Have A Business 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

Rethinking Parking Reform in Cities - Webinar: Parking reform is on the rise as cities consider repealing their off-street parking minimums or pricing their on-street parking. In this webinar on September 26^th, panelists will discuss their cities’ visions for parking and the programs and policies that support that vision. Click here to register. The webinar will also feature a brief overview of takeaways from ITDP’s soon to be launched publication, The Opportunity of Reforming Parking. 

Designing for People of All Ages - Webinar: The AARP is hosting a free workshop in October. Through four core themes — Housing, Transportation, Public Spaces, and Community Engagement — the workshop will share innovative solutions and best practices to design places that benefit people of all ages and abilities. Register to participate here.

Achieving A Higher Purpose of Public Space - Webinar: This free webinar by Reimagining the Civic Commons as part of the Cities for Everyone series will offer realistic inspiration on why and how to maximize the value of public space in our communities. Reimagining the Civic Commons is a three-year, national initiative that seeks to foster engagement, equity, environmental sustainability and economic development by revitalizing and connecting public places such as parks, plazas, trails, and libraries.  Register for the webinar here.

Preparing for Resiliency in the Face of Disasters: Main Street America is proud to announce the release of the Main Street Disaster and Resilience Toolkit, a new resource to help Main Streets and commercial district organizations better prepare for and respond to more frequent and severe disasters.  Together, these resources provide small steps, incremental advice, and comprehensive guidance to help Main Streets plan, prepare, respond, and recover. Dive into the toolkit below to start building resiliency in your community.  Download and explore the toolkit.

Featured Grants & Support

The Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (A.R.T.) Program - Phase II is Launching: Applications for this grant go live on September 26, 2024, at 10:00 AM EST and will be accepted during a competitive window which closes Monday, November 25, 2024 at 5:00 PM EST.  The online application can be accessed at: Activation, Revitalization, and Transformation (A.R.T.) Program – Phase II – NJEDA

The EDA will award grants from $100,000 to $500,000 for projects located in 31 commercial corridors in municipalities across 12 counties throughout the state.

Buying your Business Property? This Grant is for You: The NJEDA’s Main Street Acquisition Support Grant product will offer a grant of up to $50,000 to reimburse an eligible NJ small business for closing costs related to a New Jersey commercial property that the business purchased to operate from.  Applicants may be for-profit or non-profit businesses who purchase the property in which they are located after October 1, 2024.  See if you are qualified and get the details here or look at the FAQ list.  Use the application checklist to prepare. Starting October 1, 2024, visit the EDA incentives page to access the application.

Last Call - $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grants:  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!

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.