Program Development and Training Officer: September 2022

Major projects completed –

  • Attended the multi-day remote AmeriCorps Symposium hosted by AmeriCorps Agency.

  • Participated in and provided support for Commission Retreat.

  • Drafted new Commission Investment Fund application and Budget

  • Participated in and facilitated various aspects of AmeriCorps CEO visit

  • Met with representatives from UMaine Cooperative Extension to explore grant possibility to support Micro Credential course in basic Volunteer Management

  • Co presented, with Volunteer Program Officer at MEMA Partners in Preparedness Conference on the use of the Maine Ready Platform

  • AmeriCorps:

    • Drafted and sent out award announcements for new planning grants awarded in September and began process of assisting applicants with corrections and clarifications

    • Began training of spring planning grantees – scheduled monthly regular meetings and office hours, set up the awardees in the grants management systems and began initial training

    • Hosted annual Site Supervisor Training

    • Assisted existing programs with start-up challenges, including work with GPCOG regarding their options for re-competing.

    • Expanded outreach efforts for the AmeriCorps Public Health NOFA, seeking applicants from Maine, including the Maine Re-entry Network and some Climate Corps/AmeriCorps potential applicants.

 

Issues to be aware of –

  • Programs indicate a moderately improved recruitment environment and the enrollment rate for the month of September is significantly improved over last year when we had no enrollments during the month of September.

  • Competitive application round is not expected to bring a large number of applicants, though there is the possibility of applications from organizations involved in the Climate Corps discussions and a good indication of at least one Public health applicant.

  • Interested parties among state agencies have started a “Justice 40” work group to determine the implications of this Biden Administration initiative and share ideas for strategies to help meet the goals therein.

 

Major focus of effort in the new month –

  • Completion of amendment needed to fund newly awarded planning grantees

  • Submission of application for funding to support UMaine micro-credential course development in collaboration with Cooperative Extension

  • Preparation for session hosting at the Volunteer Leadership Conference.

  • Development of RFA for AmeriCorps Competitive grant and hosting of Public Information Meeting pursuant to the RFA

  • Complete final outreach for AmeriCorps State Competitive and Public health RFAs.

  • Support for GPCOG recompete

 

Other activity –

  • Staffed Excellence & Expertise Task Force.

  • Regular AmeriCorps Technical Assistance to new and existing grantees via email, teleconference & face to face.

  • Procurement system management and initial entry of financial documents in state purchasing system, including purchase orders, bids, and contracts.