SUPPORT YOUR DOWNTOWN
Created by the non-profit Downtown Denville Business Improvement District, this is a crucial tax- deductible fundraising effort to help support the local downtown economy which has been disastrously affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Unfortunately, the larger federal and state initiatives to help small businesses are not enough. This fund will provide for the following: grants to be awarded to Downtown Denville businesses, assist with funding community events to re-energize downtown, funding the implementation of new enhancements to adhere to the anticipated new shopping guidelines & offer recommendations and efforts to attract responsible commerce to the downtown. The economic impact of the State shutdown of many businesses is tremendous. Please support your downtown.
Small town commerce had already been facing growing challenges over the last few years with the rise of corporate giants like Amazon and other large businesses. The Business Improvement District was intentionally created to help further market Denville’s Downtown, support the businesses within the District and enhance the shopping and dining experience in Downtown Denville. Now challenged with a near shutdown of the economy, the downtown corridor faces an even larger struggle, to re-open and regain the beautiful shopping, dining, professional and service experience it has always been.
Our downtown may become extinct or never be the same again without a large effort of support.
THE FUND
The funds raised in this campaign will directly go to:
1- A series of grants for businesses within the district.
Grants will be established for several categories of businesses within the business district to apply and accommodate for property owners, service and professional businesses, those that were deemed “non-essential”during the state restrictions and more. Those grants will be awarded by an independent sub-committee selected by the Downtown Denville Executive Director, Chairperson and Treasurer, all of which have no applicable business or principal interest in an eligible business within the district.
This sub-committee will determine the application process, specific criteria, and award the grants. Denominations of the grants will also be determined by the subcommittee. The general criteria will reside around the impacts the business has suffered, their plans for remedy as well as how it can help the surrounding district. There will also be an emphasis on the applicant’s commitment to maintaining and promoting a social media and digital presence andexperience for their businesses. (Allocation from fund = 60%)
2- Bringing the community together again.
A small portion of the relief fundraising effort will be set aside for the many events that Downtown Denville has traditionally held. Because of the global pandemic, many traditional events will require major adaptation and revision to accommodate socially distant principals (spacing, hand sanitizing stations, cleaning processes, etc.).This will require additional work to prepare outdoor space and logistically support event management and volunteers. These events are crucial in attracting shoppers and diners to our downtown. As well, all of Downtown Denville’s events are tied to raise awareness and money for other community charities. We have generously raised tremendous awareness and funds in years past for the many organizations like the Cancer Hope Network, Denville’s Animal Shelter, Denville SPARK, Celebrate the Children and more. Any money left from this portion of our fundraising efforts will be applied to budgets for longer-term district improvements (kiosks, signage, etc..) (Allocation from fund =13.3% )
3- Downtown outdoor improvements and accommodations (in light of COVID-19)
The district will greatly need to enhance its outdoor appeal and accommodations and will allocate portions of the relief funds to purchase items that encourage outdoor activity such as things like additional café tables/chairs, additional flowers baskets, beautification and décor. (Allocation from fund = 13.3%)
4-Attracting shoppers and business
As state-mandated shopping restrictions are slowly lifted, there will be a tremendous competitive need to immediately promote our downtown district in order for our businesses to survive. Money from the fund will go directly into the district’s advertising budget to promote commerce in the downtown area. Paid advertising and promotion is a very costly but necessary expense that many businesses cannot afford in the best of economic times. The district will provide general advertising on radio, billboard and digital platforms to promote the entire shopping district.(Allocation from fund= 13.3%)
While the Downtown Denville Business Improvement District does operate additional activities and management,none of those activities will be supported by this fund. (Our management and general administrative costs,etc…will not utilize these Relief funds).
About Downtown Denville
The Downtown Denville Business Improvement District (BID) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by dedicated Denville business and property owners. Its mission is to help manage the downtown district through a variety of economic development and business improvement programs. Downtown Denville is managed by a full-time Executive Director, a small staff, and an all volunteer Board of Directors. It hosts district-wide events aimed to increase foot traffic, markets the downtown across the State as a must-visit NJ destination, and engages in beautification, capital improvement, and business recruitment projects all designed to make Downtown Denville a great shopping and dining experience for its residents and visitors. Downtown Denville is an accredited member of the National Main Street Center, a partner program under Main Street New Jersey, and members of the Morris County Economic Development Center (MCEDC) and the Morris County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC).
