REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR “DESTINATION MEADOWLANDS”
BUSINESS DISTRICT BRANDING SEMINAR

One-Day Intensive Workshop on Creating Business District Destinations Hosted by
DCA’s Main Street New Jersey Program and New Jersey Meadowlands Commission


TRENTON, N.J. – Building on a dynamic seminar held earlier this year, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) Main Street New Jersey and Improvement District Programs are again partnering with the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) to sponsor “Destination Meadowlands,” a one-day intensive workshop on Tuesday, October 16 focused on helping traditional business districts in the Meadowlands Region and statewide position themselves as must-visit locations.

“The ‘Destination Meadowlands’ workshop complements the Christie Administration’s efforts to foster job creation and encourage economic growth,” said DCA Commissioner Richard E. Constable, III. “Successful downtowns are centers of place that attract workers, shoppers, merchants, families, neighbors, and citizens. They are natural small business incubators. People who attend next month’s workshop will learn how to elevate their business districts so they become destination producers that consumers can’t ignore.”  

“Destination Meadowlands” is part of the New Jersey Downtown Revitalization & Management Institute (DRMI), which is operated by the Main Street New Jersey program. Now in its 13th year, DRMI advances a comprehensive, community-based management approach to business districts and is taught by trainers with expertise in specific disciplines essential to successful downtowns.

The October 16 seminar, “Creating and Branding Local and Regional Destinations,” is scheduled from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst. It is designed for business owners, business district management organizations, chamber officials, and municipal, county and regional leaders.

“‘Destination Meadowlands’ is an invaluable opportunity for business professionals and municipal officials in the Meadowlands District to gather the knowledge and insight needed to best position and brand themselves as prime destinations for visitors from throughout New Jersey and beyond,” said Marcia Karrow, Executive Director of the NJMC. “The Commission is confident that participants will leave the day excited, energized and ready to put what they’ve learned to use.”

The workshop will include the following sessions:

  • The Art of Branding (Finding Your Focus): Learn what “branding” really means and how to create one. The session will explain the process of branding for municipalities, downtown districts, marketing professionals, and umbrella organizations that serve multiple communities. Through case histories, video clips, photos, and stories, attendees will learn what it takes to create a successful brand, how to make it obvious, and how that translates into money.
  • The 20 Ingredients of an Outstanding Destination: Why are some communities or downtowns so successful while others struggle? To find out, the Seattle-based Destination Development International team spent nearly six years surveying and studying more than 400 well-branded, vibrant downtowns, downtown districts and communities in North America to uncover the most common elements that led to their success. In this photographic “idea book” workshop, attendees will hear stories from these destinations, see dozens of “how-they-did-it” photographic examples, and learn the 20 universal ingredients of an outstanding destination.
  • The Seven Deadly Marketing Sins: In this age of marketing oversaturation and instant information, 97 percent of all advertising and marketing efforts are ineffective. Learn how to avoid the seven deadly marketing sins and get a product or service noticed. Participants will see the good, bad and ugly of marketing through real-life examples and stories. Turning deadly sins into heavenly marketing will put attendees in the successful three percent of marketing efforts, which can lead to increased sales and improved public perception.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. Those interested in attending should register as soon as possible to secure a spot. For more information and to register, visit http://meadowlandsdrmi2a.eventbrite.com/ or call 609-633-9648.

Aside from the DCA’s Main Street New Jersey and Improvement District Programs and the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, the workshop is also being sponsored by the Meadowlands Regional Chamber and PSE&G. Promotional partners include Downtown New Jersey, Transit Village Initiative, and the New Jersey chapter of the American Planning Association (APA). Attendees can receive up to 3.25 APA certification maintenance credits.

The Main Street New Jersey program, which was established in 1989, is a revitalization program that promotes the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional business districts in New Jersey. The Improvement District program helps businesses and property owners of a community to organize as a single entity, raise funds for activities that enhance or expand upon municipal services, and manage themselves to become a more effective destination for commerce. To learn more, visit www.mainstreetnewjersey.com on the DCA website.

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, which is an affiliated agency of the DCA, is empowered with regional planning and zoning authority to ensure the orderly development and environmental protection and enhancement of the Meadowlands District in Bergen and Hudson counties. The Commission’s objectives include promoting economic growth, the acquisition of open space for preservation, the enhancement of environmentally sensitive wetland areas, the development of recreational opportunities, the redevelopment of brownfields and the facilitation of shared services. To learn more, visit www.njmeadowlands.gov.  


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