‘The Future Is Ours’: Mayor Marty Small Details Progress and Priorities in Atlantic City 2026 State of the City Address
From $250 million in infrastructure projects to continued tax relief and public safety gains, Mayor Small outlines his vision for Atlantic City’s future.
ATLANTIC CITY — Mayor Marty Small Sr. used his 2026 State of the City address on Thursday, January 22, 2026, to highlight hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure investment, continued declines in crime, and a slate of economic and residential projects he said position Atlantic City for sustained growth.
Speaking before a sold-out crowd of more than 700 people at the Metropolitan Business & Citizens Association’s annual kickoff forecast event at Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Small delivered his first State of the City of his second full term under the theme “The Future Is Ours.”
“What we are accomplishing under this administration is nothing short of extraordinary,” Small said. “Year after year, we continue to deliver meaningful progress, exciting new developments, and major milestones for our city.”
Infrastructure investments continue
Small said more than $250 million is currently being invested in Atlantic City’s infrastructure at no cost to local taxpayers. Recent road projects along Baltic Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard have been completed, with Pacific Avenue now being repaved and work on Atlantic Avenue—from Tennessee Avenue to Albany Avenue—scheduled to begin this spring.
Atlantic City Focus
For the first time in city history, traffic signals along both Atlantic and Pacific avenues will be fully synchronized, a move officials say will improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety. Boardwalk repairs are also underway, including a $20 million project from New Jersey Avenue to Tennessee Avenue and the completion of a second project from Bellevue Avenue to Arkansas Avenue.
Additional resiliency work includes bulkhead repairs in the Chelsea and Ducktown neighborhoods and upgrades to pump stations at Atlantis Avenue and Fisherman’s Park.
Taja Johnson
Economic growth and housing
The mayor pointed to continued support for local businesses, noting that the city awarded $900,000 in grants in 2025 to 65 small businesses, helping retain about 200 jobs and create 75 new positions. Many of the recipients were minority-, women- or veteran-owned businesses.
Taja Johnson
Looking ahead, the city plans to launch Great Day University, a free program focused on credit repair and financial planning, and to host another cohort of its Small Business Academy. The administration is also exploring a year-round outdoor dining program and plans to relaunch the city’s Keep It Local campaign, along with offering free parking on select days, including during the holiday season.
On the residential side, Small announced plans by K. Hovnanian to develop nearly 300 housing units in the Inlet, along with additional units near the former Atlantic Club site. Those projects join other developments, including Caspian Pointe and multiple projects in the Orange Loop neighborhood.
Public safety and quality of life
Small emphasized that crime has declined in Atlantic City for each of the past three years, with an overall reduction of 12.15 percent since 2022. In 2025, the Atlantic City Police Department solved 100 percent of homicides and non-fatal shootings, a milestone attributed to investments in technology such as citywide cameras, ShotSpotter and license plate readers.
The city has also added a mobile command center and drones for police, while the Fire Department has placed a new ladder truck and Boardwalk mini-pumper into service. Public Works continues to upgrade its fleet with new trucks for snow, leaf collection and sanitation.
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The administration said its Homeless Outreach Team helped prevent or end homelessness for 113 families in 2025 through $150,000 in rental assistance, with an additional $700,000 committed for rental and utility assistance in 2026.
Taja Johnson
City projects and finances
Several city facilities are being upgraded with grant funding, including Dolphin Field, Pete Pallitto Field and Kennedy Plaza. Additional improvements are planned for the All Wars Memorial Building, City Hall, the MLK Complex basketball courts and up to 12 bus shelters through Community Development Block Grant funding.
Taja Johnson
Small also announced that Atlantic City has regained investor-grade status from Moody’s Ratings for the first time in a decade. Building on that financial progress, he said the city plans to deliver a seventh consecutive municipal tax decrease.
Mark Tyler
Department heads have been directed to publish their goals for 2026, which will be posted on the city’s website next week, Small said.
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