Economic
Development Committee
Business Recruitment and Business Retention
Smart Growth Application for funding from NJ Office of State Planning
Create a Keyport Strategic Revitalization Plan (SRP)
As part of KBA efforts to develop a business recruitment and retention
program, a dialogue was initiated with the Monmouth County Planning
Board and the New Jersey Office of State Planning. KBA Business
Advocate met with Joseph Donald, Ed Fox, Office of State Planning;
Bonnie Goldschlag, Bill Sampson to explore options for Keyport
and KBA. A Keyport site visit and walk through was conducted with
Economic Development Committee members, John Merla, Mayor Graham,
Pat Piney, Robert Laughlin, Mark Sessa, Tom Gallo, Jeff Fink,
and Committee Chair, Mark Gale. The Keyport Smart Growth initiative
was discussed and identified as a Bayshore model for updating
local master plan documents and facilitating a process to improve
the business climate and how re-use and expansion fits into the
whole town picture. KBA understands that re-development must have
a vision for the waterfront and underutilized commercial areas.
Design standards, ordinance analysis, trend analysis, business
needs, residential issues and highway commercial issues need to
be integrated into the vision process. According to State and
County Officials’ recommendations, Keyport’s small
size provides an opportunity to effectively create a town-wide
vision plan. Including the downtown, waterfront, and highway areas
in the process of creating a vision plan would be a manageable
task for Keyport. Community consensus is a key component of any
initiatives that KBA seeks to move forward to enhance the business
environment. A presentation to the Mayor and Council in the fall
2001 of the Keyport Strategic Revitalization Plan (SRP), by David
Maski, Professional Planner, Schoor & De Palma. Contributing
to the presentation were KBA Business Advocate, Jeff Fink, KBA
President, and Mark Gale, KBA Vice President. They provided the
governing body and officials with a detailed summary of the development
of a Strategic Revitalization Plan (SRP). KBA Board of Directors
voted unanimously to match the required local contribution required
by the Office of State Planning. A resolution was prepared and
approved by the governing body to provide the other 20% match
$14,100 and endorse the application that was funded by a $5,000
investment by KBA. Collingswood, New Jersey was presented as bench
mark example of a small community was encouraged to utilize Smart
Growth Planning tools to build consensus and a vision plan, in
order to move forward with KBA business recruitment and retention
programs. The linkage between developing a strong Vision and Planning
Process and the actions of marketing the community to new business
and residential investment were also discussed. Marketing a community
without a consensus driven, community based plan, would be counterproductive
for all involved. A predictable business environment is KBA's
ultimate goal. That is when KBA's marketing efforts can be the
most effective at providing a consistent return to the entire
community. The Office of State Planning worked with the Borough
and KBA to re-work the application submitted in June of 2001 to
conform to the new state guidelines and rules. Keyport will be
reviewed in the first round for 2003. This effort has taken strong
leadership, incredible time and energy to meet the new state regulations.
KBA and the Borough will anxiously await the review by the OSP.
New Investors Commercial Buildings
KBA has developed a network of real estate contacts and marketing
strategies that have attracted new investment in commercial building
stock. Through NJ Real Estate Register ads and state wide networking,
several new investments are pending that will provide new life
into older commercial building structures. A Business Recruitment
brochure has been developed to aid in the solicitation of business
investment and attraction. The enhancement of the mix of goods
and services can be implemented through this process. As part
of the 2003 Smart Growth process, KBA will be looking to conduct
a market study to aid in the process of attracting new business
and a strong mix of goods and services. Creating an environment
that produces an attraction for customers and pedestrian traffic
will sustain a growth- oriented business environment.
New Business Operators
2002 has brought Country Moments, Funksational, Diane’s
Bridal Fantasy, Old Glory Coffee, Puttin On The Ritz, Feigenson’s
expansion, United Child Care, Attorney David Corrigan, Neveren
Solutions, Beauty to the Max, Minute Man Digital Graphics, Ladies
Workout Express, Party Time Pizza, Un Real Productions. Inquiries
come through the Website and KBA office for information about
Keyport and business opportunities.
