WOODBRIDGE — Residents are now able to seek out businesses and stay up to date on Woodbridge news and events with the unveiling of a new “Buy Local” smart phone application.
Mayor John McCormac launched the app, which is free to both residents and businesses, during a July 1 tour of several local businesses.
“This is something that should really impact all of our businesses in a very positive way,” he said. “It is a way to help our businesses and other organizations promote their products or services or events at no charge. We are going to be the first town around to have it.”
According to McCormac, users of the app will be able to seek different businesses in different parts of town with an easy-touse interface.
“It’s got on it businesses from all over town, categorized by type of business and location,” McCormac said. “So if you’re in Avenel and you want to find the nearest pharmacy, it will take you to Avenel Pharmacy. If you want to get gas and you want to see the nearest gas station or if you want a sub or a pizza, or if you want seafood or to shop for a dress, it will get you to the right place.”
For a business to be featured on the app, they must opt in.
“We just put an intern on it; he is going to all the businesses all summer to bring the posters and to encourage them to sign up,” McCormac said. “A lot of times, we don’t know all the businesses. They are in office buildings or places where we don’t always see them.”
He also said businesses will be able to participate in the application for free, and are able to offer special promotions by paying a fee to the app’s developer.
“We get everybody on there for free, and if any individual business wants to offer coupons or discounts or reward points they can do it for an up charge,” McCormac said.
The app also lists events held by both the township and the school district, and other community groups can also be featured on the app.
“Every concert, every road run, every art show will be on there,” McCormac said. “So if somebody asks ‘What’s going on in Woodbridge tonight?’ they can click on the app and find information about the concert.”
McCormac said breaking news could also be featured.
“Anything we do a ‘code red’ on, or anything we alert the public on, we will be put on the app also,” he said.
Other features include videos produced by the township, school district and community groups, parking information, links to other websites and a social media connection with other residents.
McCormac said the application has been in the works for a while.
“We were working on something like this in-house, and somebody brought this to our attention, so we jumped on it,” McCormac said.
The app can be downloaded from www.twp.woodbridge.nj.us, where a promotional video on the app is also available.
The Woodbridge Economic Development Corporation, a consortium of Woodbridge Township business leaders that works with the township on economic development, contracted with My Downtown Mobile — The Gruskin Group — to produce the app.
The contract is $5,950 and includes development of the app for iPhone, Android and HTMLS Web App; push notifications; access to CMS, Facebook and Twitter integration; automated business directory content upload and maintenance; submission of the app to Apple App Store and Google Play; and launch campaign material, maintenance and service.