Crda board approves $1.8 million in 2026 community grants

“Each of these grants reflect the full range of what it takes to build a healthy, vibrant Atlantic City,” said Eric Scheffler, executive director, CRDA. “From feeding families and training the next generation of workers to filling the Boardwalk with free music and more, every one of these organizations is doing impactful work to support our vibrant city – building a better, brighter community that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors for generations to come.”

“Our board takes its responsibility to invest wisely in Atlantic City’s future very seriously. From murals painted and meals grown to the number of students tutored, workers trained and jobs created, the work we are supporting through these grants illustrates the direct impact of our funding and what those dollars can really do – foster change, create a more vibrant community and make Atlantic City a place where folks want to live, work and be part of in a greater way,” said Modia Butler, board chair, CRDA.

This year’s grants were awarded to a variety of local nonprofits and community partners working in the following industry sectors: food security, workforce development, youth services, adult education, public art, homelessness outreach and free public entertainment.

Building a stronger workforce

• CRDA approved $300,000 for Atlantic Cape Community College to launch Phase 5 of Atlantic City Works. This workforce training program has trained roughly 850 residents and generated an estimated $20 million in economic impact since it began.
• CRDA approved $100,000 in new funding for NAN Tech World Atlantic City, a National Action Network program offering hands-on training in fields such as coding, culinary arts and cybersecurity for youth ages 14 to 18.
• CRDA approved a $69,825 grant to Empowerment Tools Coalition to fund youth workforce readiness, career exploration, and substance abuse prevention programming.
• CRDA approved a $100,000 grant to MudGirls Studios to sustain its ceramics-based job training program for women facing barriers to employment and expand community art offerings for children and seniors.

“CRDA’s investment gives women in Atlantic City who are rebuilding their lives a real pathway to a paycheck and a skill they can build a career on. This funding is the difference between a program that survives and one that grows,” Dorrie Papademetriou, executive director, MudGirls Studios.

Expanding access to education

• Literacy New Jersey Atlantic Cape received $30,000 to continue providing free tutoring in basic literacy, English as a second language, GED preparation and job readiness skills to Atlantic City adults. The organization served 45 students last year, logging more than 1,300 hours of one-on-one instruction.

“CRDA’s support means we can put a trained tutor in front of every Atlantic City adult who wants to read to their child, pass a citizenship test, or finally earn a GED. This funding turns a waiting list into an open door,” Linda McAllister, Atlantic Cape program director, Literacy New Jersey.

Addressing food security and wellness

• Communities Revolutionizing Open Public Spaces (C.R.O.P.S.) received $231,150 to continue its Atlantic City Food Security Plan, which operates community gardens, SNAP-accessible farmers markets, a farmer training program and the city’s first Food Hub.
• Angels in Motion, a nonprofit that provides street outreach to residents facing homelessness, mental health challenges and substance use disorders, received $62,200 to expand transportation assistance and wellness programming across the city.

“CRDA’s continued investment keeps our gardens growing and our Food Hub running, which means thousands of Atlantic City community members have fresh, local food on their tables that simply wasn’t accessible before. This funding doesn’t just support a program, it supports the health of an entire city and the sustainability of our local food system which builds food security for the long term,” Lisa Newcomb, executive director, C.R.O.P.S.

Celebrating arts, culture and community

• The Atlantic City Arts Foundation received $134,075 to install four new murals and produce the 48 Blocks Festival, building on a program that has created more than 105 murals citywide.
• Creative Multi Media received $13,375 to produce its Keeping the Music Alive series, which honors Atlantic City’s musical history through live events and a youth talent search.

“Atlantic City’s arts community thrives because of the people who pour their creativity, history, and heart into it. Support for the Atlantic City Arts Foundation means more than murals on our walls. It means stories being told, neighborhoods being uplifted, and people seeing themselves in the art around them. This investment helps us honor our past, inspire our future, and strengthen the community that makes Atlantic City feel like home,” Michael Atkins, executive director, Atlantic City Arts Foundation.

Bringing entertainment to the Boardwalk and beyond

• CRDA approved $30,000 for the Atlantic City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, a 41-year tradition that drew an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 spectators to the Boardwalk in 2025.
• CRDA approved several grants supporting Atlantic City’s free summer event lineup:
  • $142,750 to the National Rhythm and Blues Music Society for an Old School Soul and R&B concert at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
  • $225,000 to Tony Mart Presents for 16 free Mardi Gras AC concerts at Kennedy Plaza.
  • $150,000 to No Vacancy Entertainment for the It’s Pure AC Concert Series, which will celebrate the history of Atlantic City’s legendary clubs, including Club Harlem and The 500 Club.
• CRDA also approved $75,000 for the Jewish Community Center of Atlantic County’s Atlantic City Marathon Race Series, which draws more than 7,000 runners annually and generates an estimated $6 million-plus in economic impact.

“The ongoing partnership with CRDA has been instrumental in helping the Atlantic City Marathon Race Series continue to grow since 2019. Together, we’re creating an event that not only provides an outstanding experience for runners but also brings thousands of visitors to Atlantic City, benefiting local businesses and showcasing everything our destination has to offer,” Genia Sperling, associate executive director of the Katz JCC and race director, Atlantic City Marathon Race Series.

“Every grant we award has to earn its place – we closely evaluate each organization’s track record, community impact, and financial accountability before any dollar is released from CRDA,” said Maisha Moore, deputy executive director, CRDA. “What you see in this first half of 2026 is the result of that process: a variety of impactful organizations that have proven they can deliver for Atlantic City, building towards a better city and even greater region and state.”

All of the 2026 grants are structured as reimbursable awards from the Tourism District and Community Development Fund. As such, each grant recipient must first incur eligible costs and submit documentation before CRDA releases funds, ensuring public dollars are spent as intended. Information on program criteria, application processes, and upcoming opportunities are available on the CRDA website, to assist organizations in accessing the tools they need to advance their work and strengthen Atlantic City.