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. To see all prior Business Enhancement Connection emails, click here!

Best Practices

Webinar: Crafting an Effective Complete and Green Streets Policy:  Learn how to create and adopt your own custom municipal Complete & Green Streets Policy. If you already have a policy, learn how to upgrade with NJDOT’s Complete & Green Streets for All: Model Policy & Guide. This free one-hour webinar for municipal officials, staff, or consultant representatives is sponsored by the NJDOT Bureau of Safety, Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and organized by Sustainable Jersey. It’s on September 17, 2024, from 12:00 to 1:00pm: Register here!

District “Crawl” Events Boost Businesses’ Bottom Line: Themed “Shop Crawls” are a great way to introduce people to your district's small businesses. These engaging events invite people to visit a selection of downtown businesses, each offering a tasty treat or collectable item tied to the crawl’s theme.  Fredericksburg, VA has done great work with themed Shop Crawls, so check out this article on what they do and how they do it if you wish to replicate something like this in your districts.

New Business District Welcome Packet: Looking for an example of a packet you can share digitally or in print for a new business in your district? This welcome kit from Downtown Fresno, CA is an effective model you can consider (in both English and Spanish) so you don’t need to start from scratch.

Featured Grants & Support

For Your Businesses – Direct Install Energy Grants: The Direct Install program is designed to make upgrading to high-efficiency solutions easy and affordable for any sized business. By replacing old, inefficient equipment, a business can reduce its energy usage and lower utility bills. The programs include a free energy assessment and may pay up to 80% of the project cost. These programs typically cover heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting retrofits, including sensors and controls, commercial refrigeration equipment, and more. 

Businesses can apply based on their utility company provider:

• Direct Install – PSE&G Energy Efficient Solutions for Business
• JCP&L Small Business Direct Install Program
• Small Business Direct Install Program | Atlantic City Electric
• Direct Install Program | Rockland Electric Company
• South Jersey Gas - Direct Install
• Elizabethtown Gas - Direct Install
• Direct Install | NJ Natural Gas

Job Opportunities

Executive Director (F/T):  The award-winning Montclair Center BID is seeking qualified applicants to take the helm of the organization in the Executive Director role. Job requirements and application information are found here. The position will remain open until filled, with interviews anticipated in the next few weeks.

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 up to 10 printed copies as well by clicking this link.

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.