DCA Announces Restoration of Main Street New Jersey Program

TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) announced April 8 that the Main Street New Jersey Program (MSNJ), which is designed to help revitalize downtown areas, has been restored by Gov. Phil Murphy.  
According to a release, the program, which will offer three free training workshops to residents in April, provides municipal and community leaders access to technical support and training opportunities needed to help create thriving, dynamic downtowns.
“Main streets are the heart of New Jersey communities. Gov. Murphy and I want to ensure that we preserve their character and charm while building on the assets in our downtown areas that will create jobs and improve local economies,” stated Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver, who also serves as DCA commissioner.
“The Main Street New Jersey Program will help equip municipal leaders and organizers with the tools they need to restore and revive their treasured historic town centers,” she continued.
The new MSNJ Program will kick off with three regional workshops:
* April 23 in Montclair
* April 24 in Vineland
* April 25 in Red Bank  
The workshops will introduce attendees to the new MSNJ regulations and teach participants how to develop community-informed and market-driven strategies that can direct and strengthen their revitalization efforts.
Former MSNJ district management and improvement district organizations, management corporations, local officials, and those who are already engaged in downtown management or looking to begin downtown revitalization efforts are encouraged to attend.
The fiscal year 2019 state budget allotted the MSNJ Program $500,000 to restart and enhance downtown neighborhood improvements.
The program is administered within the Division of Local Planning Services (LPS) at DCA in coordination with Main Street America, a program of the non-profit National Main Street Center, Inc.
“I am excited about the restoration of the MSNJ Program and look forward to providing a variety of services to help create exceptional downtowns throughout New Jersey,” stated DCA Director of Local Planning Services Sean Thompson. “In addition to MSNJ, LPS provides land use and planning assistance to New Jersey towns to drive equitable revitalization and economic development throughout the state.”
The MSNJ Program works with communities in New Jersey, providing on-site and off-site training in downtown revitalization and management.
MSNJ is part of a national grassroots network consisting of over 40 coordinating programs and over 1,200 neighborhoods and communities across the country committed to creating high-quality places and stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.
The program helps municipalities improve their economic development and equitable revitalization goals through information sessions and case studies and enhances the appearance and image of their central business districts.
Visit the DCA’s MSNJ web page for additional information and to register for the free training workshops.
DCA was established in 1967 and today offers a wide range of programs and services, including energy assistance, housing vouchers, affordable housing production, fire and building safety, community planning and development, local government management and finance, and disaster recovery.