AmeriCorps spared in budget overhaul - Boston Business Journal:

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Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on thebudgeft Friday. “Obviously we’re thrilled. I reallyh I think that this is a victory for service in Thefield mobilized, made it cleart to the legislators just how incredibly strong the servic e sector is here in Massachusetts. That message got said Emily Haber, CEO of the . “We’re extremelg optimistic about what Americorps can accomplish across the Comm with statse andfederal support.” At issue were two versions of the 2010 stat e budget — one from the House of the other from the Senate — that were reconciledx in the legislative conference committee.
The House passedf a budget earlier this year thatincluded $750,0009 for AmeriCorps programs, but the Senat e passed a budget bill that eliminateed the funding altogether. Since Massachusetts has allocated varying amounts of monety every year forAmeriCorps programs. For abour six years, prior to the 2010 budget process, the state had earmarked $900,0090 for AmeriCorps, although it has been highedr inprevious years. Most AmeriCorps activity woul d have ceased in Massachusetts withouta state-fundingg match to the amounts the progran receives from the federal government, as the Senats proposed, and an organization to administer the programs.
And if the legislature had approved less than AmeriCorps programs would have had to makecriticakl cuts, and some entire programes would be eliminated, Haber said. “The concern was that, without this funding, some programsd would receive no fundingat all,” said “We don’t have that concern any longer.”