Downtown Westfield Snags $20K In Main Street Grant Money

WESTFIELD, NJ - Downtown Westfield has earned a piece of nearly $350,000 in Main Street New Jersey (MSNJ) grant money, according to Acting Governor Sheila Y. Oliver.

Oliver visited Spiotta Park in South Orange earlier this week and announced grants to 17 Main Street district organizations throughout the state, including Downtown Westfield.

The grants will help improve the quality of life for New Jersey residents by assisting communities with their downtown revitalization efforts, officials said.

Westfield will be receiving $20,000 this year. Sherry Cronin, Beth Brenner and Jamie Lemberg of the Downtown Westfield Corporation were present at the announcement.

This year marks the first time in its 30-year history that the MSNJ Program has awarded grants to designated MSNJ district organizations around the state. The grant funding is part of a larger effort by the Murphy Administration to commit more resources to community revitalization programs that focus on small businesses and neighborhood improvement projects, officials said.

“Governor Murphy and I recognize how important programs like Main Street New Jersey are for improving local economies and creating jobs in the heart of our communities, which is why we are investing significant resources in them,” said Oliver, who serves as DCA Commissioner. “The grant funding will be used for restoring storefronts and facades, creative and cultural placemaking, and developing strategies to take downtowns to the next level. We are confident these projects will have a tremendous impact on mains streets around the state and can't wait to see the results.”

The MSNJ Program helps municipalities improve the economy, appearance, and image of their central business districts through the organization of local citizens and resources. Municipalities must apply and be selected to join the MSNJ Program, which was established in 1989. These designated communities receive technical support and training to assist in restoring their Main Streets as centers of economic and social activity. This year, designated communities were also eligible for the MSNJ grants, which are funding awards of $25,000 or less aimed at assisting projects such as storefront improvement, placemaking, and transformation strategies development that can be completed in six months or less.

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