Owners of businesses and commercial properties along the Main Street/Route 35 corridor have formed a Downtown Business Association to promote shopping local. KRISTEN DALTON EATONTOWN — Owners of businesses and commercial properties located along the Main Street/Route 35 corridor have formed a Downtown Business Association (DBA) to promote a new Think Local First initiative.

Think Local First encourages residents to shop and do business in the downtown community and provides ways to encourage that commerce.

“It was quite nice to see the enthusiasm and energy of these business owners who want to come together and see if we can promote a ‘think local’ or ‘shop local’ community spirit,” DBA member Pamela Caputo told the Borough Council at the meeting on Feb. 1.

She said 12 business owners were represented at the business group’s first meeting on Jan. 31, some of whom have been doing business in the borough for 30 to 40 years.

Residents have become concerned by the condition of the economy and the state of the downtown, she said.

“Think Local focuses on economic, sustainable development because we are in trouble. This is relevant because it is very important to hold and build our tax base,” Caputo said. “I am concerned about the taxes and the revenues that we are losing by the empty businesses that are in the downtown.”

In the coming weeks, the DBA plans to build a website that will provide residents with weekly or monthly coupons to encourage them to shop in the borough.

The group also wants downtown businesses to install a blue light outside the door or inside the storefronts to identify the downtown shopping district.

“[The lights are] so that when you hit Eatontown, you actually know that you are in the downtown area,” Caputo said.

Finally, the DBA plans to sponsor several community events, including a farmers market on Sundays in the downtown.

She said discussions are ongoing, and the DBA will bring proposals to the council.

“There is a lot of enthusiasm behind this whole movement to encourage residents to come downtown and shop. Hopefully, [this will] attract [residents of] adjacent towns to also come downtown, park, walk and shop,” Caputo said.

“In the process, we will keep the lights on in the existing buildings and maybe open some doors for new businesses up and down Main Street.”

Members of the council said they support the program and offered suggestions.

“I like the concept. I think you’re right on target. I think the concept, especially the enthusiasm shown to date, is great,” Mayor Gerald Tarantolo said. “I think you have a good base to build on. You have my support, any way that I can help you,”

Council President Anthony Talerico Jr. said that businesses in other parts of the borough should be encouraged to create their own group as well.

“For example, Industrial Way has their association and now the downtown businesses will have their group,” Talerico said. “That is a good thing. If other areas in town [want to] have their own group, we encourage them to do that.”

He suggested that the website should be linked to the borough website along with any other business group.

“If someone comes to town and is pointed to our webpage, they can also be pointed to any business,” Talerico said. “We want people to know that we can do business in Eatontown.”

Tarantolo said the Economic Development Advisory Committee did something similar with real estate.

“To solve the problem in town of empty space, we allowed the link [on the borough website] to provide people with some additional information,” Tarantolo said. “We can kind of mirror what we have done already for the community with what you’re proposing now.”

Councilman Dennis Connelly added that the idea of the blue light was also mentioned at the Economic Development Advisory Committee.

“When you go through Eatontown, downtown Eatontown at night, it is just dark and gloomy. If every business put a light on, it would be more welcoming,” Connelly said. “A blue light is probably an even better idea because it just gives a sense of distinction.”