17 Mar Say YES! To Peekskill
Peekskill Leaders Highlight Growth and Opportunity at Chamber Breakfast:
Say YES! To Peekskill
By Joshua Anderson for the Peekskill Business Improvement District
Business owners, chamber members, city officials, and community leaders gathered at the Peekskill Central Fire House for the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce annual City of Peekskill breakfast to discuss chamber updates, new city branding, economic development initiatives, and business engagement opportunities.
Using Peekskill’s new colorful logo, the city plans to use major events as an opportunity to strengthen and connect businesses as well as branding Peekskill as a place to do business and a place to call home.
Following a warm greeting by Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie, Peekskill City Manager Matt Alexander centered the meeting on one vital question, “Why say yes to Peekskill?”
As part of a real time survey, the answer to Alexander’s question elicited responses from the attendees ranging from “riverfront” to “restaurants” to “opportunity” to “community.”
Alexander said that the city has a diverse community of talented creatives, makers and entrepreneurs.
“We are a city that values creativity, diversity, and opportunity. What makes Peekskill special isn’t just one thing, it’s the people,” Alexander said.
A video featuring many Peekskill business owners promoted all of Peekskill’s positive attributes.
The new Peekskill logo has been described as a colorful “mosaic,” aiming to represent the people, places and experiences that define the city.
Director of Planning & Development, Carol Samol, described the design as “bold, joyful and colorful”. The logo has alternative and versatile color schemes prepared to promote different events and seasons.
“Peekskill is powered by community and commitment,” Samol said.
The city also announced that it will be launching “Destination Peekskill,” a new all-encompassing website designed to carry that brand outward and forward.
This new digital front door to Peekskill plans to provide visitors with a comprehensive and convenient guide for Peekskill, including upcoming events and business listings.
Two 2026 initiatives are already underway—events focusing on the FIFA World Cup in June and a year-long commemmoration of the American Revolution—according to Johnathan Zamora, Site Manager & Director of Community Hub, who is active in both.
For the 250th Annivseray of the American Revolution, Zamora said he expects upwards of 25,000 to 30,000 people at the Fourth of July Fireworks at Riverfront Green Park.
City officials also said they have made efforts to create a more welcoming environment, from renovating and reopening Fleischmann’s Pier, to installing a downtown wayfinding system.
Cruises by the RMS Emerald Princess from the pier launched in 2024 and brought more than 9,000 passengers aboard in 2025. The BID and the city also created a shuttle service which provided nearly 1,000 visitors with transportation with stops at the train station, downtown and the pier.
There are plans to improve the riverfront’s appearance and increase foot traffic for waterfront businesses. The city has also launched programs aimed for ages 16 to 24 and designed to support local businesses with trained workers. Art, design, marketing and culinary programs have already proved successful.
Through a workforce development program, more than 45 culinary graduates now work in food service businesses throughout Peekskill, while others have helped develop the Destination Peekskill website as well. The city manager announced that a woodworking and carpentry program would launch soon.
About 90 volunteers serve on Peekskill boards and commissions with the goal to improve our quality of life. The city recognized volunteers those in attenance.
The breakfast, provided by the Peekskill Diner, (see related article on its grand opening here: The Peekskill Diner: Where There’s Something on the Menu For Everyone – Discover Peekskill) drew roughly 100 people to network.
By urging these businesses to collaborate with the city and each other through regional marketing, event tie-ins, and advertising on the new platform, city officials hope to turn Peekskill’s branding and public events into measurable economic growth.
(C) 2026 Peekskill Business Improvement District. Photos by Councilman Brian Fassett and Joshua Anderson. Edited by Bill Powers. If you are a downtown destination business and would like to be considered for an upcoming profile article, please email us at peekskillbid1@gmail.com.
