Community Service Commission

For more information, click here: Missouri Community Service Commission

PURPOSE
The Missouri Community Service Commission (MCSC) connects Missourians of all ages and backgrounds in an effort to improve unmet community needs through direct and tangible service. The MCSC serves as the administrator for AmeriCorps state funding in Missouri by awarding monetary grants and providing technical assistance and support to its grantees.

AmeriCorps, “the domestic Peace Corps,” is a National Service program that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in team-based, results-driven service in the five priority areas of education, public safety, environment, homeland security, or other human needs.

AUTHORIZATION
Established in 1994 as a direct response to the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993

ELIGIBLE AREAS
Statewide.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Missouri educational institutions, 501©3 non-profit community and faith-based organizations, state and local government agencies.

PROGRAM BENEFITS/ELIGIBLES
The MCSC is part of a cadre of community improvement tools available through the Division of Business and Community Services within the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).

AmeriCorps programs provide a variety of specific and identifiable direct services that address community needs.

Since 1994, more than 500,000 men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing needed assistance to millions of Americans through projects ranging from tutoring, youth mentoring, public safety, housing rehabilitation, health care, environmental issues, and disaster relief. 

AmeriCorps members may commit to a one-year term of service. At the successful completion of that service, the member is eligible to receive $4,725 to use toward tuitions or student loans. Full-time members may receive $1 1,400 as a living allowance during their year of service.

FINDING LIMITS:
Funding is dependent on the availability of funds granted to the Commission by the Corporation for National and Community Services (CNCS) located in Washington, D.C.  Allocation is determined by using a state population-based formula. Guidelines are set by CNCS and additional Missouri-specific guidelines are set by the MCSC and may vary from one program year to another. In 2008-2009, new applicants may request funds for a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 10 Member Service Years (MSYs). The applicant may request a maximum of $12,600 per MSY, which can be defined as a full-time member who commits to serve a minimum of 1,700 hours during a program year. Members may also commit to serve half-time, reduced half-time, quarter-time, or minimum time. An overall match requirement of 24% is mandatory for the first three years of funding. The match requirement is graduated accordingly after the initial three-year period.

APPLICATION/APPROVAL PROCEDURE
Funding is competitive and applications are typically due in March of each year. A number of workshops are held prior to the application due date.

CONTACT
Missouri Department of Economic Development
Division of Business and Community Services
Missouri Community Service Commission
301 West High Street, Room 770
P.O. Box 118
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-7488        Fax: 573-526-0463
E-mail: mcsc@ded.mo.gov
Web: http://www.movolunteers.org/index.htm

Business and Community Services
301 W. High Street, Rooms 720, 770  Jefferson City, Missouri 65102
Tel: 1-866-647-3633    Fax: 1-573-751-7384    Email: missouridevelopment@ded.mo.gov