12-03-2025
Poughkeepsie given $10 million towards boosting Main Street. How it will be used
The City of Poughkeepsie has been awarded $10 million as part of New York's Downtown Revitalization Initiative.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday the city's downtown corridor was the mid-Hudson Valley winner of the eighth round of the DRI.
"We are changing the game for these communities by supporting affordable housing, local businesses, and sustainable infrastructure," Hochul said in a statement.
The funding will be allocated toward boosting the city's Main Street to "the beating heart of the city, as well as a multimodal transportation link to assets and attractions in Poughkeepsie," according to a news release, which pointed to the city as a hub for commuters who use the Poughkeepsie Metro North Station daily and existing venues including the Bardavon 1869 Opera House, the Chance Theatre, the Mid-Hudson Civic Center and the former Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel.
City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers said the funding will help "accelerate the revitalization of our downtown area that has been slowly but steadily rebounding."
More: Poughkeepsie's proposed Business Improvement District: The plan, location, costs
To receive DRI funding, the City of Poughkeepsie had to be certified under Hochul's Pro-Housing Communities Program, a policy designed to recognize and reward municipalities for actively working to face the housing shortage.
Previously, the DRI has invested in the creation of more than 4,400 units of housing, 1,823 of which are affordable or workforce housing.
Another factor for the City of Poughkeepsie to receive DRI funding was the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, which reviewed proposals from across the region before recommending Poughkeepsie.
Poughkeepsie will next develop a strategic investment plan to guide the revitalization of Main Street.
A local planning committee, consisting of municipal representatives, community leaders and other stakeholders, will lead the effort, with support provided by a team of private sector experts and state planners.
"I see a future where every New Yorker has the chance to thrive in communities around the state," Hochul said. "I want to ensure that New York has neighborhoods that are not just places to live, but places where people can work, grow and succeed."
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: NY gives $10 million DRI funds in mid-Hudson Valley. Which city won
