Have A Need? NJBAC Can Help.

The NJBAC is offering no-cost technical assistance, training, and problem-solving – we are here to support all of your Business Enhancement needs. Whether you have a one-off resource question, are looking for a strategic assessment of a district, or could use some quick visualized tactical inspiration to foster visible and tangible change, NJBAC can help. Contact NJBAC Assistant Director Jef Buehler to start the conversation and move towards action.

Today’s email has information on assistance we can provide, as well as about technical and financial resources that may be a fit for your community or district. Please feel free to share this information with other officials, district management stakeholders, and businesses.

Best Practices

Webinar: Activate the First 16 Feet, July 18^th, Noon – 1PM:  People experience Main Street at a human scale, which can be measured in a three-dimensional First 16 Feet: 16 feet out from a building façade and 16 feet from the ground up. It is the most important determinant of safe and active street life. This webinar, run by Main Street America will help you focus on the area where shared human experiences are most felt and learn small interventions to unlock the energy of the First 16 Feet in your district. Register here for free >

15 Ways NYC is Improving Public Space: Take a look at these 15 action items that New York City is implementing right now in the realm of placemaking and enhancement of the public realm. Some of them may be relevant to your communities. This is a great resource to R&D (Rip-off & Duplicate) for municipalities!

Case Study - The Benefits of Removing Parking Minimums:  This overview highlights some of the real changes that happened since Anchorage, Alaska (pop. 287K) removed parking requirements for all developments in 2022. Since that time, Anchorage has seen a wave of positive changes, from new commercial developments to much-needed affordable housing projects.

Featured Grants & Support

Grants for Emerging Developers: Small-scale developers can apply for grants from the NJEDA of up to $250,000 for pre-development soft costs through the Emerging Developers Grant pilot program. Developers who have completed between two and five commercial or mixed-use properties of a similar scope may be eligible. Interested developers can take an eligibility assessment to determine if they qualify. Applications are now open and will be accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.

T-Mobile Hometown Grants are Live:  For communities with populations of 50,000 or less, the T-Mobile Hometown Grant program provides grants of up to $50,000 to help build stronger, more prosperous towns and communities. From placemaking to enhancing public tech infrastructure to creating new recreational trails and restoring historic landmarks, these grants are transforming communities like yours.  Register and apply here. The deadline for this quarterly grant round is September 30^th so don’t wait to start!

Job Opportunity

Executive Director (P/T or F/T): Main Street Mount Holly is looking for a dynamic new Executive Director to lead their revitalization organization in their historic County Seat downtown in Burlington County. See the job description and application information here.

NJBAC Can Work With All the Businesses in Your Community

We are here to support your communities’ and districts’ businesses. NJBAC offers free online chat and telephone (800-537-7397) assistance in English and Spanish to any business in NJ – any size, any location, and any type. Businesses can always download the NJBAC Small Business Manual – a one-stop tool for many business concerns – online here. Individual businesses or organizations can order one (1) printed copy as well by emailing NJBAC.

Our NJBAC team can advocate for businesses, concierge them to funding and technical solutions, help them find locations for growth or developing export markets, guide them to navigating the commercial cannabis sector, and much more. Want to set something up online or on-site for your businesses? Reach out to NJBAC Assistant Director Jef Buehler to get plugged in to all of our business success services.

NJBAC’s Business Enhancement Services is Online:  Now you can refer to Business Enhancement Services directly online with just a click!  Please favorite the website – it will be expanding over time as we add new resources and tools that support municipal and district revitalization and place-based business enhancement.