MARCY — Governor Kathy Hochul announced an expansion of the Empire State Service Corps, which will double its capacity to 1,000 student positions and introduce new service areas, including disaster recovery, during the 2026-2027 school year. The expansion includes participation from Mohawk Valley Community College and SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Marcy for the first time.

The Empire State Service Corps, which launched in the 2024-2025 school year, is the largest AmeriCorps program in New York State. SUNY stated that the program's available spots will grow from 500 to 1,000 for the upcoming school year. The program gives students paid community service opportunities and an education award upon completion of their service.

Mohawk Valley Community College and SUNY Polytechnic Institute will each have five available service slots. Students participating in the program log at least 300 hours of paid community service in focus areas during the spring and fall semesters. These focus areas include civil discourse, civic engagement, education, economic opportunity, healthy futures, environmental stewardship, and veterans affairs and military families outreach. Students also meet regularly to discuss their experiences and receive an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of up to $1,400 at the end of the year.

According to SUNY, applications for the Empire State Service Corps have exceeded available spots by a four-to-one ratio. Governor Hochul expanded the program in both the number of available slots and the geographical areas covered. Hochul stated that the program supports communities across New York State while providing students with meaningful paid service opportunities.

At Mohawk Valley Community College, students will work on campus during the pilot year, according to Sara Miller. The five students at Mohawk Valley Community College will serve in a combination of areas, including veterans outreach, economic opportunity, education, civic engagement, and healthy futures. John Reade, director of pre-collegiate outreach at SUNY Poly, indicated that the program at SUNY Poly will concentrate solely on K-12 education. Reade added that students in the service corps at SUNY Poly will support local school districts and their community partners. He also stated that the program provides students with paid service opportunities while enhancing educational support systems in the Mohawk Valley.

Why It Matters

The expansion of the Empire State Service Corps increases the number of students who can participate in community service across New York State. Doubling the capacity to 1,000 spots and adding new service areas like disaster recovery suggests a broader impact the program aims to have on communities. The inclusion of academic institutions such as Mohawk Valley Community College and SUNY Polytechnic Institute also extends the program's reach into new geographic regions of the state.

The program aims to address local community needs and provide students with practical experience and financial support through paid service and educational awards. The historical demand for spots, with applications outstripping availability four-to-one, indicates an existing interest from students in these types of opportunities. This expansion allows more students to engage in service ranging from K-12 tutoring and mental health support to environmental stewardship and veterans affairs.