Atlantic City Reinforces Commitment to Small Businesses Through $900K Micro-Grant Program

The City of Atlantic City is celebrating the success of a transformative $900,000 Small Business Micro-Grant Program that has strengthened the backbone of the local economy, while positioning entrepreneurs for long-term growth.

In total, 65 small businesses in Atlantic City benefited from the initiative. Spearheaded by Mayor Marty Small Sr. and administered through the city’s Division of Economic Development, the program was designed to provide critical financial relief to small, for-profit businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded in part through the American Rescue Plan Act, the initiative focused on stabilizing operations, preserving jobs, and helping businesses build resilience.

“Since becoming mayor, I have made it clear that this administration will do everything possible to support Atlantic City’s business community,” said Mayor Small. “We have backed that commitment by using American Rescue Plan Act funds to invest directly in our local businesses. What began as a $500,000 investment quickly grew when we saw the positive impact it was having across the city, leading us to nearly double our commitment.”

Through the program, each eligible business received up to $15,000 to offset pandemic-related financial challenges and strengthen operations. The measurable outcomes highlight the program’s impact. An estimated 200 jobs were retained, and 75 new jobs were created, reinforcing the city’s workforce and helping families maintain economic stability. Notably, more than one-third of the funding supported startups, demonstrating Atlantic City’s commitment to fostering new ideas and encouraging entrepreneurship.

“This was truly a historic program spearheaded by Mayor Marty Small that allowed the city to put capital directly into the hands of our small business owners,” said Director Bruce Weekes of the city’s Economic Development team. “This reception was about supporting the entrepreneurs who received funding and recognizing the significant impact of this initiative. Years from now, we’ll be able to look back at this program and see the great things these businesses have accomplished.”

For many of the grant recipients, the program’s impact is reflected in renewed opportunity and stability.

Bashira Khan of Saving Is Sexy, Make It Make Cents emphasized how the funding will allow her to expand her mission of financial education:

“This grant is going to help me tremendously because for the last 20-plus years, I’ve been spending all my own money,” Khan said. “To be able to have the extra funding will help me focus on youth, because as a child, we weren’t often talked to about money. It will help me go back and reach at-risk communities by teaching financial literacy.”

At Vagabond Kitchen & Tap House, owner Thomas Harris is already planning improvements that will enhance both the business and its presence in the community:

“I’ve got a couple ideas with the grant that we’re receiving,” Harris said. “For one, I want to work on the exterior of the property. Being this old, I want to make it a little more modern looking, so I’m really excited and I know exactly what I’m going to do with this grant.”

For long-standing neighborhood staples like Rafael’s Hair Salon, the funding provides critical support during slower seasons:

“It helps keep us afloat for the wintertime,” said owner Howard Leroy. “We can purchase equipment, new signage, and things that we actually need right now.”

Retail businesses are also seeing meaningful benefits. Habib Rehman of Ocean One Gifts on the Atlantic City Boardwalk described how the grant helps his business and his neighboring businesses recover from tough times:

“Since COVID-19, we’ve been struggling very hard, and the business has been very tough,” Rehman said. “But the grants offered by Atlantic City really help us make a difference. It helps us improve our inventory, strengthen customer relationships, and continue to grow.”

For others, the program represents assistance in a gateway to entrepreneurship. Mike Lopez of AC Mike LLC shared how the support helped turn his vision into reality:

“I always wanted to do something different, be creative, and the City of Atlantic City has given me that opportunity,” Lopez said. “Now I own a business.”

Beyond job creation and retention, the program also played a vital role in strengthening key commercial corridors. Eleven businesses along the Boardwalk and eleven along Atlantic Avenue (four of them startups) received funding, helping to energize some of the city’s most visible and economically important areas. Equally significant is the program’s emphasis on inclusion. Approximately three-quarters of grant recipients were minority-owned, women-owned, or veteran-owned businesses, with nearly half identified as Black-owned businesses. This targeted support reflects the city’s ongoing effort to ensure that economic opportunities are accessible to a diverse range of entrepreneurs and that growth is shared across communities.

With strong outcomes already visible and momentum building, city officials say this initiative is just one step in a broader, ongoing effort to ensure Atlantic City’s economy remains resilient for years to come.

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