Mayor Marty Small on Thursday announced a number of new projects in Atlantic City made possible through federal and state funding.
“They’re exciting projects and we look forward to seeing them play through,” said Small. “Sometimes government doesn’t move as fast as we want it to. I like to snap the finger and make things happen — sometimes we do it, sometimes we don’t — but it’s not through lack of effort. We’re doing our best to alleviate people’s concerns.”
Part of the Atlantic City Boardwalk will be reconstructed with some funds from a federal grant. The U.S. Economic Development Administration has awarded the city $6 million.
The city plans to replace a section of the Boardwalk that is over 100 years old. The project will start at Florida Avenue and continue to at least Missouri Avenue. The total cost to replace the entire Boardwalk is estimated to be $60 million.
Last year, the city completed the total reconstruction of the Boardwalk and promenades from Oriental Avenue to Gardner’s Basin. This 1.35-mile section of the Boardwalk was funded by eight separate grant programs totaling over $55 million.
The city also received various federal and state street paving grants to pave MLK Boulevard from Mediterranean Avenue to Route 30 and Baltic Avenue from Maine Avenue to Missouri Avenue.
The city does not dictate the start dates of these projects, which are slated for 2023 and 2024; however, Small said he will make efforts to expedite this process.
The National Park Service awarded a $500,000 African American Civil Rights grant towards the preservation of Atlantic City Fire Station 2, located at the corner of Indiana and Baltic avenues.
This grant is in addition to the $750,000 grant that was awarded by the New Jersey Historic Trust recently. The city budgeted $750,000 to match that grant. The $500,000 grant will go toward that $750,000, saving the Atlantic City taxpayers money.
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Atlantic City is receiving an $800,000 grant that it has been seeking since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for small business recovery. The city is matching $200,000.
This funding will support three different programs:
- A concierge service will be established to provide staffing to promote economic development and provide service to all prospective developers.
- Business outreach through professionals who will provide one-on-one service to local businesses, financial advice and assistance, and will directly train and assist businesses.
- Marketing focused on helping smaller businesses develop a marketable brand and identify the appropriate targets to attract tourists, businesses and residents.
Atlantic City’s Chelsea, Ducktown and Midtown neighborhoods have been awarded $2 million from the state in neighborhood revitalization grants. The state provides funding to nonprofits that qualify for the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program. Neighborhoods receiving this funding have nonprofit sponsors.
The remaining Atlantic City neighborhoods are currently working on their plans. The city is working with them to secure funding for implementation.
