In Buffalo, New York, the city is kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month in historic fashion.

On Friday, members of the Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York officially broke ground on the brand-new Hispanic Heritage Cultural Institute.

"This is a testament to the resilient spirit of a group of committed individuals who set out to change the world." said New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

The three-story, 38,000-square-foot facility will be located in the Niagara Corridor in the city's west side. The state-of-the-art building will house a museum, theater, learning labs, and a media center.

"This means that we are building for the future," said Hispanic Heritage Council of Western New York President Casimiro Rodriguez. "This facility means so much, not only to our community, but also for the city of Buffalo."

The $30 million project will help the Buffalo community celebrate Hispanic culture for generations to come.

"It's going to be a facility where we'll be able to preserve our history, promote our Hispanic American history, not only to our own community, but to all of our neighbors," said Rodriguez. "This is the first in Upstate New York, so you'll be able to realize that need, and we are very proud of that."

Construction is expected to take 18 months to complete.