Great American Main Street Title Could Go To Metuchen

METUCHEN, NJ — Downtown Metuchen could very well be one of the greatest American main streets.

Metuchen Downtown Alliance is now a semifinalist for the 2023 Great American Main Street award. The alliance has been working to revitalize the borough’s business district through various events and initiatives.

“There was a time in the not-so-distant past where Metuchen’s Downtown felt desolate and struggled with vacancies,” Mayor Jonathan M. Busch said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“Now, it is a vibrant, active “place to be” in Central Jersey and today, it was announced by Main Street America that our downtown is one of the 2023 Great American Main Street Award Semifinalists.”

“Congratulations Metuchen, you should be so proud,” the Mayor said.

Metuchen is among eight semifinalists, competing with Danville, Virginia; Denison, Texas; Florence, South Carolina; Orlando, Florida; Ruston, Louisiana; Sheridan, Wyoming; Sykesville, Maryland.

Two other New Jersey downtowns won the honor previously — Westfield in 2004 and Montclair in 2015.

Announcing Metuchen’s nomination, Main Street America highlighted the efforts of Metuchen Downtown Alliance.

“From painting the words “Shop Small, Shop Local” on the railroad bridge that crosses over the town’s Main Street to using Small Business Saturday as a springboard for an entire month of promotional activities, Metuchen Downtown Alliance truly walks the walk when it comes to creating a culture of supporting small businesses.”

The Metuchen Downtown Alliance regularly hosts multi-cultural celebrations, holiday contests, winter markets, and themed promotional days for shoppers.

“Metuchen Downtown Alliance fosters goodwill and transformative placemaking activities year-round as well with quarterly member meetings, inclusive pop-up input sessions that encourage residents of all ages and backgrounds to envision enhancements to alleys and facades, and matching grant programs to assist merchants with improving their storefronts, accessing technology, and enhancing marketing efforts,” Main Street America said.

The winner of the contest will be announced next year during the Main Street Now Conference in Boston from March 27-29.

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