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| Doing Business > DSA News > Somerville Receives Main St. NJ Designation |
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| Somerville Receives Main St. NJ Designation |
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SOMERVILLE RECEIVES DESIGNATION AS A
MAIN STREET NEW JERSEY COMMUNITY
SOMERVILLE, N.J. – Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Acting Commissioner Joseph Doria announced last week that Somerville will be one of the newest members of the DCA’s Main Street New Jersey Program, receiving the ‘Traditional’ designation. Somerville and Newton were the only two communities to receive the ‘Traditional’ designation which is reserved for towns that are ranked the highest during the application process and have full time staffing for the downtown. Somerville had the second highest ranked application of the nine communities submitting the full application.
Main Street New Jersey provides selected communities with technical assistance and training of proven value in revitalizing historic downtowns. The program helps municipalities improve the economy, appearance and image of their central business districts through the organization of local citizens and resources.
The program will be managed by the Somerville District Management Corporation (DMC), the organization which has for nearly twenty years managed Somerville’s Special Improvement District (SID). The special assessment of property owners within the SID will not increase as a result of being in the program and the funds will continue to be managed locally by the DMC.
“The Board of the Somerville DMC is excited about the Main Street program. The designation is just the beginning of the process and we will continue to reach out to get more people involved in building on our numerous successes,” said Thomas Genova, Chair and principal of Genova Insurance Agency and Somerset Real Estate Agency, two long-standing businesses in Somerville.
In October, the Somerville District Management Corporation hosted a community presentation of the Main Street N.J. program by Mr. Jef Buehler, State Coordinator/Director of the program. Based on the strong positive feedback by business and property owners, residents and Somerville’s elected officials, Somerville’s District Management Corporation submitted an application to the program.
“As I reached out to people during the extensive application process and told them about the Main Street program, many expressed an interest in becoming more involved in our downtown,” said Cynthia Hollod, Executive Director. “We will be calling on these people to be on a committee and invite others to contact the DMC if they are interested in volunteering.”
In January, the Department of Community Affairs is planning an on-site designation ceremony in Somerville with Acting Commissioner Doria. Also in January, the board of the Somerville DMC, its executive director and its volunteers will participate in free training provided by Main Street New Jersey on organizational structure, design, promotion and economic development.
“The Main Street program is a terrific tool for downtowns like Somerville and it provides wonderful opportunities to make the downtown even better than it already is,” said Councilwoman Jane Kobuta and DMC liaison. “The DMC has the full support of the council.”
“Somerville has what many communities try to create but can't...a vibrant, thriving downtown. The redevelopment of the West and East End of Main Street combined with the Landfill area will have a further significant, positive effect on Somerville,” said Mayor Brian Gallagher. “Main Street designation is our next step and will enable our Borough, our merchants and our downtown to manage that growth to ensure continued success.”
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Main Street is a comprehensive revitalization program that promotes the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional business districts in New Jersey. The Main Street New Jersey Program was established in 1989 to encourage and support the revitalization of downtowns throughout the state. Every two years the DCA accepts applications and designates selected communities to join the program. These communities receive valuable technical support and training to assist in restoring their Main Streets as centers of community and economic activity. More information about the Main Street New Jersey program is at http://www.nj.gov/dca/osg/resources/msnj/index.shtml.
The Borough of Somerville’s District Management Corporation (DMC) was formed by Somerville Municipal Ordinance on June 13, 1988. The District Management Corporation was commissioned to represent the unique interests of business owners and property owners within the designated Special Improvement District (SID). The DMC oversees and manages the appearance, shoppers convenience, security and cleanliness of the Special Improvement District in order to increase its appeal to shoppers, office workers, residents and tourists as a viable shopping area, recreation area and destination place.
More information about Downtown Somerville and the DMC can be found at FindSomerville.com. The DMC office can be reached at 908-541-1600 or dmc@findsomerville.com.
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