DURING NATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK, CONGRESSMAN PAT RYAN SECURES OVER $1.27 MILLION FOR AMERICORPS PROGRAM IN POUGHKEEPSIE

During National Public Service Recognition Week, Congressman Pat Ryan Secures Over $1.27 Million for AmeriCorps Program in Poughkeepsie 

Funding will add 71 AmeriCorps positions to the Student Conservation Association’s Hudson Valley Corps 

Ryan, an Iraq War veteran and member of the bipartisan National Service Congressional Caucus, has prioritized making careers in public service more accessible for Hudson Valley families 

WASHINGTON, DC –  Today, Congressman Pat Ryan celebrated National Public Service Recognition Week by announcing that he secured $1,274,400 in federal funding for Americorps in NY-18. The funding will create 71 new AmeriCorps positions for youth in Poughkeepsie as part of the Student Conservation Association’s Hudson Valley Corps. The new positions will expand on the 45 youth who engage in conservation efforts across the region. The expansion will allow the Corps to protect an additional 100 miles and 60 acres of threatened ecosystems and train an additional 4,500 community members in conservation best practices and environmental stewardship within the first year.

“The beauty of public service is that there is a place for absolutely everyone to serve, no matter where you’re from or what your interests are. AmeriCorps and the SCA play a huge role in providing that space for young people and I’m proud that this funding will help expand their mission right here in the Hudson Valley” said Congressman Pat Ryan. “Programs like the Hudson Valley Corps are how we not only protect our environment for generations to come, but also empower and inspire the leaders of the future.”

“We are thrilled to have been selected by AmeriCorps and the New York State Commission on National and Community Service to receive up to $1,274,400 in funding for our Hudson Valley and Adirondack Corps programs! This grant will allow our organization to continue to tap into the power of national service and bring solutions to support the state’s most pressing environmental challenges,” said Lidia Soto-Harmon, President and CEO of the Student Conservation Association. “As the largest provider of hands-on environmental conservation programs for youth and young adults, this funding allows the SCA to build upon its longstanding partnership with the state of New York and continue to improve and protect the state’s cultural, recreational and natural resources while inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders.”

"This year’s AmeriCorps State and National grants demonstrate our steadfast commitment to helping communities tackle the most urgent challenges head on,” said Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps CEO. “These funds will empower AmeriCorps members to make significant strides in conservation stewardship and environmental education, demonstrating the power of national service to bring about positive change. I am thrilled to see the impact our members and volunteers will have on Poughkeepsie and am grateful for the hard work and dedication of all involved. Together, we are building a brighter future in New York’s 18th District.” 

Congressman Pat Ryan, a West Point alum and Iraq War veteran, has prioritized celebrating public service, volunteerism, and making career pathways in public service accessible. Ryan is a member of the bipartisan National Service Congressional Caucus. He has delivered multiple speeches on the House floor to recognize constituents who have demonstrated extraordinary acts of service for their communities and the country. He recently honored the late veteran, journalist, humanitarian, and Orange County resident Terry Anderson in a floor speech. Ryan sponsors and cosponsors extensive legislation to recognize and honor military veterans and first responders for their service. Ryan has specifically focused on encouraging youth to engage in public service and in September of 2023, delivered $1,000,000 in federal funds for Port Jervis to start a youth tree corps that will employ youth to undertake conservation efforts and train the community in environmental science. 

The $1,274,400 was funded by the 2024 fiscal year AmeriCorps State and National Grant Competition. AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

With this funding, the SCA will leverage the skills and experience of AmeriCorps members in New York to complete much-needed conservation service projects carried out by their Hudson Valley and Adirondack AmeriCorps programs. Participating members will gain valuable professional connections from a network of government agencies and nonprofit organizations throughout the region.

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) was founded in NY-18 by Liz Putnam while she was studying at Vassar in 1957. The SCA has since expanded across the United States, becoming one of the largest programs for youth to engage in hand-on conservation efforts and service projects. The SCA provides a vast array of programming opportunities, operating in settings from urban city parks to National Parks. Learn more about its programming here. 

Created in 1999, the SCA’s current Hudson Valley Corps consists of 45 AmeriCorps members that engage over 40 Hudson Valley communities in conservation efforts and education. Corps members will serve for 10 months at sites ranging from Saratoga Springs to New York City, working one-on-one alongside conservation professionals at state agencies and nonprofit organizations. Hudson Valley Corps members have the opportunity to explore an array of conservation career fields, including Environmental Education, Interpretation, Trail Stewardship, Watershed Management, Biodiversity Monitoring, Invasive Species Management, Public Outreach and GIS/GPS Mapping and Monitoring. Members receive a biweekly stipend and housing assistance. Learn more about the SCA’s Hudson Valley Corps here. 

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