Main Street FAQ's

What is Main Street?

Main Street is a non-profit, non-partisan volunteer organization dedicated to revitalization of downtown. Main Street New Jersey is run by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and has oversight for nearly two dozen Main Street communities in the state. It is also a Certified National Main Street Program. Woodbury has been a state-recognized Main Street program since 1997.

What does Main Street do?

Main Street is dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the downtown. Main Street has a paid Executive Director who works with a Board of Trustees to revitalize Woodbury through the efforts of 4 committees: Design, Organization, Economic Restructuring, and Promotions.

What do these committees do?

The four committees are staffed by Woodbury residents. They work voluntarily for the betterment of their community. Each committee has a chairperson, and they oversee the activities of the remaining volunteers. These volunteers raise funds, organize activities, work with City and County officials, talk with realtors and prospective business owners, and work with the media to create a business-friendly environment for the Woodbury Commercial District.

Where does Main Street’s money come from?

Main Street supports itself as a 501 c 3 organization through corporate sponsorships, individual memberships, government grants and events held in the downtown district.

What can an individual do to help Woodbury?

Main Street is always looking for volunteers from the community to serve on our committees. Your time is most valuable because it helps organize events, raise funds, promote downtown, or create a more pleasant environment in which to live. Individuals can also support Main Street through monetary contributions. Just $20 entitles a contributor to an annual subscription to The Acorn, a quarterly update of Main Street activities, and a membership card that entitles the user to a 10% discount from select merchants in downtown Woodbury.

Main Street also encourages all Woodbury citizens to patronize the downtown businesses. Their survival and the strength of the town depends on your shopping habits.

What is in it for me?

The satisfaction of knowing you are supporting an organization dedicated to helping others, you are also adding value to your home or business, because the more attractive, safe, clean, and busy Woodbury is along Broad Street, the more your home or business will appreciate and stay valuable. Value is what Main Street produces, and all who support Woodbury Main Street get a huge return for their tax-free contribution.

Why do businesses need Main Street?

Businesses in the downtown districts of many cities and towns have suffered over the past 25 years because of the influx of mega-shopping malls, so-called “big box” stores like Target, K Mart, or Wal Mart, and lifestyle strip malls. Main Street helps business owners cope with promotions, targeting, and retail strategy that helps them thrive.

What Committee should I get on?

Any of them. Your skills or background could be perfect for helping out:

Promotions: This committee organizes, plans, executes, and cleans up after major downtown events like the Craft Fair, Lunch Munch, Block Party, Colonial Day, Walking Ghosts or Candlelight Shopping. People who are good with organization, planning, working with the public, interacting with vendors, and advertising/promotion are well suited to help.

Economic Restructuring: This committee solicits the business community to occupy our vacant commercial properties. It plans the economic “shape” of Woodbury’s future through active recruitment of certain types of businesses. Volunteers then talk to the people in charge to interest them in doing business in Woodbury. Those with Real Estate experience, sales experience, corporate relationship management experience, or otherwise can help out here.

Design: This committee plans and executes the physical “look” of the downtown. Façade grants (usually from the County) are administered by this committee, and communications and follow up are needed to do these grant programs properly. Projects involving physical changes to parks, signs, buildings, or sidewalks are also executed by this committee. Those with landscape, interior or architectural design backgrounds are encouraged to join, but anyone with interest in an attractive streetscape are invited to attend.

Organization: This committee is dedicated to the survival of Main Street, raising funds to support future activities. Membership drives, corporate sponsor solicitation, and special fundraising events are a mainstay of this committee, but there are fun activities too involving creativity for attracting people’s attention and bringing funds to Main Street.