AmeriCorps director warns of aging program housing and seeks stable grant funding; budget advanced to finance committee

Misty Niemeyer, who manages the county’s AmeriCorps program, told the Assembly’s standing committee on natural resources that the program’s three member houses are aging and require maintenance, including lead‑paint remediation at the Wellfleet house and forthcoming roof and siding projects. "They're all aging properties... the Wellfleet House has lead paint on the outside," she said, and noted the program has set aside $50,000 in community preservation funding to help with repairs.

Niemeyer also outlined vehicle and fleet challenges: the program operates three work trucks and an older van with several vehicles more than a decade old, which has raised maintenance costs. She said the program has delayed replacements where possible and is considering at least hybrid vehicles when replacements are needed.

On funding, Niemeyer said the AmeriCorps grant declined to support 18 members in the most recent year with roughly $450,000 and that the program has applied for about $500,000 to support 20 members in the coming year. She explained the state and federal grant process, noting a new minimum of 20 members for a three‑year recompete grant and that decisions on recompete funding are expected in May or early June.

Committee members praised the program’s recent performance during local emergencies and recruitment success; Niemeyer said the program received more applications this season than in recent years. Delegate Harder moved to forward the AmeriCorps budget to the finance committee; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll‑call vote with four affirmative votes and one absence. The budget will now be reviewed by the finance committee.