Peekskill Survey to Identify Business, Consumer Needs
Peekskill is initiating a survey to help identify, attract and retain the types of businesses that will complement Peekskill’s commercial districts, enhance quality of life and help meet consumer demands of the region.
“This is a major first step in collecting valuable feedback that will be used to attract the types of businesses consumers would like to have in Peekskill,” said Mayor Mary Foster. “Once tabulated, the data will be used to target businesses that would prosper in the city. We will be looking to attract businesses that complement our existing merchants, award-winning restaurants and exceptional professional services.”
“Our goal is to renew the district and recruit new businesses to the area,” added the mayor. “We’d like to know what types of stores, restaurants and entertainment we should recruit, and what other changes will make the downtown area more appealing.”
Printed survey forms will be mailed to 5,000 randomly-selected households in northern Westchester, specifically in the Peekskill/Cortlandt area as well as in southern Putnam. The forms will also be available at participating high traffic locations in the community for merchants and shoppers to participate.
The survey is already available online at www.peekskillsurvey.com and a Spanish language version is also available. The survey is anonymous and no one will be asked to register or provide personal contact information.
“Completing the survey will take only a few minutes, but the information it yields will have an impact on our economic development plans for the future,” said Anthony Ruggiero, Peekskill’s director of planning. “We urge everyone to participate because the more participation, the more comprehensive the results. We have added the Spanish language version to gain more complete survey results.”
The survey is part of a Community Insights market analysis being conducted by Larisa Ortiz Associates, LLC and JGSC Group of Merchantville, N.J. Along with the survey, the program includes interviews with government and civic leaders, business and commercial property owners, other key stakeholders, evaluations of commercial districts that serve the community and analysis of economic data for the region.
Work has already begun and the overall effort is expected to conclude by the end of the year. Public presentations will be conducted at various stages throughout the process. Larisa Ortiz Associates and JGSC were selected through a competitive bid process based on a request for proposals (RFP) issued earlier this year by the city.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.