Montclair Center BID launching data collection project

The Montclair Center Business Improvement District this spring will launch the Mercator Data Project, which will collect information about the district’s businesses, properties and amenities.

This never-before-collected data will support the BID’s efforts to improve member benefits, better search and apply for grant programs, plan for events and proactively anticipate district needs.

Leading the project is Jason Gleason, BID executive director, and urban designer and planner Jaime J. Izurieta of Storefront Mastery. To assist, interns will be trained by the BID to collect the data from the businesses and help complete the surveys.

The Mercator Data Project will be launching an online survey that will be sent to member businesses. A complete data profile will help the BID make better decisions for small businesses, property owners and the community for many years to come.

“This project will expand our knowledge base exponentially,” Gleason said. “Montclair Center is growing every day, and the Mercator Project will review our capacities and analyze our needs for continued success in the coming years.”

Originally from Quito, Ecuador, Izurieta holds degrees in architecture, historic preservation and urban economic redevelopment. He is a member of Placemaking X; his current interest is helping local economies find technological alternatives to fund their own redevelopment and implement locally based economic development strategies.

He is also the founder of Storefront Mastery, a creative agency that works with local businesses and downtown and main street organizations.

BID represents more than 400 businesses and over 200 property owners in downtown Montclair. Its mission is to create a visually appealing, prosperous and inclusive downtown through continuous cleaning and beautification, programming, marketing, economic development and advocacy. For more information, visit montclaircenter.com.