Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today joined Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. in highlighting a $20 million federal grant to support an infrastructure project to elevate U.S. 40, which will address flooding issues by upgrading the drainage systems along the route. They also talked about a $6 million grant to support the Atlantic City Boardwalk Revitalization Project. Sen. Menendez, along with Senator Cory Booker, secured the funding for these projects in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan (ARP), respectively.
“These federal grants we’re celebrating today will help create a safer, more resilient U.S. 40 and renovate a portion of the Atlantic City boardwalk that has stood for over a century,” said Sen. Menendez. “By making these much needed upgrades to U.S. 40 we will have road infrastructure that can better withstand severe storm surges and prevent the crashes that occur when the highway becomes flooded. By upgrading the boardwalk, we will also be supporting small businesses that depend on tourism and will create more than a hundred new jobs to support the local economy. Simply put, these projects will help make sure that Atlantic City can continue to thrive and grow for the next century of its history.”
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“This project is the start of what we expect to be a complete revamping of the Atlantic City Boardwalk, and the best part is the taxpayers will not be paying a dime for this,” said Mayor Small. “Senator Menendez understands how important this is for both Atlantic City and the great state of New Jersey. I want to thank him for supporting our vision of rebuilding our iconic Boardwalk.”
The $20 million dollar project to elevate U.S. 40, designed to address flooding and safety issues along the route, is funded under the historic investments made in the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) Discretionary Grant program through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed into law last year.
The $6 million dollar project along the Atlantic City Boardwalk is funded under the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) $240 million competitive American Rescue Plan Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program. EDA awarded $510 million in grants to all 50 states and territories in 2021. The two programs are designed to accelerate the recovery of communities that rely on the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation sectors.
The funding will help support the reconstruction of 1,200 feet of the boardwalk, from Florida to Missouri Avenues, which is over 100 years old. The project will also support the local tourism economy and is estimated to generate $5 million in private investment and create 125 jobs. The estimated cost to replace the entire boardwalk is $60 million.
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