Starting Friday, October 15 a special advertising program will become available to Lakewood UEZ businesses. The Co-op Advertising Project, which recently received the approval of the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority, Trenton, New Jersey, focuses on small business growth and development by providing 50 percent matching grants to businesses to reimburse them for advertising, with a reimbursement of $5,000.00 per quarter and a maximum of $20,000.00 per year.

Yehuda Abraham, Lakewood’s director of business development, says, “During difficult economic times, smaller businesses often cut their advertising budget, which hurts them even more. Successful businesses have long realized the power of advertising and marketing for bringing in customers. This matching grant program is designed to encourage businesses to advertise and get their name out there in order to entice customers to shop in their stores.”

Patricia Komsa, the executive director and coordinator of Lakewood’s UEZ, says, “Marketing and advertising is a critical component in the development of new and existing businesses and the increase of employment. This project should bring renewed interest in both attracting new businesses and expanding existing ones in Lakewood.”

A business must be a certified UEZ business to take advantage of the Co-op Advertising Program.  If a business is not certified, however, contact Yehuda Abraham at 732-364-2500 Ext. 5217 to learn how to become certified.

Applications for the Co-op Advertising Program can be found on the Lakewood Township Web site (http://www.twp.lakewood.nj.us/).  For further information, call 732-364-2500 Ext. 5395.