UNI's Green Iowa AmeriCorps receives $1.1 million grant for environmental projects
UNI's Green Iowa AmeriCorps receives $1.1 million grant for environmental projects
Green Iowa AmeriCorps is one of the longest-standing and impactful community engagement programs at the University of Northern Iowa. The work that Green Iowa AmeriCorps members have done across Iowa over the last decade improved energy efficiency in homes, made schools more sustainable, and implemented land and water conservation projects.
The program recently received a $1.1 million federal grant that will fund thousands of statewide community environmental service projects. The three-year grant will support 114 service members who will partner with 24 organizations across Iowa to carry out projects in residential energy efficiency, environmental education, land restoration and water quality.
At the end of the first program year, AmeriCorps members will have completed 600 energy audit assessments for Iowa households, 400 weatherization retrofits for households or public structures, and 450 educational programs completed with 4,500 educational participants. In addition, the AmeriCorps members will leverage 2,750 volunteers who will be engaged in 380 service projects related to energy and environmental stewardship.
The grant is the third three-year funding package that Green Iowa AmeriCorps, which operates out of UNI’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education, has received since starting in 2008. The previous three-year grant will wrap up in August and engaged almost 320 members in thousands of statewide projects, including 59 UNI students and thousands of volunteers.
Green Iowa AmeriCorps will recruit members both statewide and nationally. Positions are supplemented with a monthly living allowance, healthcare coverage, child care assistance, federal loan deferment, loan interest accrual repayment, professional development funding and a scholarship at the end of service. Interested applicants should email GIACrecruitment@gmail.com for more information or apply on their website at greeniowaamericorps.org/open-positions.