Barnstable County to use local funds to keep AmeriCorps Cape Cod running after federal grant cut

Barnstable County Commissioners voted May 1 to endorse continuation of the AmeriCorps Cape Cod program through the current 2025 service year and to use available county budget funds if federal AmeriCorps grant funding is not reinstated.

The action came after staff told commissioners the county can absorb the immediate cost of an early federal grant termination. Town Administrator Dutton said finance staff modeled scenarios showing the county would have expended “just short of $80,000” in grant funds for the final months and that county match funds would leave “a fund surplus of almost $35,000” at the end of the fiscal year if commissioners authorize continuation.

The vote, introduced by Commissioner Forrest and seconded by Commissioner Bergstrom, passed unanimously in a roll call: Forrest, Bergstrom and Commissioner Lyons voted yes. The motion as stated by the commissioners authorizes the county to allow AmeriCorps Cape Cod members to complete their 2025 federal and county…