Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. delivered his first State of the City address of his second full term this afternoon before a sold out crowd of more than 700 attendees at the Metropolitan Business & Citizens Association (MBCA) Kick-Off Forecast 2026 event, held at Golden Nugget Atlantic City.
“What we are accomplishing under this Administration is nothing short of extraordinary. Year after year, we continue to deliver meaningful progress, exciting new developments, and major milestones for our city,” said Mayor Small. “No matter what challenges exist beyond Atlantic City, we control our destiny and we will continue to prosper, grow, and move forward, just as we have every single year I’ve been in office.”
Mayor Small’s 2026 theme—The Future is Ours—served as a reminder that, despite outside influences, Atlantic City controls its own destiny through faith, resilience and redemption. During his address, Mayor Small outlined key accomplishments and priorities for the city, including major infrastructure investments, economic, residential and commercial development initiatives, and continued progress in public safety, while offering a forward-looking vision for Atlantic City’s future.
Infrastructure
More than $250 million is currently being invested in Atlantic City’s infrastructure at zero cost to taxpayers. Major road paving projects along Baltic Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard has recently been completed, while additional projects, including the repaving of Pacific Avenue, are now underway. The long-anticipated paving of Atlantic Avenue from Tennessee Avenue to Albany Avenue remains on track to begin in the spring.
For the first time in the city’s history, traffic signals along both Atlantic and Pacific Avenues will be fully synchronized, improving traffic flow and pedestrian safety. A $20 million Boardwalk repair project from New Jersey Avenue to Tennessee Avenue has just begun, while a second Boardwalk repair project from Bellevue Avenue to Arkansas Avenue has recently been completed. Ongoing resiliency improvements include multiple bulkhead repair projects currently taking place in the Chelsea and Ducktown neighborhoods, as well as critical upgrades to pump stations at Atlantis Avenue and Fisherman’s Park.
Economic, Commercial and Residential Development
Through the efforts of the City of Atlantic City’s Economic Development team, $900,000 was awarded in 2025 to support 65 small businesses citywide, helping retain approximately 200 jobs and create 75 new jobs. Many recipients were minority, women, or veteran-owned businesses. Looking ahead, the city plans to launch Great Day University, a free educational initiative designed to teach residents about credit repair and financial planning. The city will also host another cohort of its Small Business Academy for residents interested in starting or expanding a business.
Atlantic City’s dining scene continues to grow, with many restaurants undergoing renovations and expansions. In support of local businesses, the city is taking initial steps toward implementing a year-round outdoor dining program that would allow sidewalk dining throughout the year. The city also plans to relaunch its Keep It Local campaign, encouraging residents and visitors to support locally owned establishments. In addition to offering a free parking weekend during Small Business Month in May, Mayor Small announced a commitment to free parking on select days during the holiday season.
On the residential development front, nationally recognized home builder K. Hovnanian is planning nearly 300 housing units in the Inlet section of Atlantic City, as well as additional units near the former Atlantic Club site. These projects join a growing list of major developments, including Kushner’s Caspian Pointe and multiple projects within the Orange Loop neighborhood.
Clean and Safe
With continued development across the city, Mayor Small reassured investors and residents that Atlantic City remains a safe place to live, work, and invest. Crime has decreased in Atlantic City for each of the last three years, with an overall reduction of 12.15% since 2022. In 2025, the Atlantic City Police Department achieved a historic milestone by solving 100% homicides and non-fatal shootings. This success has been attributed to strategic investments in technology, including citywide cameras, ShotSpotter, and license plate readers.
The city continues to invest in public safety technology and equipment, including a mobile command center and drones for the Police Department. The Atlantic City Fire Department has a new ladder truck and Boardwalk mini pumper in service, while the Department of Public Works is upgrading its fleet with new vehicles such as hook-lift trucks for snow and leaf collection and rear-load garbage trucks.
The city’s Anti-Violence Division and Municipal Courts will continue collaborative outreach efforts in some of Atlantic City’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. Additionally, the city’s Homeless Outreach Team successfully prevented or helped remove 113 families from homelessness in 2025 through $150,000 in rental assistance. The Small Administration has committed an additional $700,000 in rental and utility assistance for 2026.
City Projects and Image
Several major city facilities are receiving upgrades thanks to millions of dollars in grant funding. Dolphin Field and Pete Pallitto Field are undergoing significant improvements, while Kennedy Plaza is receiving a $1.5 million revitalization. Additional enhancements funded through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) resources include upgrades to the All Wars Memorial Building and adjacent tennis courts, the City Hall exterior, and the MLK Complex basketball courts. Up to 12 bus shelters across Atlantic City will also be renovated through CDBG funding. The city’s Department of Licensing and Inspections will conduct targeted inspections along Atlantic and Pacific Avenues with the goal of improving property conditions and encouraging increased residential occupancy along these key corridors.
Mayor Small also announced that Atlantic City has achieved investor-grade status from Moody’s Ratings for the first time in a decade. Building on this financial progress, he revealed plans to provide residents with a seventh consecutive municipal tax decrease.
As part of the annual State of the City process, Mayor Small directs all department heads to prepare a list of goals to be achieved in 2026. These departmental goals will be made publicly available on www.acnj.gov next week.
