board/committee

proudly serving our community

PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE

This committee combines both events and marketing for Downtown Somerville.

Purpose of the Promotion Committee
The job of the Promotion Committee is to PROMOTE Downtown Somerville as the heart of commerce, culture, and community life for residents and visitors alike. As Somerville continues to change, this committee will think about promotion in a broader sense and develop new strategies by:

  • Understanding the changing market – both potential shoppers and our “competition”.
  • Defining Downtown Somerville’s market niche- it’s unique “position” in the marketplace.
  • Identifying downtown assets, including people, buildings, heritage, and businesses.
  • Continue to build on successful events and work to create new events/promotions that provide a wide demographic appeal.
  • All activities above are done in partnership with the DSA Board of Directors and other committees.

Committee Goals
The Promotion Committee works with the Borough of Somerville, the DSA Executive Director and staff, County Agencies, local businesses, and property owners to facilitate a positive "image" of the downtown Business District that will help retain, promote, and attract downtown business and residents. The Promotion Committee will attract visitors and residents to the district and encourage them to spend money and time in our community through advertising, in-store collaborative promotions, newsletters, websites, social media and press releases. The Promotion Committee will focus on Board approved signature events such as the annual summer events, Central Jersey Jazz Festival and Holiday Jubilee.

Committee Responsibilities
The Promotion Committee’s responsibilities specifically include the following:

  • Direct retail promotions and traffic-building activities for the downtown.
  • Monitor community and consumer perceptions of the downtown and seek to understand and reverse negative attitudes and build upon positive ones.
  • Allocate funds for promotional activities in accordance with the DSA annual work plan and budget.
  • Work toward building new sources of funding for a portion of the program’s total annual budget.
  • Monitor the effectiveness of promotional programs on an ongoing basis.
  • Build a strong network of volunteers to help implement promotional programs and establish good working relationships with community organizations, charities, school clubs and other groups that might participate in promotional activities.
  • Work to ensure a consistent, high-quality image in signs, advertisements and other graphic material associated with the Main Street program.
  • Establish a sound working relationship with local and regional media.

Meetings
For updated meeting times, please e-mail the DSA office at info@downtownsomerville.com.

ECONOMIC VITALITY COMMITTEE

Purpose of the Economic Vitality Committee
The job of the Economic Vitality Committee is to identify new market opportunities for the downtown district, help existing businesses to thrive and expand and stimulate investment in property.

The committee must develop a thorough understanding of the district’s economic condition and its best opportunities, focusing on incremental change that improves the downtowns’ economic foundation, leading to long term investment and growth.

Committee Goals
The Economic Vitality Committee works with the Borough of Somerville, the DSA Executive Director and staff, local businesses, and property owners to facilitate the economic initiatives of the DSA in order to retain, promote, and attract downtown business investment. This committee focuses on existing and new businesses, converting unused/under-utilized space into economically productive property, boosting the profitability of the district and developing a long term economic development plan.

Committee Responsibilities
  • Work to strengthen existing downtown businesses and to recruit additional businesses through the development of business ambassador teams; sponsorship of business seminars; identification of downtown market opportunities; dissemination of relevant information to existing and potential businesses.
  • Monitor changes in the local market on an ongoing basis; assess the downtown’s market share within the community and the region; measure the involvement of various market groups in downtown commerce; monitor sales leakage or surplus; and assess the downtown’s mix of retail, commercial, residential, and public space.
  • Direct activity related to downtown commercial and real estate development.
  • Allocate funds for downtown economic development activities in accordance with the DSA’s annual work plan and budget.
  • Conduct and maintain a comprehensive inventory of downtown businesses.
  • Become familiar with municipal, county and regional economic development strategies and coordinate projects when possible, utilizing economic development programs already in place and investigating the creation of new programs when appropriate.
  • Promote the downtown as a good place for commercial and real estate development activity.
  • Establish a sound working relationship with local and regional financial institutions, business assistance organizations and other businesses and agencies that provide assistance in areas related to downtown economic development.

Meetings
For updated meeting times, please e-mail the DSA office at info@downtownsomerville.com.

THE DESIGN COMMITTEE

Purpose of the Design Committee
The Design Committee plays a key role in shaping the physical image of the downtown as a place that is attractive to shoppers, investors, business owners, and visitors, through a variety of place making programs. The committee provides recommendations to the Downtown DSA Board of Trustees with regard to short and long term programs.

Committee Goals
The Design Committee works with the Borough of Somerville, the DSA Executive Director and staff, as well as downtown businesses and property owners to facilitate a positive visual image of Downtown Somerville that will enhance our thriving, vibrant community center. The Design Committee will focus on downtown aesthetics and appearance, working on matters such as way-finding signage, attractive window displays, parking areas, street furniture, sidewalks, and landscaping. The Design Committee will instill good maintenance practices within the district and work with the appropriate municipal departments to achieve goals.

Current 2016 Projects
  • Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Landscaping and Flower Planting
  • Holiday and Seasonal Lighting
  • Flags
  • Public Amenities
    • Tables/chairs/umbrellas
    • Benches
    • Planters
    • Trash Receptacles
    • Cigarette Urns

Meetings
For updated meeting times, please e-mail the DSA office at info@downtownsomerville.com.



marketing in downtown

join the business boom!

The DSA loves to talk about you! We do it all the time! Or how to add to your advertising plan without increasing you advertising budget!

The DSA developed downtownsomerville.com as a key marketing tool to support and promote the amazing businesses and restaurants located in downtown Somerville. With thousands of visitors coming to the site every month, your participation amounts to one of the best advertising deals around! Messaging and exposure to the thousands of potential customers is FREE!

Manage Your Own Business Page

Put your best foot forward!

Help us showcase the range and diversity of downtown goods and services by providing a business profile. A downtown business profile on our website should contain contact information, unique highlights, and a customer service photo. The Business Spotlight allows us to highlight downtown businesses on a rotating basis.

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Create and Publish Special Offers to Market Sales and Promotions

Promote the Downtown and Spread the Word!
The website’s calendar feature allows visitors to our website to immediately see downtown happenings. If there are downtown promotions or downtown live activities planned that you are aware of, please help us promote the downtown community by using the online forms created to share these special activities with the public.

Like us on Facebook!
We have a very active Facebook page! We will not only repost your original content – we like to pop in and take pictures of you, your store, your staff, your office and make completely new content to help tell everyone how awesome Downtown Somerville is!

Brag on Your Business!
Let us know how you are excelling in your industry. Please send press releases or other information the DSA can share regarding your business anniversary, awards, or media mentions, etc.

Get Involved!
Are you attending downtown business activities? Join Executive Director, Beth Anne Macdonald, DSA staff and volunteers in downtown activities. Take a few minutes to attend meetings, a business seminar or ribbon cutting. It helps to promote your own business and lets the community know you are engaged and invested in the downtown.

FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO ENTER YOUR BUSINESS PROMOTION

HOW AM I ADVERTISING MY PROMOTION?
TYPE OF PROMOTION

FOR DETAILS, LINK TO MY


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*****Please Note: Downtown Somerville receives downtown special tax dollars to specifically promote Downtown Somerville. For community promotions outside of the downtown, make sure to use the local media.


meeting information

meeting minutes and agendas

board of trustees

We've moved! Visit us at http://www.downtownsomerville.org

Michael Kerwin, Chairman

RanD Pitts, Vice Chairperson

Kevin Sluka, Secretary

Alison Masick, Treasurer

Theresa Bonner

Iris Frank

Rick St. Pierre

Ed Rebenack

Chas Stevens

Sejal Dave Sharma, RWJUH Somerset, Corporate Trustee

Natalie Pineiro, Executive Director



our mission

let's make things better!


Supporting Your Downtown Business

The Downtown Somerville Alliance promotes, enhances and revitalizes Somerville’s downtown as a thriving commercial district and community-gathering place for residents, shoppers and visitors from Somerville, Somerset County and Central New Jersey.



affiliations

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history

we go way back!


Historic Main Street Somerville

While much of the borough features distinctive Victorian architecture and row houses, on Main Street between Bridge and Grove Streets, lies the Courthouse Green, an architectural gem listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The focal point is the white Alabama marble courthouse designed by a nationally prominent architect, James Reilly Gordon. Adjacent is the stone English Country Church, the work of noted architect William Appleton Potter.

On the corner of Grove and Main Streets is the stately marble fountain commissioned by Aileen Lord in honor of her deceased brother and designed by John Russell Pope, a graduate of the Ecole de Beaux Arts and the architect of Sloan House (The USGA Museum in Far Hills) and the Jefferson Memorial in Washington D.C.

Several blocks west on Main Street, the United Reformed Church is a commanding presence. Designed by Oscar Teal in the Richardsonian tradition, this magnificent church once housed the largest stained glass window in New Jersey. The Talmage window on the east side of the church depicts the resurrection of Christ on Easter morning. The round window, called the Good Shepherd Window, was designed by H.B. Hankinson of Tiffany & Co.

At the western end of Main Street lies Somerville Borough Hall, which was once the private residence of the Daniel Robert family and was designed as a copy of the Lyndhurst house by Alexander Jackson Davis.