NEWBURGH – The state is allocating $6.7 million over three years to create Empire Corps, a new program consisting of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA members and the City of Newburgh is one of 16 communities that will be targeted to accelerate poverty reduction.
The AmeriCorps members will conduct outreach and engage communities to quickly identify and connect residents living in poverty to programs and services related to workforce development, housing, education and health. VISTA members will work with the AmeriCorps services as they focus on building the capacity of area not-for-profits and help them to strategically align services to meet the needs of each community.
The total $6.7 million includes more than $1 million in public funding from the state, as well as funds from local not-for-profit organizations. The investment also includes some $1.7 million in educational scholarships for those AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA members who complete their terms of service.
The other communities involved in the new initiative are the Bronx, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Oneonta, Buffalo, Utica, Elmira, Jamestown, Oswego, Troy, Hempstead, Niagara Falls, Watertown, and Albany.
