Main Street

Thursday, 20 April 2006 07:19

Main Street Merchantville

Main Street Merchantville officially began in January of 1995. The program was brought to Merchantville by a group of highly motivated volunteers dedicated to the enhancement of the downtown area. The goals of the Main Street Program are to preserve and enhance the district's unique historic character, revitalize the downtown economy and plan for and support the long term success of our business center. Main Street Merchantville has over 100 volunteers from the surrounding community donating their time and services to the benefit of the downtown. Main Street Merchantville coordinates people's talents into four areas of activities key to the Main Street Approach:

Organization: Often called the backbone of Main Street, the Organization Committee recruits a support network of volunteers and funding. Constantly bringing in new faces and introducing the progress of the town to different organizations in the area, the word is getting out about Merchantville's new energy!

Promotion: This group of creative and energetic volunteers runs promotions as simple as a clean-up day to a four week Tree Festival during the holiday shopping season. Marketing the downtown to our own residents and to the general public at large, the Promotions Committee creates events that show Merchantville as a growing cultural and economic area.

Design: Our past partnership with the Neighborhood Preservation Program, has allowed the Design committee to offer assistance on many projects in the downtown. Through a financial incentive program and group consultations, the Design Committee is improving the visual quality of Merchantville. The committee has found that often the simplest of improvements can create a large impact on the towns image.

Business Growth & Development: Main Street Merchantville's Economic Restructuring Committee is the behind the scene group that works to diversify the downtown economy. Targeted recruitment of new business, business retention and finding new uses for under-utilized buildings are all part of the Economic Restructuring Committee's agenda.

While Merchantville no longer has a Main Street Program manager, the Merchantville Business & Professional Association has actively pursued investigation of a SID. A BID/SID Advisory Board was formed 18 months ago and made a presentation to Mayor Brennan and Borough Council at their April 10th meeting.

Main Street News

Main Street NJ Downtown Revitalization Institute

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