MAIN STREET BUSINESS ALLIANCE WORKING FOR YOU

This e-mail blast program has been established to reach out to over 550 of our members and contacts. This monthly e-mail blast takes the opportunity to inform you of the Hackensack Main Street Business Alliance’s accomplishments and goals.

• Agendas and Minutes. Starting in February the Alliance will send out our monthly Agendas and Minutes via e-mail, as there will be a substantial savings in postage and envelopes for the year which will contribute to the organization “Going Green”.
   
• Annual Meeting. The Alliance held its Annual Meeting on January 20, 2009. Members in attendance had the opportunity to see a Power Point presentation by the Executive Director featuring the Alliance’s achievements for the year 2008 and goals for 2009.
   
• 2009 Board of Trustees. Chairman Jerome J. Lombardo from C.J. Lombardo Co., Gary Banoun from GAM Realty, and George Venarchik from 605 Main Street Associates were voted in for three year terms.
   
• Main Street Business Alliance 2009 Budget. The 2009 Annual Budget was presented to the Board for approval, including new line items for a City wide Way Finding Signage project, the formation of a strategic vision plan, a restaurant guide, and a Meet and Greet get together with our membership planned for the spring of 2009.
   
• Marketing/Special Events. The Alliance has contacted several marketing companies and interviews will be conducted in February for revisions to the current website. The newly added holiday events including the tree lighting ceremony and Hackensack’s first annual Restaurant Week were well attended and had positive feedback. The Alliance’s 2008 sponsorship program raised $34,750.00 in income and $16,750.00 in services. From 2006-2008 the Alliance’s sponsorship program has raised $140,000.00.
   
       
   
• Façade and Signage Grant Program. 2008 was an exciting year for this program as eleven grants were awarded totaling over $47,000.00. From 2006 - 2008 nineteen grants have been awarded totaling nearly $75,000.00 in awards and bringing total renovations to district properties equaling $250,000.00.
   
       
   
• Cross Walk Stamping Project. A 2009 Community Development Block Grant application has been submitted and if approved will give the Alliance the opportunity to install cross walk stamping from Mercer Street to Clinton Place.
  To date outside revenue sources from 2006-2008 have totaled $250,000.00 from County and State agencies