Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Poughkeepsie Alliance outlines parks, signage and workforce projects, seeks city partnership
Summary
The Poughkeepsie Alliance described physical and programmatic projects including welcome‑sign restorations, an Academy Street sign budgeted at $41,000 so far, a $62,000 digital learning contribution during COVID and workforce partnerships with area hospitals and colleges.
Poughkeepsie — The volunteer Poughkeepsie Alliance presented its projects and partner network to the Common Council on Sept. 9, outlining past work on public signs and parks and current efforts on welcome signs, park reclamation and workforce connections with local hospitals and colleges.
Mary Lang, identified as vice president of real estate development for Hudson River Housing and chair of the Poughkeepsie Alliance, told the council the all‑volunteer 501(c)(3) board brings together business, nonprofit, medical and higher‑education institutions to support projects that ‘‘help people and places in Poughkeepsie thrive.’’ Brian Doyle, co‑chair, summarized physical projects and programmatic work the Alliance has supported since 2014.
Nut graf: The Alliance described a mix of small capital projects and convening work — from signage and pocket parks to workforce mapping intended to funnel local students into career pathways at Vassar Brothers Medical Center and other health employers — and asked the council to consider partnership and referrals when Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) projects move forward.
Details: Doyle said the Alliance contributed to mounting the city’s welcome sign so letters cannot be removed, installed cameras at that sign and is holding off on restoration pending DRI decisions. He described an Academy Street welcome sign effort with $41,000 already devoted and multiple partners (Central Hudson, LaBella, Nuvance, the city and contractors). Lang said in‑kind services from design and construction partners exceed $10,000.
On programs, the Alliance said it raised about $62,000 during the COVID school‑closure period for digital learning devices and funded a fiscal mapping project for the Children’s Cabinet to improve after‑school programming. The Alliance also described a workforce initiative convening Marist College, Dutchess Community College, BOCES and local hospitals to outline entry‑level healthcare positions, related credentials and pathways for young residents.
Lang and Doyle said the Alliance is part of a current effort to ‘‘reclaim the parks’’ by organizing park stewards and partners — Scenic Hudson, Hudson River Housing, Poughkeepsie Farm Project and others — to improve safety and family use in city parks. The Alliance requested the council keep them informed as DRI project selections and other city planning proceed.
No vote or formal action followed the presentation. Council members thanked the presenters and asked for continued coordination on signs and park projects.
