As thousands of service leaders gathered at National Conference on Volunteering and Service today, Corporation for National and Community Service CEO Wendy Spencer announced $213 million in new AmeriCorps grants to strengthen the impact of more than 275 organizations across the country in tackling the most pressing challenges facing communities and the nation.

The grants will support more than 46,000 new AmeriCorps members who will serve from coast to coast, strengthening education, assisting veterans and military families, providing disaster services, fostering economic opportunity, preserving the environment, and expanding health services.

The competitive grants announced today represent the first round of AmeriCorps grants for 2012. CNCS is also awarding $116 million in formula funds to Governor-appointed state service commissions and territories. Commissions will sub-grant these funds this summer to organizations in their states to support additional AmeriCorps members. Together with other positions in AmeriCorps VISTA and NCCC, AmeriCorps is projected to support approximately 82,000 members this year.

The grants carry out the vision of the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and the agency's strategic plan by targeting resources on a core set of critical problems and using performance measures to evaluate success. A complete list of grants is available by clicking here.