Dutchess economy on solid footing Unemployment numbers lower than state, national stats By LYNN WOODS

Dutchess economy on solid footing
Unemployment numbers lower than state, national stats
By LYNN WOODS

Wages in Dutchess County grew 4.1 percent in May 2007 compared with the year before, ranking the county among the top 10 percent of large counties in the nation, according to the Dutchess County executive’s office. Dutchess County also ranked among the state’s 12 largest counties: those with 75,000 or more jobs.

Private-sector job growth increased 1.2 percent for the same period. The unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, lower than both the state average of 4.4 percent and the national average of 4.5 percent. The statistics were compiled by the state Department of Labor Bureau of Statistics at both the federal and state levels.

County Executive William Steinhaus attributed the growth in wages and private enterprise to a close working relationship with the private sector, along with encouragement from a diverse job base. A central tenet of “creating an environment for business to be successful” is “the private-sector relationship formed with public-policy makers,” he said. “We’re progressive and proactive.”

“We want businesses that pay high wages to engineers, but we also know that the hospital industry is a major part of the economy, and people have skill sets for that,” he continued. “We’ve had solid growth in manufacturing, as well as new businesses created in construction. Another successful category is finance and insurance.”

A brownfield remediation site on the Poughkeepsie waterfront was designated an economic development zone, which resulted in the construction of Grandview, a large catering restaurant. Another job generator was the expansion of Saint Francis Hospital, which in turn will result in more professional positions. The Gap project, which is the largest single-use warehouse in the nation, according to Steinhaus, is bringing in 1,000 jobs. In addition, an active effort is being made to recruit and develop clusters of firms that would revolve around IBM.

Other “economic engines” are cultural institutions and Marist College, Steinhaus said, noting that the county Industrial Development Agency financed much of the school’s recent construction.

“These are all little incremental ways to build an economy,” said Steinhaus. “Our idea is to create a larger pie.”

Steinhaus said investing in infrastructure is also crucial to attracting business investment. A key project was the $35 million water pipeline that extends from the Poughkeepsie waterfront to IBM in East Fishkill. With funding equally divided between IBM and private interests, the state and the county, no debt was incurred, ensuring the water can be offered at reasonable rates. The pipeline not only provides water to IBM and the multiple tenants at the Hudson Valley Research Park, but also serves a residential corridor, which includes four towns.

Steinhaus also pointed with pride to his “Dutchess Goes Green” agenda. The county has purchased a half-dozen hybrid vehicles and plans to add more. It’s also looking at alternative fuels for its vehicles and it working on a study with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Eleven to 13 percent of the county’s energy bought from Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corp. derives from renewable sources, he said. “We can set the agenda and use the form of office to set community values,” he said. The county also has a recycling program for household hazardous waste. And it’s currently hosting meetings about setting up a new recreational rail corridor along the new water pipeline.

Steinhaus said maintaining a commercial tax base is another strategy for success, which helps ensure the county can provide important services to the public. That doesn’t have to mean more unplanned sprawl marring the county’s beauty; rather, the future model is smart growth and mixed-used cluster developments, which not only bring in tax revenue but also promote community and help preserve open space. In line with that goal, the county is providing planning assistance to two new “town centers” being developed at LaGrange and Beekman.

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