strengthens communities and develops leaders through a federal full-time, team-based, residential national service program. NCCC partners with a variety of nonprofit organizations, federal, state, and local agencies, as well as tribal organizations to complete projects which address a compelling community need that would not be fully addressed without additional assistance.  NCCC is a nationwide program and Jeff Moeur is based out of the North Central Region NCCC Campus which covers a total of 15 states to which we deploy teams (IL, IN, IA, ME, MI, MN, NE, NH, NY, ND, OH, PA, SD, VT, WI).

Some types of tasks NCCC teams have completed in the past include, but are not limited to, the following below. Projects can address single or multiple areas of need and we encourage strong task variety when possible.

• Disaster: packing/preparing/distributing disaster kits and educational materials; clean-up tasks after a disaster (e.g. cleaning up or repairing homes after flooding or repairing trail systems after a wildfire) and performing a range of disaster preparedness or mitigation tasks.
• Energy Conservation: weatherizing existing homes or public infrastructure by insulating rim joists, caulking windows, conducting home energy audits and blower door tests, and conducting energy related educational programing.
• Environmental Stewardship and Conservation: trail construction, habitat restoration, helping to facilitate environmental education classes for camps, cleaning up river systems, prescribed fire, and limited amounts of brush and non-native species removal when combined with other tasks.
• Urban and Rural Development: blight removal projects in cities and other neighborhood revitalization efforts, assisting camp counselors at summer camps, building homes with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, assisting with tax preparation, and building community gardens.
• Infrastructure Improvement: repairing or maintaining public infrastructure such as city-owned fair and rodeo grounds, building public campsites and picnic areas, enhancing public spaces, constructing playgrounds, and constructing wheelchair ramps and boardwalks.

To give you some more information, AmeriCorps NCCC teams consist of young adults age 18-24, including a team leader. Traditionally, teams are 8-12 in size, however with the current environment teams may be somewhat smaller.  Members join from all over the country and typically range from high school to college graduates in terms of education. Teams typically serve in a project with a partner organization for 6-8 weeks, although shorter periods are possible (e.g. 2-3 weeks). There is no charge for labor and teams provide their own transportation, however NCCC requests a place to sleep and shower be provided along with assistance with food or kitchen facilities to cook on.

We are interested… what are the next steps?

You can find more information on our website (https://www.nationalservice.gov/ncccsponsor). The Concept Form* which is the first step in applying, as well as the Instructions*. Concept Forms can be submitted to Jeff Moeur at jmoeur@cns.gov, or the Assistant Program Director for your state as indicated on the RFP. A Concept Form is required for each team or time frame you may be considering and please be sure to fully answer each question as per the Instructions in your response. Upon review, potential sponsors will be invited to submit a full application or contacted for more information.

*Note, our Concept Form and Application documents were updated at the end of 2019. Please use the linked version of the document which expires in 2022, especially if you have previously submitted a Concept Form.

You may request a team for a shorter timeframe as well (e.g. 2-3 weeks). If your community has a disaster related need which falls outside our posted dates and to which you may be considering an NCCC team, please reach out to me.

Questions? contact Jeff Moeur at jmoeur@cns.gov.