Porchlights

small business initiatives

East Trenton is a neighborhood with around 85 businesses, from industrial businesses to small neighborhood retail. The East Trenton Collaborative is working to support existing retail businesses in the neighborhood through its Storefront Improvement Grant program, and to support entrepreneurs from the neighborhood through education, workshops, connecting them with resources such as available storefronts and financing counselling. An entrepreneurship financing program is planned for next year.

storefront improvement grants

application packet

An active streetscape is safer and more welcoming, and the condition of neighborhood businesses signals a lot about a neighborhood overall. Many of East Trenton's retail spaces have become vacant over the years, and many small retail businesses struggle to make investments in their storefronts. The Storefront Improvement Program is designed to assist retail businesses and owners of vacant storefronts to improve their ground floor retail space in a way that will make it a more active, welcoming part of the streetscape that serves more people. Unlike many similar programs, which are limited to facade improvements, this program allows owners to do interior improvements as well. Several businesses are already working on their storefront improvement projects, including two businesses that are doing comprehensive renovations of long-vacant buildings. Interested businesses and property owners are encouraged to read the application and contact the East Trenton Center for more information.