Special Improvement District Borough of Red Bank Inc Red Bank Rivercenter

Business Recruitment and Retention:In addition to advertising in print and on line, RiverCenter spent countless hours connecting potential Red Bank businesses with our local realtors, building owners, business owners and other movers and shakers in town. Despite the impact of the pandemic and a number of vacancies it brought, others saw 2021 as an opportunity to start up in a vibrant town and we helped smooth their way. We provided timely information about rapidly changing restrictions on their operations as well as available aid. Finally, as in 2020, we worked with local authorities to enable restaurants and retailers to expand their businesses outdoors, maximizing their trade while still observing all safety regulations. See more details in Schedule O.

Marketing and Promotions: The ongoing pandemic required us to reinvent the way we promoted our businesses. During the first quarter, before vaccines were widely available and businesses could serve only limited customers indoors, we focused on reminding or usual patrons that we were still here and that our many restaurants were offering online orders and contactless, curbside pickup. We repeated our successful "Date Night In" program that offered curated packages of food, flowers, candles and other amenities on Friday nights. This enabled "non-essential" businesses to sell their wares along with takeout meals offered by restaurants who were permitted to be open. Later in the year, when things opened up a bit, we began to promote Red Bank as a great place for a day trip to enjoy a meal outdoors in a safe environment. The message was shop local, shop small.More details can be found in Schedule O.

Capital Improvements, Design and Infrastructure: In 2021 RiverCenter focused on design elements that helped businesses in our downtown to continue to serve their customers in compliance with social distancing restrictions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We provided attractive signage to create to create special curbside pickup zones when needed,lighting for outdoor dining pavilions in our downtown streets, and ran our summer horticulture program, which fills the town with colorful potted plants and hanging baskets. During the winter we festooned the town with holiday lights and secured a 40 foot tree from a local donor and placed it in Riverside Gardens Park. More details can be found in Schedule O.