The economy in Fishkill, NY is struggling. Many businesses have closed or are struggling to stay open due to high costs of living and low incomes. As a result, shopping centers have numerous vacant storefronts marked "For Rent". Even large employers like IBM are downsizing and selling off property. Homes are also sitting on the market as people cannot afford their mortgages or rising utility costs. The struggling local economy has led to high unemployment and financial stress for residents.

1. Economy in
AMERICA
By: James Lyles

2. FOR RENT OR FOR SALE?
Everything in America seems to either be FOR SALE or FOR RENT.
Going throughout the community, it is very evident that both home-owners and businesses-owners are finding it very
difficult to keep up with their bills. It seems like there are more businesses for sale, than there are opened.
This will provide a look at the effects of the economy in Fishkill, NY.

3. FISHKILL, NY- 12524
Estimated Population: 2,100
Estimated Household Income: $62,841
Cost of Living Index: 142.0 (Very High)
Unemployment in March 2011:
Fishkill: 7.7%
New York State: 8.0%
Educational Services:
2 Elementary Schools
(Fishkill, Brinkerhoff)
1 High School
(John Jay High School)
1 College
(Marist Fishkill Campus)

4. Fishkill, NY is under financial stress. The cost of living seems to out-
weigh the money people are making, which is difficult for a society.
If the economy was doing better, it wouldn’t be as difficult for small
business owners to stay opened. This would lead to more jobs and
more money flowing through the area. Pictured above is the Main
Street Plaza in Fishkill. Once a critical shopping center in the town,
but now full of “For Rent” spaces because owners are unable to keep
businesses opened. In some areas like the one pictured above, there is
more business space “For Rent,” than there are actually opened stores.
The Main Street Plaza is located in a prime area of Fishkill, NY. Located on Route 52,
a.k.a. Main Street, it see’s a lot of traiffic daily. Although it’s prime real estate, due to
the lack of funding in the community, businesses just can’t seem to stay open.

5. Many businesses just “up-and-left” the area. The business pictured above was
at it’s location for less than a month. It seemed to be very popular, with lines out
the door practically every weekend. Business seemed to be doing well, but as
quickly as they opened, they seemed to shut their doors just as fast.
To comment on the quickness of shutting down, while taking the above picture,
I realized that there was a UPS InfoNotice (similar to image on right) stating
that there were 2 attempts to deliver a package of rice. This business closed down so quickly,
they didn’t even have time to cancel orders that were being sent to the address. This shows how
quickly a troubled economy can hurt local businesses.

6. Although there is prime realestate available, it will never be sold.
These are picture of the old Dutchess Mall. It’s right off Interstate 84 (the top image was actually
taken from the exit ramp of I-84) and located directly off of another highly traveled road, Route 9.
Also in the same parking lot is two different banks and a McDonald’s. One would this this should
be a bustling shopping plaza, but it was left to ruins. If the owner or developer kept the place
looking nice, it could potentially be as busy as any mall in America.
It would cost so much to fix the location, many have stayed away from developing. This is hurt-
ing the economy in Fishkill, NY terribly. This is a huge piece of property that could bring a lot of
business and jobs to the area, but the economic state prevents this.

7. From to the Pizza Shop...
From businesses as nationally and globally known like IBM, to small local pizza shops, everyone is
downsizing to stay afloat. IBM is selling their whole West Campus in Fishkill, which includes 982,987
sq. ft. of space in 5 industrial buildings over 160 acres of land. This huge chunk of land is very well
developed and the buildings are in nice condition, but it seems like nobody can afford to sustain busi-
ness in these buildings. If the economy was doing better and people had more money to play with, this
would be a very suitable space for office space, doctors offices, hospitals, etc. It has its own exit off of
Interstate 84 and is in prime location, but it would take a lot to be able to reopen something like this in
the current economy.
Across the street from the IBM Campus was a local pizza shop. Due to the closure of this IBM location
and not many people being around, this shop had to close. There was no longer a constant business
flow, which caused them to have to close shop. Similar to other closing businesses and like the window
says, “Closing. Everything goes.”

8. RESIDENTIAL
AREAS
Besides the businesses in the area, there are also many homes for sale. This goes back to the facts that people aren’t making enough to pay for
the things they own. Oil prices went up, so it is much harder to heat homes. Mortgage payments went up, so it costs a lot more to live
in these houses. Practically everything has gone up, due to the fact the economy is in trouble.
“Uncertainty is killing this economy.” -Herman Cain

9. Sources:
www.fishkill-ny.gov
www.vofishkill.us
Background: Google Images
Photographs: James Lyles