Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday visited Atlantic City to highlight recent state funding for the community in key areas such as public works projects.
“Over the past four years, we have worked to help restore fiscal responsibility and encourage Atlantic City to grow and thrive in order to make this a city of opportunity for local residents,” Murphy said. “The investments in this year’s budget and other recent state support make it clear that we support and value Atlantic City, and will continue to work alongside city leadership to help this community prosper. From facilitating day-to-day operations to making critical infrastructure improvements, this funding will go a long way in benefiting countless Atlantic City families.”
The Fiscal Year 2023 budget includes more than $43 million in direct municipal aid, including $2.15 million from the one-time Municipal Relief Fund — all of which will help day-to-day operations in the city. Additional funding for Atlantic City includes $2 million from the Anti-Violence Out-of-School Youth Summer Program line item to help provide local children with safe educational and recreational opportunities, and $20 million in federal funds that the New Jersey Department of Transportation secured for the city to enable critical infrastructure updates to Route 40.
The state also assisted Atlantic City in putting together a successful application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a Flood Mitigation Assistance grant of over $5 million to improve a local canal that helps alleviate flash flooding in the area to protect residents and their homes.
Further funding includes over $16.6 million in Fiscal Year 2022 Transitional Aid that was recently allocated to Atlantic City to meet needs in areas such as:
- Over $3.9 million for public works projects and resources including Boardwalk repairs and vehicles such as vac trucks, a street sweeper, and a trash truck;
- $5 million for a citywide camera installation project;
- $1 million for Boardwalk repairs;
- $3 million for the city’s Energy Savings Improvement Program to help make local buildings more energy efficient;
- $1.3 million for fire engines;
- $350,000 for HVAC upgrades to the police communications building;
- $1 million for a Boardwalk expansion project, which will help make the Boardwalk more ADA-compliant.
“As a former mayor of Atlantic City, I can’t say enough how life-changing these funds will be,” Assemblyman Don Guardian (R-Egg Harbor Twp.) stated. “Around $5.9 million for public works and Boardwalk maintenance, significant funding for day-to-day operations and, of course, $3 million for improvements to Atlantic City’s energy infrastructure will be a strong step to putting A.C. back on the map.”
“It’s truly a great day here in the city of Atlantic City when we get the resources from the state for some much-needed projects,” Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small said. “For as long as I can remember, administrations and elected officials wanted to have a citywide surveillance camera program in the city of Atlantic City to have the entire city under surveillance. I’m happy to say this historic and significant funding announcement is happening under the Small administration. In addition to the enhancement with cameras, we applaud the state for their assistance in significant investments in our public works department, fire department and an Energy Savings Improvement Program. It’s a great day here in the city of Atlantic City.”
