The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS) announced today (Tuesday) the competitive recipients of eight new and continuing Iowa RSVP (formerly the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) grants. The new grants, along with prior year grants and a state-funded competition to be announced later this month, will expand RSVP coverage to nearly half of the counties in Iowa.

The award will restore programming previously operated in Pottawattamie, Mills, Wapello, Monroe, and Jefferson counties, adding to counties that were restored last summer with grant announcements. Additionally, the award continues and stabilizes programming in Black Hawk, Fayette, Henry, Carroll, Jasper, Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek counties. The ICVS plans to announce later this month a state-funded RSVP grant expanding RSVP to a part of the state that has never been covered before.

RSVP connects volunteers age 55 and over with service opportunities in their communities that match their skills and availability. From building houses to immunizing children, from enhancing the capacity of nonprofit organizations to improving literacy skills, RSVP volunteers put their unique talents to work to make a difference.

The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service is responsible for administering state funding of more than $279,000 for RSVP, which is used to leverage $881,525 in federal and over $600,000 in local funding. Including the current programs, the new projects (listed below) bring the total number of RSVP programs in Iowa to 21:

Carroll County Board (Carroll County), Carroll- Federal Award: $22,795 State Award: $7,271.75.

Connections Area Agency on Aging (Pottawattamie, Mills counties), Council Bluffs – Federal Award: $17,055 State Award: $14,071.