Neighborhoods
Revitalizing Neighborhood Economies
Economic Development
Economic Development
A Neighborhood Initiative
At New Brunswick Tomorrow, we’re creating new paths to economic mobility for residents—especially those in low- and moderate-income and immigrant households. Entrepreneurship and small business development are powerful tools for building wealth, strengthening communities, and driving neighborhood revitalization.
We support entrepreneurs and small businesses at every stage of their journey—from aspiring micro-entrepreneurs to established local businesses looking to grow. Our work also focuses on energizing commercial corridors in our target neighborhoods to foster vibrant, inclusive local economies.
💼 Helping Local Businesses Thrive
NBT connects small business owners—particularly in the Esperanza/French Street and Livingston Avenue South neighborhoods—with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Our support includes:
- Small business grant programs
- Educational workshops and networking events
- Access to economic development resources and technical assistance
🍽️ Equipping Food Entrepreneurs
Food entrepreneurship is a powerful pathway for economic advancement, especially among immigrant and women entrepreneurs. Since 2015, our Mercado Esperanza initiative has helped emerging food vendors test and grow their businesses through community-based sales opportunities.Additional supports include:
- Culinary school scholarships for talented local cooks
- Food business incubator program launched in 2025, offering hands-on guidance and support for launching formal food businesses
🛍️ Improving Commercial Corridors
Local business districts remain vital hubs of commerce and community. NBT partners with small businesses to revitalize key commercial corridors through:
- Enhanced marketing and branding
- Technical assistance and business development support
- Beautification grants to improve storefronts and public spaces
These efforts aim to boost customer engagement, increase sales, and attract visitors to New Brunswick’s vibrant neighborhood business districts.
OUR IMPACT
volunteer residents participating
hours performed in community improvement activities
community clean-ups
residents satisfied with neighborhood
Citywide impacts due to resident advocacy:
workers gaining mandatory paid sick time
Municipal IDs issued
vacant properties rehabilitated
local ordinances passed with resident advocacy
residents trained and activated as outreach ambassadors
residents engaging in neighborhood improvement activities annually
new community murals or public art installations
community celebrations & festivals hosted
neighborhood parks developed or improved
families graduated from Family Leadership Academy
saved by Family Leadership Academy families
Together with our partners, we’re making measurable progress:
first-time homebuyers supported
families received down payment & closing cost assistance
in assistance grants awarded
affordable housing units developed
distressed homes rehabbed and sold
households receive pre-homeownership counseling annually
households receive pre-homeownership education annually
tenant households counseled annually
tenants engaged in the Tenant Association annually
NBT and its partners will have contributed to the growth of local entrepreneurs and small businesses by:
business grant funds awarded
small business grant recipients
small businesses participating in neighborhood activities
neighborhood businesses featured in new district website
entrepreneurs received business education training
emerging entrepreneurs provided sales opportunities annually
new storefront food businesses opened
culinary scholarships awarded
people reached with financial education annually
KEY ISSUES
- Immigrants to the U.S. are twice as likely to start new businesses as native-born persons, and represent a larger share of U.S. small business owners than their share of the overall population.
- French Street and its adjacent streets, for example, form a busy business district that is home to over 100 local businesses, ranging from authentic Mexican restaurants to clothing stores and much more.
- Complementing these establishments are the many uncounted micro-entrepreneurs, such as street vendors and home cooks, who sell their wares more informally, either as primary or supplemental income. These modern-day “cottage industries” help many low-income New Brunswick households to make ends meet. Particularly for undocumented immigrants, entrepreneurship provides a potential path to success beyond the low ceiling of opportunity available in the low-wage workforce.
PROGRAM
Partners