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. Recap and videos>

Transforming Brownfields into Downtown Assets

Abandoned industrial sites, as well as closed gas stations, dry cleaners, old banks, and other vacant commercial properties plague NJ’s downtowns, but the redevelopment of these brownfields present opportunities to spur economic development, generate jobs, increase property values, and develop community needed land uses. Discover how to transform these properties into downtown assets.

Representatives from The NJ Brownfields Assistance Center @ NJIT discussed how to plan for, fund, and redevelop these potentially contaminated properties, as well as where you can get free technical assistance.

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NJ Incentive Program Debrief

The State of NJ is in the process of implementing several programs that your downtown could benefit from are moving toward implementation. NJEDA’s Maggie Peters provided an overview of the Main Street Recovery Finance Program, including the Small Business Lease Assistance Grant and the Small Business Improvement Grant, both of which should hit the streets in September or October. We were also be joined by James Simmons of the NJ Urban Enterprise Zone to fill us in on the new legislation passed in August.

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Countdown to the Plastics & Styrofoam Ban

New Jersey businesses can start preparing now for implementation of a new law, which takes effect May 4, 2022, and ends the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products at retail stores and food service businesses. The use of single-use paper carryout bags will also be prohibited at grocery stores over 2,500 square feet. Plastic straws will be limited to by-request-only beginning Nov. 4, 2021.

The NJ Business Action Center, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, and the NJ Clean Communities Council are working together to help communities and businesses understand and comply with the law. Melanie Willoughby, Executive Director of the NJ Business Action Center, presented an overview of the law, a discussion of frequently asked questions, an easy-to-read chart explaining what businesses are affected and how to comply, and showcased many other resources that are available at Business.NJ.gov to help you help your businesses.

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Cannabis is Coming, Are You Ready?

We were joined by two experienced attorneys from Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP to discuss the implications of NJ’s Cannabis Law. Steven G. Mlenak, Partner, will explain what municipalities/downtowns need to know if they do (or don’t) want to allow dispensaries or consumption areas in their community. Jemi Lucey, Partner, will provide information about what your downtown employers need to know; in particular, enforcement and liability related to employee use of cannabis (on and off the job).

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Downtown Reinvention as a Road to Recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on our downtowns and business communities. Those who made a concerted effort to adapt and proactively support their small businesses have fared better than communities that took a laissez faire approach. Learn how five different communities – the City of New Brunswick, the Town of Clinton, Union Township, City of Summit, and the City of Lambertville – reinvented their downtowns to help their business communities survive. Find out about initiatives that worked, and some that did not.

This webinar is organized by DNJ as part of the 2021 NJ Planning & Redevelopment Conference. Video of this session is only available to registered attendees of that event.

COVID Lessons Learned: From Tactical to Practical

The pandemic spurred tremendous innovation in tactical approaches to expand the capacity of our streets to more safely accommodate people and commerce. These experiments validated the demand for complete streets that provide a better balance between roadway users. At the same time, many of these pilots highlighted real conflicts that need to be thought through more thoroughly if they are going to transition to permanent solutions. The session provided advice for those looking to transition from tactical to practical implementation of complete streets.

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This webinar was organized by DNJ as part of the 2021 NJ Bike & Walk Summit. View full program & watch videos>

What’s next for the retail real estate market? 1 year later…

It’s been a year since we were joined by Marta Person Villa, NJ Retail Lead and Senior Vice President with Jones Lang LaSalle and a former SID director, municipal administrator, and DNJ President. See what’s changed from the early days of the pandemic, and how that impacts “what’s next” for your downtown to recover from economic upheaval. Marta again shared recovery statistics showing current and imminent downtown retail occupancy conditions to map out a proactive recruitment strategy to expedite recovery.

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Preparing for the Post-Pandemic (Part 2)

NJ Department of Community Affairs’ Jef Buehler discussed best practices during a virtual walkthrough of downtown Frenchtown. During Part 2 of this two-part session, Jef will share experiences from Neighborhood Preservation Program initiatives throughout the state to highlight how communities can “Get Found” and “Be Open”. This presentation spurred a dialogue among forum participants about how to prepare downtown for recovery.

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(Part 2 only with forum participant discussion)

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(Part 1 & 2 combined without participant discussion)

Preparing for the Post-Pandemic (Part 1)