Poughkeepsie in Forbes Ranking

(Poughkeepsie) - Forbes magazine, in its July 19, 2006 edition, ranked Poughkeepsie, New York Number 17 in the nation under the classification “The Best Cities To Get a Job.”

Only two northern cities made it into the Forbes 25 best cities in which to get a job. Poughkeepsie is the top location in the northeast, flanked in the rankings by San Diego in the Number 16 position and Indianapolis in the Number 18 position. Singling out Poughkeepsie for special note, Forbes writes, “Only two cities north of Washington D.C. made it onto the list, although Poughkeepsie, New York deserves a shout out for landing at 17.” says William R. Steinhaus, Dutchess County Executive, “the fact Forbes notes that Poughkeepsie ‘deserves a shout out’ for landing the Number 17 position is cause for applauding our aggressive jobs creation agenda, plus a job well done by local employers, by government at all levels, and by partners in the strong support system offered in Dutchess County. We are also fortunate to have a local employer base that is exceptional for its steady growth and stability.”

As businesses and workers both seek an employee-positive environment conducive to long-term success, Dutchess County is getting national attention. Forbes’ high ranking of the Poughkeepsie area was based on low unemployment, high job growth, income growing, and moderate cost of living. Anne N. Conroy, President and CEO of the Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) states, “a healthy employer base is key to insuring that there are jobs available to suit a broad spectrum of skill sets. The work accomplished on a daily basis by Dutchess County’s economic development team smoothes the road for Poughkeepsie’s diverse menu of employers to succeed. Support to employers available from DCEDC ranges from Empire Zone incentives to one-on-one consultations with new, early-stage, and established businesses of all sizes to connect them with the workforce, financial, telecommunications, and other key resources that they need to thrive and grow.” Steinhaus adds, “It is fitting that the photo Forbes chose to illustrate the text related to Poughkeepsie was the Mid-Hudson Bridge-a reminder of both the beauty of the Mid-Hudson Region, its accessibility, and that the Poughkeepsie/Dutchess County economy is a jobs center, attracting workers throughout the multi-county region.”

The Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is a private, nonprofit organization serving the cities, towns, and villages of Dutchess County Funded annually by the County, the Dutchess County Industrial Development Agency (DCIDA), and through private-sector investment, the DCEDC supports and promotes business development in Dutchess County.