Is it important for a Mayor to support local businesses?

At this past week’s debate, both Mayoral candidates explained their positions to the community about various subjects. Here is what we learned about what they would do to support Garwood Businesses:

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Supporting Businesses

Jen Blumenstock stated that she feels she and her co-town council member Vincent Kearney have done a lot for the Garwood businesses. She mentioned restaurant week and a wellness day. She mentioned how proud she is of the work she has done.

Supporting Businesses

Kim Salmon has spoken with many of the business owners in Garwood only to uncover how many local businesses feel that current Garwood elected officials have done very little to support their businesses. Many said they had never been contacted by anyone from the town council. Other businesses found it disappointing that the council had not been more supportive to help them navigate changes they have needed to make to stay afloat through Covid.

Kim’s plan to support Garwood businesses is to invite members of the community to share their expertise in marketing and public relations. Small businesses are very much about the business owner and their personal stories. Kim’s first task is to empower her team to write bios introducing the business owners, the work they do and their personal journeys.

Kim’s experience running a small business gives her the insight on how exactly to run an effective marketing campaign to prevent businesses from failing and leading to more empty store fronts in our downtown. Kim’s plan would provide local residents a central place to learn about Garwood businesses and exactly how they can support them.

Kim Salmon already has a team that will hit the ground running on November 9 to create a social media campaign including:

• highlighting business owners and their personal stories
• videos highlighting their products and services
• a campaign focused on community engagement and support

Kim and her team have relationships with Westfield and Cranford downtown associations and will learn how Westfield and Cranford have created robust downtowns. A local business cannot stay afloat with only the patronage from Garwood residents. We need to build relationships with our Westfield and Cranford neighbors.

When you consider which Mayor would be best qualified to support the businesses in Garwood, ask yourself, is this something the current Mayor and town council should have addressed long ago?

It’s time for a CHANGE. Let’s vote in a Mayor and Town Council members who engage residents’ and encourage them to work together for stronger support of local businesses and a stronger Garwood. Vote Column A! Kim Salmon, Steve Napolitano, Brenda Caffrey November 8th!