(Radio Iowa) – The University of Northern Iowa’s Green Iowa AmeriCorps program has received its third straight federal grant. Program manager, Carmen Finken, says they focus on environmental service projects like home weatherization. “We’ve been doing these services for several years now, but we primarily try and target vulnerable populations in need that are looking to say money on their utility bills. We do a lot of this in the winter months — but we do it year-round and it’s always a completely free service,” Finken says. They also work with partners on clean water projects. She says they have a partnership with Practical Farmers in Ames and with the City of Oskaloosa for water quality efforts. “So, very broad work that our members do, but they do a lot of work that is dedicated to environmental efficiency, restoration, and stewardship,” Finken says.

The one-point-one million dollars federal grant this year is the largest they’ve ever received and is spread over three years. “So it’s going to mean that we are going to be expanding into more communities in Iowa and kind of having a greater impact I guess, in other communities that we haven’t been able to serve in past years,” Finken says. The expansion creates more positions in the organization that need to be filled. “By mid-September of 2021 we will need to have 68, 11-month positions filled. So we are absolutely recruiting, interviewing, hiring right now as we speak,”according to Finken. “We interview and hire on a rolling basis — so if anyone is interested in applying to serve with us — they can go to greeniowaamericorps.org,”

Finken says the payment is different compared to other traditional positions. “You will get a living allowance from the University of Northern Iowa…and then you would get a monthly living stipend at the end of each month. And then you also get a scholarship at the end of the service. So that scholarship can be used to pay for student loans, or continuing one’s education in some way. It’s also supplemented with health care, child care,” she explains. And she says there is a federal loan deferment.

Finken says Green Iowa AmeriCorps recruits members statewide and nationally.