Gov't awards $234 million in AmeriCorps expansion

By ANN SANNER Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is taking the first step in expanding the AmeriCorps program.

The federal government is awarding grants Monday to nonprofits and other organizations to put 57,000 AmeriCorps members to work in communities around the country.

The grants, totaling $234 million, are the first to be released under a new law aimed at tripling the national service program by 2017. States and territories will also get an additional $129 million for AmeriCorps slots. Officials expect to have a total of 85,000 people enrolled in the program this year.