New York State Announces Start of Construction for Regeneration Campus Environmental Education Center in City of Hudson

New York State today announced the start of construction on the ReGeneration Campus, a two-acre community and environmental education center in the city of Hudson, Columbia County. The project was awarded $7.1 million in grant funding from New York State to support construction of the facility. Operated by Kite's Nest, a center for education serving youth in the city of Hudson and surrounding communities, the project will provide a permanent home for the organization and support programming focused on ecological education, youth leadership, the arts, and environmental justice. Located on the Hudson riverfront, the ReGeneration Campus will support programming focused on ecological education, youth leadership, the arts, and environmental justice. The property will feature an 8,500-square-foot education facility containing innovative learning spaces, including an arts workshop, digital media and recording studio, learning kitchen, performance and event space, an interior courtyard, offices, exhibition space, and classrooms. The education facility will add to the campus' existing 1,400-square-foot learning greenhouse completed in 2022. The building and entire two-acre campus have centered accessibility in the design, ensuring people of all abilities can experience and enjoy the campus. New York State awarded $7.1 million in grant funding for the ReGeneration Campus project, including: $1.87 million from the New York State Council on the Arts' (NYSCA) Capital Projects Fund, $1.63 million from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA) through the Builder Cleaner Communities Competition, formerly known as the Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development Program, $1.6 million from Empire State Development (ESD), $1.6 million from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Community Environmental Education Centers grant program, and $400,000 through the Department of State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). Additionally, the ReGeneration Campus will provide space for community partner organizations to convene and collaborate. Local nonprofits, grassroots groups, and regional networks will be able to access the campus for gatherings, programs, trainings, and events to broaden the project's reach and impact across the Hudson Valley and New York State. "This project represents a deep investment in the power, creativity, and leadership of young people, and we are thankful to Governor Kathy Hochul and the multiple state agency partners for their support," said Kaya Weidman, Co-Executive Director of Kite's Nest. "The ReGeneration Campus will be a permanent home where children and teens can thrive, where their voices are centered, and where they can lead the way in building more just and resilient communities." New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, "Environmental education starts at the local level, and DEC is proud to support community-based organizations like Kite's Nest in their efforts to connect local residents with opportunities to learn about the environment. Funding awarded through New York State agency partners and DEC's Environmental Education Centers grant program will help Kite's Nest and other grantees serving people in disadvantaged communities promote exploration, discovery, and learning about New York's diverse natural resources, complementing DEC's ongoing commitment to support environmental justice statewide." Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The new Kite's Nest facility will serve as an anchor to the revitalization efforts underway in Hudson. Supported by strategic investments from New York State, projects like this promote local community development and partnerships, helping to generate sustainable regional economic growth." NYSCA Executive Director Erika Mallin said, "Every young person deserves access to creativity and alternative pathways to learning. NYSCA is proud to support Kite's Nest ReGeneration Campus, a place where imagination will be cultivated, and futures will be transformed. By activating the innovators and leaders of tomorrow, this facility will strengthen our state for generations to come. Congratulations to the entire Kite's Nest community on this huge step forward." New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "Kite's Nest ReGeneration Campus will provide the Hudson community and its many visitors with the opportunity to connect with the arts and nature in an exciting and empowering environment. This all-electric education center has been thoughtfully designed to be a clean, healthy, and accessible space for our young people to thrive both today and into the future." New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said, "The ReGeneration Campus will bring new opportunities for learning, connection, and sustainability to Hudson and its visitors. We are proud that DRI funding enabled Kite's Nest's to complete an inclusive and dynamic design and engagement process with the community. The vision for a community-focused ecological education campus along the Hudson River will empower future generations to care for the environment while strengthening Hudson's diverse downtown and waterfront for all who live, learn and visit here." Founded in 2013, Kite's Nest has engaged over 2,000 children and teens through more than 250 programs, and engaged thousands of community members through educational public events. Young leaders have organized for housing justice, environmental sustainability, and racial equity, while also creating innovative local food justice initiatives and providing mutual aid to hundreds of families. The organization has provided hundreds of young people with meaningful paid work opportunities through its youth employment initiatives-including ReGen Teens, the Social Justice Leadership Academy, and youth arts educator positions. The programs develop critical skills in agriculture, food systems, green infrastructure, education, media, and entrepreneurship, preparing the next generation of workers and leaders who will contribute to New York's evolving economy. The $14 million capital campaign will provide a permanent home for Kite's Nest and an anchor for youth-led learning, leadership, and community resilience in the region. Kite's Nest ReGeneration Campus is not only a local project but a model with far-reaching impact. By investing in ecological design, renewable energy, and environmental justice, the campus will advance New York State's ambitious climate goals and serve as a demonstration of sustainable development along the Hudson River. "This campus is not only a home for Kite's Nest but a community anchor for generations to come," said Board Chair Lisa Arrastía. "It models equitable and ecological development-spaces where young people can imagine and co-create a just future." For more information about Kite's Nest and the ReGeneration Campus, visit https://www.kitesnest.org/