All this week, KYW Newsradio has stories of post-pandemic recovery with a series called "The State of Downtown." Listen on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. for "Audacy Conversations: The State of Downtown."
SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Small towns everywhere are still struggling to fill vacant storefronts and bring back businesses that closed during the pandemic.
James Davy is a professor of public affairs at Rutgers University and also the mayor of Pennington, a small town in Mercer County, New Jersey. He said local officials like him need more assistance from Trenton.
“I think it’s been tough keeping businesses afloat,” he said. “The small business offices of state government could be very helpful in providing guidance and support, resources to local municipalities, in that regard.”
He thinks one of the keys to unlocking the full potential of downtowns is increasing the availability of liquor licenses and updating Prohibition-era laws, which is a goal of Gov. Phil Murphy.
Michael Cerra, who is on the board of Downtown New Jersey, an organization that advocates for municipalities, says bars and restaurants bring in much-needed foot traffic.
“Downtown, you want walkability. You want to bring people in,” he said. “Once you have the draw, then you can kind of bring in the bagel shop and the clothing store or the pharmacy.”
Mary Griffin, vice president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, said access to capital also remains a barrier for existing and potential business owners.
“For individuals to get grants and loans, to be able to get back into an environment of having a business — we’re hoping that will help others come back to the table,” she said.
Griffin said a vibrant downtown is a source of pride for each community, and the state should do all it can to help them thrive.
🎧 SPECIAL BROADCAST NOV. 16
