Mission & History

 

Realize your vision - A view you can only get from Boonton.

Recreating a downtown, one space at a time.

Mission StatementMission of Boonton Main Street
Boonton Main Street is a grass roots effort, fostering partnerships to restore, preserve, and promote Boonton's historic downtown. Boonton Main Street follows the Four-Point Approach to downtown management using organization, promotion, design, and economic development as defined by the National Main Street Center and Main Street New Jersey.

GoalsGoals
• Provide a high level of education and information to stakeholders to increase support, change attitudes, and institutionalize the Main Street Program.
• Improve and enhance the appearance and the image of Main Street to attract investment and to draw people to the district.

Vision Statement 2020

Boonton has always served as a center for economic activities. Its central location has kept Boonton at the transportation crossroads; canals, trains, roads and later interstate highways, which serviced manufacturing interests as well as the workforce and residential population.

Boonton Main Street remains a viable and diverse business district. Its intimate setting; eclectic architectural styles, unique among small towns, provides a creative place to live, work, shop and dine.

Boonton Main Street will emerge as a vibrant mixed use district including upscale apartments, creative professional services, unique specialty shops and fine dining; with night life abundant with performing arts, live music, educational and social activities.  This new economic growth will embrace the ideals of historic preservation, the principles of Smart Growth, Green Living and Sustainability.

                                 

FAQs

Is Boonton Main Street a department of the Town of Boonton?
Boonton Main Street is a non-profit group, incorporated as a 501(c)3 charitable organization. That means it operates independently of the town government. The Town of Boonton has very generously supported our organization, though, donating a substantial part of our annual budget.

How much funding does the State of New Jersey give Boonton Main Street?
We receive NO funding from the State of New Jersey. Boonton Main Street receives all its funding through charitable donations and grants.

What does it mean to be designated as a Main Street New Jersey town? Every two or three years, Main Street New Jersey, a division of the Department of Community Affairs, accepts applications from towns seeking Main Street designation. This downtown revitalization program, based on the Main Street USA program, is the single-most successful community development program in the nation. To qualify, towns must  have a historic downtown area and must prove they have substantial  commitment in terms of volunteers and potential funding. Following a detailed, lengthy application process, Boonton received designation in June 2002. Through this program, Main Street New Jersey offers training to Boonton Main Street's one full-time employee, training to all Board of Trustees members, and extensive consultative and technical assistance to downtown merchants and property owners. The state organization also recently conducted a summit of mayors from the designated towns, offering them the latest information on downtown revitalization trends and issues.

Who runs Boonton Main Street?
Boonton Main Street is governed by a Board of Trustees. We have one paid, full-time employee who serves as executive director. The rest of the work is done by volunteers who serve on any of four committees: Design, Organization, Promotions, and Economic Revitalization.

What are the organization's top priorities?
Today, the group has successfully transitioned and is ready to roll out a comprehensive plan:
  • make the downtown more "shopper friendly"
  • adjust the business mix through a retail business recruitment program
  • increase the availability of convenient parking and make existing parking more accessible
  • expand the calendar of special events
  • continue work to improve the building facades, signage, and window display merchandising
  • provide ongoing training to merchants

Who Benefits from a Revitalized Downtown?

Many segments of the community can benefit from a vibrant downtown:

  • Property owners enjoy new uses on upper floors, a “happening town” reputation, a more stable environment surrounding their properties, support in finding renters, a voice with government, a more appealing town for potential renters, cleanup crews keeping the area picked up and their buildings spruced up, increased occupancy rates, rents and property values, and reduced vandalism.

  • Local business owners benefit from increased sales, improved image, a stronger business mix, increased visibility for their business, participation at no cost in a Business Directory, coordinated downtown marketing opportunities, availability of varied services for their employees including the ability to shop locally and assorted local lunch opportunities, a safer environment due to Main Street activity, and a feeling of pride for their business location.

  • Local residents and customers enjoy a new sense of pride in downtown, an enhanced marketplace with more choices to shop locally, more social and cultural activities, increased property values due to a vibrant downtown, and more employment opportunities in town.

  • Financial institutions benefit from potential growth for loans, deposits and other services from commercial and individual customers, and the same benefits as are available to local business owners.

  • Municipalities benefit from an increased tax base, increased property values, more jobs, improved services, an increased volunteer base for local projects, better relations between local government and the private sector, and a shared vision and goals for the downtown.

See our Main Street Projects  

Get inspired. Get ready to dream again.

Boonton's historic downtown design district offers a mix of retail, antique stores, restaurants, and service businesses, reflecting the town's diversity, strong sense of community, and unique geographic setting.