Author: Rachel Welch

Available now, Dutchess County businesses can pick up COVID-19 at-home test kits to distribute to their employees at the Think Dutchess office.

Please complete the form below with the number of test kits you are requesting and when you would like to pick them up. Pickup is available M-F between 9-4 pm at: 3 Neptune Road, Suite 21-A, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. While supplies last. Please allow 24 hours from the time of request to assure your request can be filled. Please call 845.463.5400 or email info@thinkdutchess.com with questions.

Think Dutchess Business Breakfast Features Acclaimed Keynote Speaker

Best-selling author and Advertising Hall of Fame legend, Linda Kaplan Thaler, will inspire and entertain at a networking event celebrating last year’s Business Excellence Awards winners and the future of Dutchess County’s economy.

 

March 1, 2022

 

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Think Dutchess Alliance for Business is hosting a Business Networking Event on May 12, 2022 at the Grandview. The special event will feature, keynote speaker, best-selling author and Advertising Hall of Famer, Linda Kaplan Thaler.

Ms. Thaler is responsible for some of America’s most famous and award-winning advertising campaigns, including the Aflac duck and the hilarious “Yes, Yes, Yes” commercials for Clairol Herbal Essences, as well as America’s longest-running jingle, “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, I’m a Toys ‘R Us Kid.” Today, Linda is a renowned motivational speaker, national bestselling author of several books, including “Grit to Great” and “The Power of Nice.”

“This sounds like a great event!” said Thaler upon working with Think Dutchess Alliance for Business. “After an unprecedented year of challenges and recovery, I am excited to deliver a fun and inspirational talk to such a prestigious group.”

“We are honored to have such a pop-culture legend keynote our event,” said CEO of Think Dutchess, Sarah Lee. “After such a challenging year, Linda’s entertaining and motivational style that celebrates grit, determination and success is sure to inspire our guests and a perfect way to celebrate our business community.”

Thaler’s talents have earned her a number of awards including: the prestigious Matrix Award, the Advertising Woman of the Year Award, and the Muse Award. She is also one of Ad Age’s “Most Influential Women in Advertising” and most recently, she was the first woman to earn the Clio’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to the keynote speech, the Business Networking Breakfast will recognize last year’s Virtual Business Excellence Awards winners. The event provides winners the traditional fanfare of the in-person event that pivoted to virtual as pandemic challenges once again surfaced. The Business Networking Breakfast will take place on Thursday, May 12^th at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie from 7:30-9:30 am. Tickets are on sale now. Advertising opportunities are still available. Learn more at: https://thinkdutchess.com/news-events/sponsorship-opportunities/

 

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About Think Dutchess Alliance for Business

Think Dutchess Alliance for Business, formerly Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation, is the one-stop shop for business development needs and activities in Dutchess County, New York. A business-led, nationally recognized economic development corporation, Think Dutchess’ mission is to attract, retain, and expand for-profit and not-for-profit businesses in Dutchess County. Think Dutchess’ organizational structure includes programs in business retention, expansion and attraction; financial counseling and deal structuring; zoning and permitting; commercial real estate; innovation and technology; strategic marketing and municipal advocacy. For more information about Think Dutchess Alliance for Business, visit www.thinkdutchess.com

 

About Linda Kaplan Thaler

Advertising Hall of Famer Linda Kaplan Thaler is responsible for some of America’s most famous and award-winning advertising campaigns. She founded ad agency Kaplan Thaler Group, which she grew from a fledgling start-up to a company with over a billion dollars in billings. Her talents have earned numerous awards and today, Linda is a renowned motivational speaker, national bestselling author, and celebrity business expert having appeared on “The Apprentice,” “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show,” CNN, and as the host of Oxygen’s television series “Making It Big.” To learn more visit: Kaplan Thaler Productions www.kaplanthalerproductions.com

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What is redevelopment?

The American Planning Association defined redevelopment as “the development or improvement of an area that was developed in the past but presently suffers from real or perceived physical deficiencies such as blight or environmental contamination or is developed for uses that have become obsolete or inappropriate as a result of changing social or market conditions.” From Dia:Beacon and the Roundhouse to more recent projects like iPark 84, Dutchess County has a proven track record for redevelopment success.

Recently, CEO, Sarah Lee was asked to discuss redevelopment and its role in revitalizing communities in American City & County. In the article, Sarah details how redevelopment not only repurposes buildings and land —it  creates opportunities to attract key industries, target community needs and build a better, sustainable and supportive community for everyone.

Read “How redevelopment revitalizes a community” in American City & County here:

 

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Four Ways Redevelopment Revitalizes Communities

 

1) Redevelopment attracts target industries

Every community has a handful of target industries it wants to attract, and the vision of reuse projects can encourage a city to evaluate which types of businesses or industries it wants to recruit. Projects like Dia:Beacon and The Roundhouse helped create a successful craft manufacturing cluster including success stories like Niche Modern.  While iPark 84’s redevelopment of the long-vacant IBM facility attracted several companies in our food and beverage manufacturing, logistics and advanced manufacturing industry clusters. Having clusters of companies in the region also attracts like-minded businesses, helping to spark innovation and growing investment.

2) Redevelopment targets community needs

When successful projects like iPark build a buzz around industry, great things happen. Take Sloop Brewing Co. Since relocating to iPark 84 in 2018 they have increased production by more than 250 percent. This success, drew several others in the food and beverage industry to follow suit, relocate to larger spaces and expand their business offerings. This healthy balance of business communities helps to support a diverse population of visitors and residents.

3) Redevelopment builds diversity through business offerings

A holistic community provides something for everyone—from housing and apartment rentals to restaurant and retail accommodations, warehouse space, manufacturing facilities and more. Mixed-use redevelopment projects are an ideal way to cater to diverse populations. Poughkeepsie Underwear Factory is a successful example of a thriving community of small food and beverage businesses, private art studios, co-working spaces, apartments created in a factory built in 1874.

Hudson Heritage is a redevelopment project that is actively developing residential units, a hotel, medical facility, performing arts center, a retail shopping village and connections walking and biking trails, combining live, work and play elements all in one space.

4) Redevelopment instills meaning in community members

Many development approval processes take public opinion into consideration. In the approval process for the Youth Opportunity Union (YOU) project, we are seeking public input on the design of the building, which is set to begin construction in 2023. This call-to-action allows us to learn of considerations that should be included to better accommodate our community, such as accessibility elements for those with sensory, motor or learning deficiencies. We want to ensure this redevelopment project is properly equipped with all the necessary tools needed to educate and support Dutchess County’s youth population.

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Successful Redevelopment Projects in Dutchess County, NY

These are just a few of the projects reshaping our communities and growing our economy.

Are you excited for what’s coming soon? If you love Dutchess and how these projects have transformed our community, join our Think Dutchess Ambassadors and let us know which one you think made – or will make – the biggest impact.

Join HERE!

 

Frito-Lay to Invest $100 Million in Fulfillment Center in Dutchess County

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Sarah Lee, 845.463.5406, sarah@thinkdutchess.com

 

December 22, 2021

Dutchess County, New York – Frito-Lay announced it will invest $100 million in a new 150,000 square-foot advanced fulfillment center to be constructed on the north end of iPark 84’s campus, located between I-84 and Route 52 in the town of East Fishkill.

The new facility, set to be one of the largest additions to the campus since the site was acquired by National Resources in 2015, will create 80 construction jobs and 80 full-time jobs. Construction on the site will begin in 2022 and the facility is expected to be operational in 2024. Hiring for the new jobs at an average wage of $50,000 will begin in 2023 with start-up anticipated in 2024.

The project includes advanced technologies, allowing Frito-Lay to serve retail customers with customized product portfolios.

Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro said, “We are excited to welcome Frito-Lay to Dutchess County, furthering the county’s logistics and manufacturing significance in the northeast. The region will benefit from new jobs, and locally the county, town and school district will benefit from new tax dollars, and the added benefit of eliminating a long vacant and blighted site. Moreover, Frito-Lay’s commitment to sustainability, and diversity and inclusion will provide social, environmental, and economic benefits for years to come.”

“This is very exciting news, East Fishkill is thrilled to have Frito-Lay build in our community,” said East Fishkill Town Supervisor, Nicholas D’Alessandro. “This development fits perfectly with East Fishkill’s aggressive economic redevelopment plans. Over the past several years I have put forward initiatives that entice companies like Frito-Lay and many others to locate their businesses in East Fishkill. This not only helps East Fishkill but the whole Hudson Valley.”

Frito-Lay has been active in local communities across the nation for more than 85 years, manufacturing tasty, renowned brands such as Lay’s, Frito’s, Cheetos, Doritos, among others. In 2021, Frito-Lay affirmed its commitment to increasing site investments to fulfill strong consumer demand by hiring nearly 15,000 frontline sales and supply chain employees with more than 5,000 roles actively being filled through the end of the year. Comprised of 66,000 associates nationwide, Frito-Lay’s network serves customers, supports local communities, and employs more than 8,500 associates across New York in conjunction with its parent company, PepsiCo.

“We appreciate the continued support of Dutchess County and the Town of East Fishkill as they have been essential to this project. Frito-Lay is proud to expand its presence in New York State and become a new member of this community,” said PepsiCo Senior Director, Economic Development, Kathy Alfano.

“We are excited to welcome Frito-Lay to our community,” said Sarah Lee, CEO of Think Dutchess Alliance for Business. “The company’s presence will support economic growth in Dutchess County for many years to come. We are eager to have one of America’s most recognizable household convenient food producers join our leading logistics and manufacturing facility at iPark 84.”

 

About Frito-Lay North America

Frito-Lay North America is an $18 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase, N.Y. Frito-Lay snacks include Lay’s and Ruffles potato chips, Doritos tortilla chips, Cheetos snacks, Tostitos tortilla chips and branded dips, SunChips multigrain snacks and Fritos corn chips. The company operates 30+ manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Canada, more than 200 distribution centers and services 315,000 retail customers per week through its direct-to-store-delivery model. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website, www.fritolay.com, on Twitter @fritolay, on Instagram @fritolay and on Facebook Frito-Lay.

 

About Think Dutchess Alliance for Business

Think Dutchess Alliance for Business is a one-stop shop for business development needs and activities in Dutchess County, N.Y. It’s a business-led, nationally recognized nonprofit organization and economic development corporation, whose mission is to attract, retain, and expand for-profit and not-for-profit businesses for the benefit of Dutchess County. Think Dutchess’ organizational structure includes programs in business retention and expansion, financial counseling and deal structuring, zoning, commercial real estate, innovation and technology, strategic marketing, and municipal advocacy. For more information about Think Dutchess Alliance for Business, visit www.thinkdutchess.com.

 

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