Poughkeepsie is On the Move

Roughly half of the existing jobs in the city fall within the industries of healthcare and education. Other prominent employers include public administration and government positions, hospitality and food, and a smattering of employment opportunities across industries such as manufacturing, retail, information, and professional services. Within the boundary of the City of Poughkeepsie, there are more than 2,600 jobs per square mile, and nearly half of the City’s residents travel less than 10 miles to get to work.

Manufacturing and Makers. While traditional manufacturing still thrives in the city's north side Industrial Districts, artisanal manufacturing is a growing niche inner community. The Poughkeepsie Innovation District was created to foster this budding industry in the city's downtown. The district will be anchored by new businesses in the applied arts, satellite extensions of anchor institutions, flex office space for the gig economy, and mixed-income housing. The rezoning of the the district encourages mixed use development and live-work spaces. Technology companies such as Uncharted Power have been drawn to the Innovation District because of its flexible zoning and downtown location.

With two hospitals - Mid Hudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center and Health Quest's Vassar Brothers Medical Center (VBMC) - along with a variety of associated specialists and urgent care facilities, there are just under 16,000 jobs in the Healthcare Industry sector. Poughkeepsie has become a regional center for its fast-growing industry and the VBMC expansion is making it a destination hospital for the broader Hudson Valley region.

In recent years, the Hudson Valley has seen substantial growth in its Food and Beverage Industry, and Poughkeepsie is very much part of this trend. The city now boasts four breweries (Mill house Brewery, Blue Collar Brewery, Zeus Brewing, and Kings Court Brewing), the Poughkeepsie Open Kitchen with 24 rotating chefs, and a number of local restaurants and food producers looking to expand to accommodate increasing sales.

The Arts and Entertainment community has shown tremendous growth in recent years, and Downtown Poughkeepsie is home to a strong arts and cultural network. With the Bardavon, Chance Theatre, and over 15 art gallery spaces throughout the downtown, our thriving arts scene definitely has the space to play. The Art Centro Clay Studio, PUF Printmaking Studio, and forthcoming Trolley Barn textile initiative - located in the Middle Main District - provide a hub that will teach and inspire the city's nest generation of tactile artists.