The Center of it All | Fall 2020 | DowntownNJ.com
The constraints of limited indoor capacity for restaurants and retailers has meant that municipalities and downtown organizations had to get creative expanding into the public realm. Many of our members have worked with their municipal governments to ease or remove barriers to outdoor commerce. MORE>
The COVID-19 pandemic has hurled both new and existing issues to the forefront of public space considerations, forcing placemakers and public space managers to rethink the way we plan, design, and program public space. MORE>
Small business owners have a lot to think about, but the possibility of a global pandemic was likely not chief among their worries. Now that we are facing one, local businesses are facing a host of challenges. Communicating effectively with customers and clients has never been more important. MORE>
NJ’s municipalities now have a free resource to help them overcome the challenges brownfields pose to our communities. The NJ Brownfields Assistance Center @ NJIT is the first-of-its-kind center that solely focuses on and serves New Jersey. MORE>

Check out the latest policy and legislative issues that can affect the success of the state’s downtowns. MORE>

The COVID-19 resource page for NJ's downtowns with rolling updates as new information, policy, legislation, and funding becomes available. MORE>

  • Governor approved a $32.7 billion, nine-month budget bill.
  • Legislature passes bill limiting single-use carryout plastics, styrofoam, etc.
  • Senator Gopal introduces the latest iteration of a liquor license law expansion bill.
  • Governor approved a bill authorizing the issuance of “coronavirus relief bonds” by municipalities and counties.
Thursday, November 19, 2020
at NJLM Conference

The repercussions of the COVID-19 closures will be felt across all sectors for years to come, particularly small businesses that make up the backbone of downtowns. Recovery is going to be a slow process – the goal is not to prevent vacancies; it is to mitigate the impact on your downtown and its remaining businesses. With proactive and sustained efforts by BIDs and local government, downtowns can recover stronger than ever. MORE>

The premiere downtown economic development event of the year, the Annual Downtown Conference hosts industry experts who provide insights into downtown management best practices, as well as development, business and retail market trends.

This year, we're going virtual. We are still working out the details, but you can expect one to two workshops per day starting midday. There will also be opportunities to network and meet with exhibitors. MORE>
Missed a Downtown Management Forum?
You can read the recap, watch recordings, and access supplemental resources on the DNJ website:
During this forum, we discussed best practices in placemaking to make your downtown inviting and comfortable during cold weather.  MORE>
Downtowns need to start thinking beyond survival mode, and begin setting the stage for recovery. MORE>
Winning Winter Challenge

What are you doing to help your small businesses make it through the cold season. Share and tag DNJ in photos of your #WinnningWinterNJ initiatives in action, and we might just spotlight them at the Downtown Conference in January.

Our ability to continue to advocate for New Jersey’s downtowns during these especially challenging times depends on member support. We hope you will consider joining today! JOIN DNJ>
Downtown New Jersey is an organization of individuals, businesses, government agencies, and local and regional organizations that are passionate about downtowns. Downtowns reflect our communities’ unique identities, provide a focal point, a convenient local place of commerce, and offer a sense of place where people can gather and truly be community. Downtown New Jersey is a resource dedicated to ensuring the vitality of our downtowns. Count on us as your resource for anything regarding downtowns in New Jersey.