Greater Hudson Valley Launches October 15 in Kingston
KINGSTON, N.Y., September 10, 2026 — Greater Hudson Valley, a new regional support network for small and locally owned businesses, launches on Thursday, October 15, at the Senate Garage in Kingston, with a keynote from Dr. Rebecca Gott, CTO, IBM Power Platform.
Greater Hudson Valley connects the people building small businesses to the mentors, advisors, capital, and community they need to grow. It weaves together the organizations and resources already serving the region, from advisors and community capital providers to chamber leaders and economic development officers, into one coordinated network for the region's owners.
"Small business is how most people in the Hudson Valley build wealth, hire their neighbors, and shape the places we live. Greater Hudson Valley connects owners to the advisors, capital providers, and peers who help them grow, and opens ownership to more people," said Noa Simons, board chair of Greater Good Business, Inc.
Greater Hudson Valley is a program of Greater Good Business, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit rooted in the belief that business is a force for human flourishing. Greater Good Business, Inc. aligns the community around that belief and puts technology to work closing the gaps small business owners face most, in human connection and access to capital. Better paths to mentors, advisors, resources, and funding help businesses start, grow, and thrive, and working alongside values-aligned partners makes that work more productive and more meaningful.
Greater Good Business, Inc. is the evolution of the nearly 40-year-old Hudson Valley Technology Development Center. It is building a coalition of local stakeholders across the region, from economic development leaders and educators to community capital providers and business owners themselves. The Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC), SUNY New Paltz, and Dutchess Community College are represented on the board, and the coalition is growing.
The launch program centers on a theme aligned with the mission: how technology, in service to people, widens small business owners' access to knowledge, community, and capital.
The afternoon features a keynote from Dr. Rebecca Gott, CTO of IBM Power Platform and a Hudson Valley resident, on what the AI era means for small business.
Two panels follow. The first, on the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses today, brings together Sonya Smith, State Director of the New York Small Business Development Center; Sarah Lee, Executive Vice President, Special Initiatives at HVEDC; and local business owners including Eileen Banyra of Community Compost Co, Lagusta Yearwood, serial food entrepreneur, and Sam Shapiro of Camp Kingston.
The second, on creative capital approaches for investing in the region, brings together impact investor Barbara Clarke, founder of The Impact Seat; Duane Peterson, co-founder of SunCommon; and Lizzie Vann, founder of Organix and Project Regeneration.
"The hard part of running a small business is not the work. It is finding the person who can help you through the part you have not done before. My hope for Greater Hudson Valley is that finding that person gets easier," said Eileen Banyra, founder of Community Compost Co.
"Small and locally owned businesses employ most of the people in this region and hold most of its character. Greater Hudson Valley gives us a shared way to invest in them," said Sarah Lee, Executive Vice President, Special Initiatives at HVEDC.
The day closes with the Hudson Valley Venture Hub Demo Night, presented in association with the Hudson Valley Venture Hub and SUNY New Paltz, where the region's next businesses take the stage. Register to attend at greaterhv.com/launch.
About Greater Hudson Valley
Greater Hudson Valley is open to small business owners, advisors and mentors, investors and capital providers, and community members. It is a regional network supporting small business owners across the Hudson Valley, including Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties. It connects owners with advisors, regional resources, and capital pathways. Greater Hudson Valley is a program of Greater Good Business, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in New Paltz, N.Y. Learn more at greaterhv.com.
