2025 — 2026 AmeriCorps Funding AwardedCopyrighted
July 7, 2025
City of Dubuque ACTION ITEMS # 6.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: 2025 — 2026 AmeriCorps Funding Awarded
SUMMARY: City Manager sharing information that the funding for the City
of Dubuque AmeriCorps program has been approved for the
third year of Dubuque's competitive grant cycle (September
1, 2025 — August 31, 2026).
SUGGUESTED Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. AmeriCorps Approved Funding 25-26
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THE CITY OF
DUB E-E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 25 — 26 AmeriCorps Funding Awarded
DATE: July 1, 2025
Dubuque
All -America Ciq
IIIr
II
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
Community Impact Director Antonio Mouzon is sharing information that the funding for
the City of Dubuque AmeriCorps program has been approved for the third year of
Dubuque's competitive grant cycle (September 1, 2025 — August 31, 2026).
AmeriCorps competitive grants are structured in three-year increments. Each year
within this three-year term we apply for a continuation of our City of Dubuque
AmeriCorps grant. The city received federal funding for the first year of this grant cycle
from September 1 st, 2023 — August 31 st, 2024. Year two funding was expected from
September 1st, 2024 —August 31 st, 2025. However, during our second year, notices of
funding termination were sent out on April 28th, 2025, notifying the city that funding was
officially terminated on April 25th, 2025, just before the height of our summer program.
This left the city of Dubuque without AmeriCorps federal funding from April 25th, 2025 -
August 31 st, 2025 for year two of the three-year grant cycle. Although funding was
eliminated for our second year, we still applied for a continuation grant to complete the
third and final year of the cycle. We received confirmation that funding has been
approved on Thursday, June 19th, 2025. This funding will be available on September 1,
2025, for the third year of the grant cycle until August 31 st, 2026.
At this stage this is just for your information. We are expected to receive the final grant
agreement in August, 2025 and that will be brought to City Council for approval.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM-sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Antonio Mouzon, Community Impact Director
Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Joe Link, Budget/Finance Accounting Analyst
Nathen Kelleher, Budget/Financial Analyst (Grant -Focused)
Page 640 of 678
THE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Antonio Mouzon, Community Impact Director
SUBJECT: 25 — 26 AmeriCorps Funding Awarded
DATE: June 23rd 2025
INTRODUCTION
Dubuque
All -America City
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Funding for the City of Dubuque AmeriCorps program has been approved for the third
year of our competitive grant cycle (September 1 It
2025 — August 31 st 2026).
BACKGROUND
AmeriCorps competitive grants are structured in three-year increments. Each year
within this three-year term we apply for a continuation of our City of Dubuque
AmeriCorps grant. The city received federal funding for the first year of this grant cycle
from September 1 It, 2023 — August 31 It, 2024. Year two funding was expected from
September 1st, 2024 — August 31st, 2025. However, during our second year, notices of
funding termination were sent out on April 28th, 2025, notifying the city that funding was
officially terminated on April 25th 2025, just before the height of our summer program.
This left the city of Dubuque without AmeriCorps federal funding from April 25th 2025 -
August 31st 2025 for year two of the three-year grant cycle. Although funding was
eliminated for our second year, we still applied for a continuation grant to complete the
third and final year of the cycle. We received confirmation that funding has been
approved on Thursday, June 19th, 2025. This funding will be availableon September 1st
2025, for the third year of the grant cycle until August 31 It, 2026. We are expected to
receive the final grant agreement in mid -August, 2025. Once we receive the final
agreement, we will include it on a future city council agenda for approval.
The federal government has awarded $362,250 for this upcoming program year
(September 1st, 2025 — August 31st, 2026). In addition, the City of Dubuque is required to
match these funds through a variety of internal resources and external community
partner contributions, totaling $175,299. These contributions are listed below:
• Dubuque Community School District: $45,000 (Awaiting Signed Agreement)
• Hillcrest Family Services: $25,500 (Awaiting Signed Agreement)
• New Host Site: $15,000
• New Host Site: $8,599
• Carnegie Stout Public Library $26,450 (Approved in FY26 Budget)
• Multicultural Family Center: $29,000 (Approved in FY26 Budget)
• Parks and Rec $25,750 (Approved in FY26 Budget)
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Page 641 of 678
This brings the full program budget to $537,548. This funding approval allows us to
continue the AmeriCorps program as originally planned. We will need to re-engage our
local partners to confirm their continued investment in theprogram. Assuming that
partnership commitments remain strong, we will be able to recruit and deploy 34
AmeriCorps members from our community. These members will serve across the city,
with a focused mission on supporting youth development and social and emotional
learning at a variety of youth -serving organizations.
The next AmeriCorps three-year grant cycle application deadline is in November 2025.
The city of Dubuque plans to re -compete for another three-year grant cycle to continue
our AmeriCorps services from 2026- 2029.
DISCUSSION
AmeriCorps offers a unique and life -changing opportunity for community members to
serve their city while gaining valuable skills and support for their future. Participation in
the AmeriCorps program allows individuals to develop critical workforce competencies
such as leadership, communication, teamwork, time management, and program
coordination. These skills significantly enhance their employability and long-term career
potential. Beyond hands-on experience, AmeriCorps members receive a living stipend
during their service and, upon successful completion, an education award. This award
can be applied directly toward student loans or future education expenses. For
members 55 years of age or older, this award can also be transferred to their children or
grandchildren, providing a powerful tool for increasing access to higher education and
reducing financial barriers for families. Through AmeriCorps, participants not only
contribute to meaningful community change, particularly through service to youth in
areas such as social and emotional learning but also invest in themselves. They emerge
from their service with stronger resumes, deeper networks, and greater purpose. In
addition to providing personal and professional development for our members,
AmeriCorps is fundamentally designed to build the capacity of local organizations. By
embedding trained, committed individuals into community -based organizations, schools,
and city departments, AmeriCorps helps community organizations expand their reach,
improve service delivery, and implement innovative solutions to youth development and
success. Over time, this cumulative impact of capacity -building support leads to
sustainable community change.
ACTION REQUESTED
This information is being submitted for information only, with no current action required.
cc: Laura Bendorf, Budget Manager
Joe Link, Budget/Finance Accounting Analyst
Nathen Kelleher, Budget/Financial Analyst (Grant -Focused)
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