Business and government leaders gathered Monday night at the first-ever Maplewood Economic Summit to discuss Maplewood’s economic status, present and future. The tone was positive. And the packed hall at the Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts was engaged.

About 120 people came to hear Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca, Planning Board Chair Tom Carlson and six panelists talk about plans to steer the township’s commercial corridors and small businesses through economic hard times.

DeLuca launched the presentation with an enumeration of Township actions, including the “Look Maplewood First” program where the Town looks to buy services in town before considering out-of-town firms and encouraging Maplewood businesses to do the same; a food establishment list for distribution to developers for use by their construction crews; the placement of contract bids on the Township website and use of the Chamber, the Springfield Avenue Partnership and the Maplewood Village Alliance to promote this listing to local businesses; waiving the $100 sidewalk café fee for 2009 (although interested businesses still need to complete the application); review of all zoning and regulations by the Planning Board in order to make possible simplifications; and a “One Maplewood” program for business promotion.

In addition, Township Committee members are making themselves available for ribbon-cuttings and in-store events to help spur business.

Nancy Adams, the director of Red Bank’s downtown improvement district and a Maplewood resident, was the keynote speaker. Adams reminded the audience that Maplewood’s difficulties were not unique and were being felt by downtowns across the state and nation. She offered advice to property owners, business owners, downtown managers, government officials and residents in turn. She urged property owners to be flexible in their negotiations with existing and prospective tenants.

“Aid your struggling businesses,” she urged, saying “a rented space is better than a vacant space.” To business owners, “Communicate with your customers,” “try something new,” “get outside, walk across the street and look at your store,” and “cooperate with other businesses; don’t view them as your competitors but as your partners.” She also urged local government to streamline the regulatory process and called on residents to support local businesses.

Deborah Collins of the Essex County Office of Small Business Development and Affirmative Action, and Dan Johnson from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority quickly outlined their agencies’ grant programs and other forms of assistance for small businesses. Each urged attendees to call them directly and provided business cards and brochures at the back of the room.

The second group of panelists was highly localized: Beth Anne Macdonald from the Springfield Avenue Partnership, Amy Koehler of the Maplewood Village Alliance, and Steve Gussen from the Maplewood Chamber of Commerce all presented their organizations’ plans for confronting the current economic situation.

Macdonald assured attendees that Springfield Avenue had “lots of good news” to report, including new development (Walgreens) and businesses soon to open. She said that the Partnership would—in addition to cleaning, landscaping and events production—be adding new communications efforts including a redesigned website on which all forms would be available for download, an e-blast newsletter, and assistance to Avenue businesses writing press releases and seeking publicity. The Partnership was also creating “Coming Soon” signs emblazoned with the Avenue’s logo to be used in vacant storefronts that have been leased.

Koehler reported that the Village had already begun responding to the recession by “stepping up our marketing” and adding new events to the roster. She mentioned that the recent Restaurant Week promotion had received an “incredible response” and that she had already talked to DeLuca about expanding the event town-wide.

Finally, new business owners spoke briefly about why they chose Maplewood. Emeka Onugha of the soon-to-open HLS Juice Bar said that, besides being a “throughway to other towns”, the “community of Maplewood embraced us.” Jonah Zimiles of Words Bookstore expressed his deep feeling that as a Maplewood resident he wished to support the business community. He also felt that the growing “shop locally” movement particularly resonated in Maplewood.

The meeting was opened to questions several times and the questions were specific:

Q: What’s happening with the old police station site?
A: It is in the process of being declared “in need of rehabilitation," making it eligible for certain state grant monies and programs.

Q: What is being done about parking?
A: Better inventory, signage and marketing.

Q: What to do about a lax property owner?
A: First cajole then snitch to code enforcement. And use your district manager as a go-between.

And:

Q: Why isn’t Maplewood in NJ Monthly more often?
A: Maplewood was declared a top 10 downtown by NJ Monthly last year AND the town will be featured prominently in NJ Life’s September issue this year. But, yes, the Town and its commercial district leaders are working for more publicity through the “One Maplewood” marketing program.