Welcome to the Cottage Street Enterprise District

The Cottage Street Enterprise District (CSED), a 100 acre neighborhood on the north side of The City of Poughkeepsie, is being marketed to a blend of industrious entrepreneurs - artisans, creative services, and small shop production facilities. In a break from the old industrial model the CSED will be cleaner, quieter, and more creative. The City envisions the CSED as a place where newer technologies are at home alongside creative artisans and an existing industrial base - where like minded companies can build on synergies that benefit themselves and the surrounding community.

Forward Thinking- Historic Beginnings

The Cities marketing slogan "Forward Thinking - Historic Beginnings" fits the character of the CSED, where solid old industrial buildings can be restored to host a variety of creative industries, sparking a business ecology that speaks to tomorrow. The Cottage Street Enterprise District is shaping up as an ambitious economic development plan involving streetscape improvements, recreational amenities like the planned rail trail, and public-private investment in the current building stock. Physical improvement coupled with a menu of tax incentives and low interest business loans offers an alternative to the higher priced NYC metro area.

Creativity, skill, talent, and energy are ingredients of this creative urban economy that Poughkeepsie believes is well suited to small cities at the edge of major metropolitan centers.

Starting Fresh or Looking to Expand?

For start-ups, expansions, or relocating businesses, The Cottage Street Enterprise District is well suited to the creative entrepreneur looking for:

• available small industrial properties, for lease and for sale
• low lease rates
• low overhead
• utilities infrastructure in place
• "as of right" zoning
• free technical assistance from a facilitative government
• 0% interest small business loan program (EDLF)
• NYS Empire Zone tax incentives
• property tax abatement (485e program)
• a city surrounded by colleges (Marist, Vassar, CIA, DCC)
• large workforce, entry level to Ph.D.
• the center of the beautiful Hudson River Valley

Poughkeepsie offers creative industry a place to make a start or expand operations - a place to turn ideas into creative products and services.