In an effort to further enhance the downtown corridor of the City of Poughkeepsie and fortify the business climate along Main Street, the Mayor and Common Council supported a resolution authorizing the establishment of a Business Improvement District (BID).
Funded by a special assessment on property owners within the district boundaries, a BID establishes a geographic area where local property owners, business tenants and residents directly oversee key parts of the maintenance, improvement and promotion of the commercial district. Across the state, more than 100 BIDs deliver a range of services to improve business climate and quality of life.
Over the past year, the Downtown Poughkeepsie BID Steering Committee has developed a funding structure and BID plan that identifies four main areas of need: maintaining clean and beautiful streets; supporting a safe and secure downtown; developing a district identity through marketing and special events; and fostering a business climate that will attract new development and commercial tenants.
“BIDs have been successful in other parts of the state, and we unquestionably have to keep trying new ideas and strategies to improve the downtown area,” said Mayor Yvonne Flowers. “I appreciate the commitment of the Steering Committee to explore this opportunity and to see if a BID will meet with the level of support needed to bring this idea to fruition.”
The community is invited to visit www.dtpk.org to learn more about the proposed BID boundaries, how the assessment would be calculated, the organization’s preliminary budget, and what the BID revenue would accomplish. The Steering Committee invites feedback sent to dtpkbid@gmail.com, and has scheduled its first public meeting for Monday, July 22, at 6 p.m. at The Chance Theater, 6 Crannell St. in Poughkeepsie.
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