Editing Wildwood, New Jersey (section)

===Commerce===
[[File:Wildwood Liquor Store.jpg|thumb|An iconic sign lights up a liquor store in Wildwood, which has more than 60 active liquor licenses]]
Portions of the city—together with areas in [[North Wildwood, New Jersey|North Wildwood]], [[West Wildwood, New Jersey|West Wildwood]] and [[Wildwood Crest, New Jersey|Wildwood Crest]]—are part of a joint [[Urban Enterprise Zone]] (UEZ), one of 32 zones covering 37 municipalities statewide. The four municipalities in [[The Wildwoods]] were selected in 2002 as one of a group of three zones added to participate in the program as part of a joint zone with.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/dca/affiliates/uez/publications/pdf/tax_q&a_052709.pdf ''Urban Enterprise Zone Tax Questions and Answers''], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]], May 2009. Accessed October 28, 2019. "The legislation was amended again in 2002 to include 3 more zones. They include Bayonne City, Roselle Borough, and a joint zone consisting of North Wildwood City, Wildwood City, Wildwood Crest Borough, and West Wildwood Borough."</ref> In addition to other benefits to encourage employment and investment within the Zone, shoppers can take advantage of a reduced 3.3125% [[sales tax]] rate (half of the {{frac|6|5|8}}% rate charged statewide) at eligible merchants.<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/dca/affiliates/uez/about/ Urban Enterprise Zone Program], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]]. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Businesses participating in the UEZ Program can charge half the standard sales tax rate on certain purchases, currently 3.3125% effective 1/1/2018"</ref> Established in September 2002, the city's Urban Enterprise Zone status expires in December 2023.<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/dca/affiliates/uez/publications/pdf/ZONE%20EXPIRATION%20DATES%20-%202018.pdf Urban Enterprise Zone Effective and Expiration Dates], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]]. Accessed January 8, 2018.</ref> The joint UEZ is overseen by the Enterprise Zone Development Corporation of the Wildwoods Board, which includes representatives from all four municipalities.<ref>[https://www.wildwoodnj.org/urbanentzone Urban Enterprise Zone Program], City of Wildwood. Accessed November 19, 2019. "The Enterprise Zone Development Corporation of the Wildwoods Board is comprised of business owners, elected officials and employees representing the City of Wildwood, City of North Wildwood, the Borough of West Wildwood, and the Borough of Wildwood Crest."</ref>

Wildwood has an unusually large number of liquor licenses for its population. [[Alcohol laws of New Jersey|State law]] normally provides for one consumption license (i.e., for a bar, restaurant) for every 3,000 residents, and one distribution license (i.e., for a liquor store) for every 7,500 residents.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/lps/abc/faqs.html#13 "ABC Frequently Asked Questions."], [[New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control]]. Accessed November 11, 2013. "Question #13: How many liquor stores and restaurants are allowed in each municipality?... A municipality may issue one consumption license for every 3,000 of its population. As to distribution licenses, which allow the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption, a municipality may issue one license for every 7,500 of its population."</ref> Because of a state law allowing a municipality to [[grandfather clause|grandfather in]] liquor licenses that existed before 1948,<ref>Goldstein, Howard (liquor license broker). [http://newjerseyliquorlicensesareus.com/state-of-liquor-licenses-in-2012/ "State of liquor licenses in 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130526080928/http://newjerseyliquorlicensesareus.com/state-of-liquor-licenses-in-2012/ |date=May 26, 2013 }} (professional website) (January 3, 2013). Accessed February 8, 2013.</ref> Wildwood has a permanent population of 5,300, but has 61 active liquor licenses.<ref>Gilfillian, Trudy. [http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/breaking/wildwood-considers-beach-bars-among-ways-to-increase-revenue/article_3e1eecb8-56a1-11e1-9aed-0019bb2963f4.html "Wildwood considers beach bars among ways to increase revenue"], ''[[The Press of Atlantic City]]'', February 14, 2012. Accessed March 5, 2013.</ref>