Red Bank RiverCenter Receives Additional $25K In Relief Funds

RED BANK, NJ - The Red Bank RiverCenter will be receiving thousands of additional dollars in the form of a COVID-19 relief grant to aid in pandemic recovery.

The Red Bank RiverCenter was previously granted with $85,000 from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in November as part of $1.6 million distributed to downtown areas across the state. This week, the DCA announced an additional $25,000 for the downtown Red Bank organization.

According to a 2020 news release, additional grant funding was set to be used for a variety of initiatives including training in marketing/branding and e-commerce, delivery services, website upgrades, and ambassador programs, sanitizers and outdoor dining equipment, among others.

The additional $25,000 will go towards COVID-related equipment and signage, building or expanding streeteries, purchasing hand sanitizing stations, implementing trash receptacles and acquiring supplies for the Date Night In initiative.

All of the items funded through the grant are aimed at encouraging consumers to shop small businesses and frequent local restaurants.

Red Bank RiverCenter served as one of eight organizations to receive additional funding through DCA. You can see the full list below:

• Bloomfield Center Alliance Inc. (Essex): $43,555
• Downtown Denville Business Improvement District (Morris): $14,355
• Downtown Westfield Corporation (Union): $75,000
• Main Street Mount Holly (Burlington): $70,000
• Metuchen Downtown Alliance (Middlesex): $359,670
• Montclair Center Business Improvement District (Essex): $762,392
• South Orange Village Center Alliance (Essex): $58,625

This past summer’s successful outdoor shopping and dining plaza - dubbed the ‘Broadwalk’ - was largely the brainchild of the RiverCenter. The nonprofit was recently recognized by the New Jersey Downtown Conference as it “helped Red Bank's businesses make the most of the outdoor season, provided a safe place for residents and visitors to go as they emerged from lockdown, helped keep Red Bank in the minds of those still not comfortable with eating out, and created an increased sense of civic pride due to positive media coverage about the town." Read more: Red Bank RiverCenter Awarded For Summer 'Broadwalk' Effort

The Broadwalk is slated to come back bigger and better in 2021, with the Red Bank Council recently passing a resolution to form an ad hoc "Pedestrian Mall Review Committee" composed of Red Bank businesses, residents, and borough staff. Read more: Red Bank Council Seeks To Establish Ad Hoc 'Broadwalk' Committee