Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The Improvement District (whether business, or special, or downtown or some other name) is a model for management of the municipality's commercial corridor. It is authorized by state law (the Pedestrian Mall and Special Improvement District Act, N.J.S.A. 40:56-65, et seq.) to be formed by ordinance in any municipality in New Jersey.  The Improvement District provide a mechanism for the businesses and property owners of a community to organize as a single entity, to raise funds for activities that enhance or expand upon municipal services, and through a District Management Corporation, to manage themselves to become a more effective destination for commerce.
 

In the State of New Jersey, municipalities are empowered to create Improvement Districts and to assign District Management Corporations (DMCs) to manage the resulting assessments and to provides enhanced services to those commercial businesses and properties in the defined District.  The State provides ad hoc technical assistance and support to communities already having created Improvement Districts that are being managed by DMC s, as well as assistance to communities seeking to explore the implementation of an Improvement District.  As resources allow, the State also manages the Downtown Business Improvement Zone Loan Fund.
 

Support for existing Improvement Districts/DMC s:

• Downtown Business Improvement Zone Loan Fund Program Guidelines [pdf 109kB]
  These program guidelines pertain to the last application round
• 2010-11 Annual Improvement District/DMC Census [pdf 14kB] 
• Frequently Asked Questions about Improvement District (ID) Programs 

Support for communities exploring the creation of Improvement Districts and/or DMC s: