Title 42 › Chapter 129— NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE › Subchapter I— NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE STATE GRANT PROGRAM › Part II— Application and Approval Process › § 12585
The Corporation must use a set of rules to decide whether to approve requests for funding and to approve service positions that come with the national service education award. States or other groups that give out those funds must use the same rules when picking programs. Their applications must say they used the rules, describe the kinds of positions and tasks participants will do, and list the minimum qualifications for participants. The rules look at program quality; whether the idea is new and can be copied; whether the program can keep going with community support and mixed funding; leadership and past results; recruiting and involving local residents; serving high-need places (like empowerment or redevelopment zones, environmentally harmed areas, places hurt by federal land management or defense cuts, or places with unemployment above the national average); whether the plan fits the State’s plan; and any other things the Corporation finds appropriate. The Corporation must make sure funding is spread across the State and includes the poorest urban and rural places. It can give priority to certain kinds of programs, such as those that match national priorities, are innovative and ready to expand, are run by experienced nonprofit grantmakers, or are professional corps programs. It may also favor applications from State Commissions that are not in those priority groups. For grants or award packages larger than $250,000, expert panels must review and their advice must be considered. At least 50% of the money given to States must support programs in the high-need areas or on public lands and must focus on recruiting residents of those areas. If the Corporation rejects a State Commission’s application for certain funds, it must quickly explain why, let the State revise and resubmit, offer technical help if asked, and promptly re-evaluate the revised application. Any State funds not used for the year can be reallocated elsewhere.
Full Legal Text
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 12585
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60