Registration Now Open for "Destination Meadowlands"

Business Recruiting and Retention Workshop

Two-Day Seminar on Recruiting Retail and Building Destination Businesses Hosted by DCA's Main Street New Jersey Program and New Jersey Meadowlands Commission

 

TRENTON, N.J. – To help the Meadowlands Region strengthen its downtowns and business districts, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs' (DCA) Main Street New Jersey and Improvement District Programs are partnering with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) to sponsor "Destination Meadowlands," two days of workshops on Wednesday, April 18 and Thursday, April 19 focused on retail recruitment and building destination businesses.

"The Department of Community Affairs serves an important purpose when it comes to traditional business districts in the state. Through our Main Street New Jersey and Improvement District programs, we are able to provide local districts such as those in the Meadowlands with valuable technical assistance and training to help them develop dynamic places where people want to visit and invest," said DCA Acting Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III. "The Destination Meadowlands seminar is an important part of this effort. It will be topical, it will be informative, and, most importantly, it will energize attendees to create success in their districts as the economy begins to recover."  

"Destination Meadowlands" is part of the New Jersey Downtown Revitalization & Management Institute (DRMI), which is operated by the Main Street New Jersey program. Now in its 13th year, DRMI teaches a comprehensive, community-based management approach to business districts and features respected revitalization and small business instructors.

The "Destination Meadowlands" workshops are scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst.

"One of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission's top priorities is to help best position the Meadowlands District's businesses and municipalities to take full advantage of the tourism dollars that will flow into the region as a result of top-flight sports and entertainment events. 'Destination Meadowlands' is part of that commitment and offers an invaluable opportunity for business professionals and town officials to gather knowledge and insight into attracting new companies and building successful destination businesses," said Marcia Karrow, Executive Director of the NJMC. "The Commission is also funding the 'Meet Me in the Meadowlands' marketing campaign through which it is working to spread the word throughout New Jersey and beyond that the Meadowlands region is a spectacular place to visit at any time of the year."

The April 18 seminar, "Growing Your District: Retail Recruitment," is geared toward business district managers, chamber officials and leaders involved in business recruitment. Speakers include Joseph Getz and Mark Lohbauer of the Merchantville, NJ-based JGSC Group LLC, which provides strategic solutions on downtown revitalization, marketing, and retail development and redevelopment. Both men have years of private and public sector experience in creating strategic plans and marketing campaigns for community revitalization initiatives.

Each pre-registrant team from the first 25 communities will receive a packet of current economic data, pertinent to their respective business district, for use in retail recruitment. The packet will include a site map of the district; demographic and income data; lifestyle (psychographic) data; retail supply and demand data for a 3-mile-radii of the district; a summary of the existing businesses; and updated traffic counts in and near their district. Attendees will learn about site selection, retail mix, and prospecting for appropriate retailers.

The April 19 seminar, "Growing Your Own: Building Destination Businesses," is designed for small business owners/operators and those who work with them. Topics include how to make your business a destination and advertising best practices techniques to maximize media and message. Specific take away plans for business owners who attend will be provided. Trainers include small business expert Jon Schallert, who is Principal of The Schallert Group, and ClownBike Advertising President Rich Carraro. Both have extensive experience in working with small business owners to create thriving and long-lasting businesses within their communities. Jim Kirkos, CEO of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber, will also speak.

Registration for each day begins at 8 a.m. Those interested in attending should register as soon as possible to secure a spot. For more information and to register, visit http://njmeadowlandsdrmi.eventbrite.com or call 609-633-9769.

The Main Street New Jersey program, which was established in 1989, is a revitalization program that promotes the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional business districts in New Jersey. The Improvement District program helps businesses and property owners of a community to organize as a single entity, raise funds for activities that enhance or expand upon municipal services, and manage themselves to become a more effective destination for commerce. To learn more, visit www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/msnj.html on the DCA website.

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, which is an affiliated agency of the DCA, is empowered with regional planning and zoning authority to ensure the orderly development and environmental protection and enhancement of the Meadowlands District. The Commission’s objectives include promoting economic growth, the acquisition of open space for preservation, the enhancement of environmentally sensitive wetland areas, the development of recreational opportunities, the redevelopment of brownfields and the facilitation of shared services. To learn more, visit www.njmeadowlands.gov.

 

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