Major projects completed – September 2020

  • Attended and presented at the remote AmeriCorps Symposium hosted by CNCS. Presentation was a review of the outcomes (so far) realized through the AmeriCorps Rural State grant program – more than 70 people attended.
  • Sessions attended included sessions on COVID-19 responses, outreach and scaling programs.
    AmeriCorps: Assisted new programs with start-up challenges and additional one-on-one trainings more specific than the general instruction offered in New Grantee trainings this summer.
  • VGF: Did outreach to current grantees to ensure their financial paperwork was correct and submitted so that reimbursements could be drawn.
  • Continued work with new planning grantees to assist then in forming advisory groups and start their planning steps. This included contracting with a consultant to assist the Aroostook county grantee in establishing basic policy structures.
  • Provided a “beginners workshop” presentation to Southern Maine COAD and Maine VOAD members on how to use the Maine Ready platform.

Issues to be aware of –

  • New grantees and experienced grantees coping with COVID-19 related start -up challenges is requiring an unusual level of ongoing technical assistance.
  • The loss of our colleague has complicated finalization of some contracts he was shepherding through the system and this has required additional attention.
  • Competitive application round is not expected to bring a large number of applicants, though there is always the possibility of applications from organizations that have not contacted us for development assistance.

Major focus of effort in the new month –

  • Preparation for session hosting at the Volunteer Leadership Conference and Maine School Management Conference.
  • Complete new Commission Investment Fund application
  • Last-minute outreach for upcoming AmeriCorps competitive RFP.
  • Establish grantee cohort for Service Enterprise with new online format
  • Support for upcoming recompeting grantees, including facilitating evaluation planning

Other activity –

  • Regular AmeriCorps & VGF Technical Assistance to 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.