Federal Grant Award Summary

The Corporation for National and Community Service, through its Office of Grants Management, awarded $295,198 to Decorah Public Library on June 22, 2026, under the AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP, CFDA 94.002). This three-year Project Grant, which extends through March 31, 2029, funds a senior volunteer initiative engaging adults ages 55 and older in community service across northeast Iowa's Allamakee, Howard, and Winneshiek counties. The program deploys approximately 250 volunteers to address critical community needs including economic opportunity, healthy futures, aging in place, and community support services. Specific services delivered include meal delivery for homebound seniors, food pantry support, financial literacy education, elder justice initiatives, and social support for vulnerable populations.

The RSVP program leverages senior volunteers to provide complementary services such as mentoring and tutoring children, supporting workforce development and job-readiness training, facilitating substance abuse education workshops, and recruiting additional volunteers. Volunteers maintain flexibility in their service commitments, choosing to contribute anywhere from a few hours to 40 hours per week. Decorah Public Library supplements the federal investment with local matching resources totaling 30.72% of project costs, exceeding the statutory 10% match requirement, and receives additional support through county funding, United Way partnerships, and in-kind donations to strengthen community capacity and volunteer coordination efforts.