Crda launches Rise Atlantic City community grants

“RISE Atlantic City puts $3 million where it belongs: in the hands of the people and organizations doing the work in our neighborhoods every day,” said Eric Scheffler, CRDA Executive Director. “Over the past several months, we sat down with small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and residents to hear what they need. Every grant category was shaped by that feedback, and we built in the accountability measures so these dollars deliver results residents can see.”

“This is a first step, not a finish line,” said Modia Butler, CRDA Board Chair. “RISE Atlantic City reflects the board’s vision for what Atlantic City can become: a city where investment in our neighborhoods is treated as seriously as any development project. We’re going to keep building on this.”

RISE Atlantic City grants are awarded on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted for each category. Each application is reviewed individually. CRDA built safeguards to ensure every dollar delivers for Atlantic City:

• Grants are issued on a reimbursement basis. Grantees pay eligible expenses and submit documentation for reimbursement;
• A funding match of 25% is required for requests of $30,000 to $99,999;
• A funding match of 50% is required for requests of $100,000 or more;
• All awards require CRDA Board approval.

The RISE Atlantic City grants will be open to community groups throughout the city of Atlantic City and can apply to special programs, events and initiatives in four specific categories:

1. Tourism, Arts & Culture: $1 million available: Funds programming and cultural activation that draws visitors and celebrates Atlantic City’s identity, including festivals, cultural events, public art, and historic preservation.
2. Workforce Development: $700,000 available: Funds job training, credentialing, career coaching, adult education, and workforce reentry programming that connects Atlantic City residents to employment.
3. Youth, Teen and Young Adult Development: $600,000 available: Funds after-school and summer enrichment, mentoring and tutoring, arts and recreation, and civic engagement programming for Atlantic City youth and teens.
4. Community Resilience: $700,000 available: Funds programming that addresses pressing, documented community needs, from food security and homelessness services to mental health support.

“Every RISE Atlantic City grant tells a story about what’s possible when Atlantic City residents have quality programming with real investment behind them,” said Maisha Moore, CRDA Deputy Director. “It’s the after-school program that gives a parent peace of mind, the job training that leads to a first paycheck, the neighborhood event that brings people together – that is the kind of impact that matters and it is exactly why this program is vitally important in creating a new future for Atlantic City.”