NEW PALTZ – The Center for Research, Regional Education and Outreach at SUNY New Paltz has been awarded a $286,899 grant by the U.S. Department of Education.

Directed by Gerald Benjamin, associate vice president for regional engagement, the center serves as the principal focus of the college’s efforts to raise its level of engagement within communities, government and businesses across the Hudson Valley.

Benjamin said the grant will be used to develop measures of Hudson Valley communities’ social, economic and environmental character that are broadly accepted and allow the tracking of change over time.  

"This is a great early initiative for CRREO and a project that could be of central importance for the future of the Hudson Valley,” said Benjamin.

Teaching materials will also be developed on the environmental/developmental nexus for use in college courses, and other materials will be prepared for distribution to local government decision makers – county executives, county legislators, mayors, city councils, town and village board members.

Publication of these measures by the Center will continue as a regular project of the center, Benjamin said.