Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the Empire State Service Corps will expand from 500 to 1,000 available positions for SUNY students, responding to overwhelming demand that has seen applications exceed available spots by a 4-to-1 ratio.
The expansion, proposed in Hochul’s 2026 State of the State Agenda, will increase the budget from $2.75 million to $5.5 million in the fiscal year 2027 enacted state budget. The program will add new focus areas including disaster recovery and distribute positions throughout the state, including regions that traditionally have had few AmeriCorps opportunities.
“The Empire State Service Corps supports local communities across New York State, while engaging students in meaningful paid service opportunities,” Hochul said. “With the expansion of the SUNY Service Corps, even more students will have the ability to give back to local communities and secure life-changing experience and on-the-job training as they prepare for a wide range of careers.”
Students participating in the program dedicate at least 300 hours to paid community service and receive an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of up to $1,400 upon completion. The program, which launched in fall 2024, is New York State’s largest AmeriCorps program.
The first cohort of participants logged 102,343 combined service hours during the 2024-25 program year, serving 74,638 New Yorkers. Summer service corps members supported 200 new SNAP application submissions during the summer 2025 session.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said the expansion will provide more students with opportunities to support local communities and respond during crises while building civic connections and career readiness.
The program offers service opportunities across multiple focus areas, including civil discourse and civic engagement, education, economic opportunity, healthy futures, environmental stewardship and veterans affairs.
Applications are open for the third year of the program, which will begin in fall 2026.