On Tuesday, a group of Iowa leaders launched a new chapter in Iowa’s long tradition of citizen service as they officially welcomed the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) to its new campus in Vinton.
At a working group meeting held here, Iowa government, corporate, and nonprofit leaders hailed the arrival of the new campus, which will open in May at the at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. About 160 members will serve at the Iowa campus during its first year, starting in July.
AmeriCorps*NCCC is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women ages 18 to 24. NCCC members are organized into teams of 10 to 12 members and meet environmental, education, housing, disaster relief, and other local needs. Approximately 1,100 members serve in NCCC each year at three campuses, part of the overall 75,000 members who serve in AmeriCorps annually.
“After months of planning, we are thrilled to be opening the doors on the newest NCCC campus,” said Liz Seale, Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps parent agency. “Iowa has such a strong spirit of neighbor helping neighbor, and this campus will add a burst of new energy and vitality to Iowa’s already strong service and volunteer movement. We are grateful to these business, civic, and community leaders who are taking time from their busy schedules to welcome this new campus to the state.”
Members of the NCCC Iowa Working Group represent a cross-section of Iowa leaders, and were recruited to the effort by Corporation CEO David Eisner and Iowa First Lady Mari Culver. Its members include:
- Sally Pederson, former Iowa Lieutenant Governor
- Dr. Willard “Sandy” Boyd, President Emeritus of the University of Iowa
- John Watson, Vinton Mayor
- Pete McRoberts, Deputy Press Secretary for Governor Chet Culver and AmeriCorps NCCC alum
- Adam Lounsbury; Executive Director of the Iowa National Service Commission
- Vicki Hover-Williamson, the Corporation Iowa State Director
- other representatives of Iowa’s corporate and nonprofit sector
The Vinton campus — the first new NCCC campus in ten years – will bring many social and economic benefits to Iowa. A quarter of the inaugural class of 160 members will be Iowa residents. All of the initial projects will meet local needs in Iowa. The campus will employ 12 full-time Federal employees and the estimated annual economic impact for Iowa will include $2.4 million in salaries and business revenue.
Both U.S. Senator Tom Harkin and Governor Chet Culver have previously welcomed the new campus to the state. “For over a decade, AmeriCorps members from all over the country have served Iowans, and I welcome the National Civilian Community Corps to our state,” said Senator Harkin. Governor Culver added, “The spirit of service is alive and well in Iowa, and especially in our young people. I encourage Iowans to take advantage of this great opportunity to give back to our communities, state, and country.”
NCCC director Merlene Mazyck explained that when the NCCC team members arrive in July, the first set of service projects will focus on Iowa communities. “We will have 14 teams deployed throughout the state. Our newest NCCC members will help Iowa communities get things done to strengthen education, protect the environment, and meet other local needs,” Mazyck said.
AmeriCorps*NCCC teams serve with local and national organizations, providing much needed skills and leading volunteers. Corps members construct and rehabilitate low-income housing, clean up streams, help communities develop emergency plans, and address other local needs. Trained in CPR, first aid, disaster response and firefighting, NCCC teams have responded to every national disaster since the program was established. For more information on AmeriCorps or to apply online, please visit AmeriCorps.gov. The deadline for applying to the new Iowa campus is May 15, 2008.
During their year of service, NCCC members based at the campus will undertake a variety of projects in the campus’s service area, which, in addition to Iowa, includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. NCCC’s other campuses are in Sacramento, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; and Perry Point, Md.
