Guadagno Officially Opens the Bayshore, The Gateway to the Jersey Shore

The Jersey Shore begins at Exit 117, and it's open for business. 

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, along with Congressman Frank Pallone (D-6), Sen. Joe Kyrillos (R-LD13) and Bayshore officials and business chambers from the 10 towns which make up the Bayshore, officially opened the Gateway to the Shore on May 16.

The ceremony, which took place at the base of the Garden State Parkway exit on Route 36 at the Keyport IHOP, was the first of its kind in the Bayshore area. Sponsored by the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"This is the gateway to the Jersey Shore, it starts here," said Cliff Moore, President of the Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative.

This year, the Jersey Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau has introduced Renee and Bernie, Canadian yarn dolls who travel the Jersey Shore, popping up in New Jersey's fabulous locations and reminding people of the jewels of the shore.

"I'm in. I'm all in," Guadagno said of the dolls as she held them during her address to the large crowd on Friday.

Since Superstorm Sandy hit the Bayshore in 2012, the Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative has worked to help open and reopen 19 businesses. The Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative works with both Keyport officials and Keyport businesses to create a welcoming environment for businesses and their patrons.

This year, the KBBC is working hard to market Keyport to out-of-town visitors,showing off everything the Borough has to offer as we continue to recover from Superstorm Sandy and watch Keyport grow. Don't forget, the Jersey Shore begins at Exit 117.

The KBBC has also launched a new mobile app, for members of the Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative to have their businesses listed for free in the Keyport Community Hub app. The app is available on both Apple and Android.

About the KBBC:

The Keyport Bayfront Business Cooperative is the managing entity of the Keyport Business Improvement District, created by ordinance of the Borough of Keyport.  It is run by an elected Board of Directors, comprised of business operators, property owners, representatives of the Borough of Keyport including Mayor and Council members, Borough committee representative, and resident representative. Open public meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers in the Municipal building, 70 West Front Street, Keyport,  unless changes to this schedule are noted.