Atlantic City Announces Grant Funding for Boardwalk Reconstruction, Road Improvements, Other Projects

Atlantic City, N.J (May 26, 2022) – Just ahead of the start of the summer season, Mayor Marty Small, Sr. is announcing multiple 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 Mayor 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.”

Boardwalk Rehabilitation

The United States Economic Development Authority is awarding a $6 million grant to fund the reconstruction of the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Construction is planned to start in the Fall of 2022 and be completed by the Summer of 2023. 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.

This grant was funded by the American Rescue Plan, which Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez supported.

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.  Rutala Associates, the City’s grant consultant, prepared the USEDA grant application and has been working with Federal and State agencies to gain funding support for the Boardwalk reconstruction.

The mid-section of the Boardwalk was prioritized due to the condition of the Boardwalk and the potential for this work to leverage economic development in the City.  The City will retain engineers to evaluate the Boardwalk foundation to determine how much, if any, of the concrete substructure can be saved and then design new joists and decking.

The City’s hope is this is the first step in an effort to complete the reconstruction of the entire Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Street Paving

The City received various Federal and State street paving grants to pave MLK Blvd from Mediterranean Ave to Route 30 and Baltic Avenue from Maine Ave to Missouri Ave.

The City does not dictate the start dates of these projects, which are slated for 2023 and 2024, however Mayor Small said he will make efforts to expedite this process.

Paving projects on 31 Atlantic City streets are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023. You can see that list of streets on acnj.gov.

Firehouse Preservation

The National Park Service has 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.

The African American Civil Rights grant is provided by the Historic Preservation Fund, as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior. Rutala Associates, the City’s Grant Consultant, secured both grants.

Fire Station 2 is a key resource in the Northside neighborhood, which retains a relatively high degree of integrity of location, association, feeling, design, materials, and workmanship to convey its significance as a rare concentration of institutional buildings designed in a variety of architectural revival styles within the City’s historic African American neighborhood.

The major goal of the first phase of this project is to preserve and stabilize the 100-year-old station’s building envelope.  Design for this phase is underway and construction is slated to begin in 2023. Once the building is protected, the second and third phases will rehabilitate the interior to allow Fire Station 2 to continue its mission as a functioning 21st century firehouse and Northside community fixture.

Small Business Assistance

Atlantic City is receiving an $800,000 grant that the City has been seeking since the start of the Pandemic for small business recovery. The City is matching $200,000.

This funding will support three different programs:

1. A concierge service will be established to provide staffing to promote economic development and provide service to all prospective developers.
2. 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.
3. Marketing focused on helping smaller businesses develop a marketable brand and identify the appropriate targets to attract tourists, businesses and residents.

This effort is underway now, and will continue over the next 18 months. This funding comes as the next part of Mayor Small’s Small Business Academy is set to take place next month.

Congressman Jeff Van Drew actively supported securing this grant for Atlantic City.

Neighborhood Revitalization

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.

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