$220K Downtown West Orange Alliance Budget Approved

The township council approved the Downtown West Orange Alliance budget for 2014 at the township council meeting Tuesday.

The council unanimously voted in favor of the $220,000 budget. The township will contribute almost $61,000 to the overall budget.

Megan Brill, Downtown West Orange Alliance Executive Director stated she is very “excited” the budget was approved and believes the council has confidence in the alliance and the work they have been doing for the township.

“The board unanimously approved the budget and we are very glad,” Brill said in a phone interview with Patch. “I think the town council saw how well we spent the money last year and have confidence in us to do good things this year.”

Brill gave a presentation to the township council at Tuesday’s meeting providing an overview of the alliance, budget and what the group hopes to get accomplished in 2014. The presentation will be available on the township website soon, according to Brill.

Some items the DWOA have been working on for the new year are the new logo, new website and “Discover West Orange” television show that will be hosted by township historian Joseph Fagan, according to Brill.

“We are excited about the new logo and it has become our brand,” Brill said. “Once the alliance website gets up and running, we will be able to provide an Internet presence for every business in downtown on our website, even if they don’t have a website. The television show will be hosted by Joe Fagan and we have been able to get time for him up at the studio at the high school and the first show should air sometime at the end of January.”

Brill stated the goal of the show is for Fagan to talk about the downtown area and the entire township and inspire people to visit the area.

“We want people to visit,” Brill said. “After people see the show, we want them to want to come downtown and grab a cup of coffee and do a little shopping.”

“We are excited for this year and the alliance has the biggest participating group that it has ever had,” Brill said.