The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority Board has approved 14 community grants, totaling nearly $1.8 million, during the first six months of 2026.
These grants support a wide range of organizations working to strengthen Atlantic City's economy, culture and quality of life. The grants will help these groups fund the arts, food security, workforce training, youth programs, adult education, homelessness outreach and free public entertainment on the Atlantic City summer event calendar.
"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."
The only agency of its kind in the nation, CRDA is primarily funded by mandatory payments from Atlantic City casinos equal to 1.25% of their gross gaming revenue. CDRA facilitates economic and community development in Atlantic City by leveraging its available assets and revenues with private investment capital to support redevelopment projects. CRDA also oversees land use planning and clean and safe initiatives in the Atlantic City Tourism District.
The 2026 grants so far from CRDA include:
- $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. ·
- $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.
- $69,825 grant to Empowerment Tools Coalition to fund youth workforce readiness, career exploration, and substance abuse prevention programming.
- $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.
- $30,000 to Literacy New Jersey Atlantic Cape 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.
- $231,150 to Communities Revolutionizing Open Public Spaces (C.R.O.P.S.) 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.
- $62,200 to Angels in Motion, a nonprofit that provides street outreach to residents facing homelessness, mental health challenges and substance use disorders. The funds will be used to expand transportation assistance and wellness programming in the city.
- $134,075 to the Atlantic City Arts Foundation to install four new murals and produce the 48 Blocks Festival, building on a program that has created over 105 murals citywide.
- $13,375 to Creative Multi Media to produce its Keeping the Music Alive series, which honors Atlantic City's musical history through live events and a youth talent search.
- $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.
- $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.
- $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.
All 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.
