With May being National Small Business Month, City of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. delivered a proclamation officially declaring “Small Business Month” in the City of Atlantic City. The City of Atlantic City’s Department of Planning & Development, under the leadership of Assistant Director of Economic Development Bruce Weekes (pictured at the podium) and Principal Community Organizational Specialist Pam Fields, has also launched a series of initiatives to support small businesses in Atlantic City.

Free Parking on May 17th

In an effort to encourage residents and visitors to visit Atlantic City and patronize local businesses, on Saturday May 17, 2025, parking meters and kiosks will not be enforced throughout the City of Atlantic City, with the exception of parking on the beach blocks.

‘Keep it Local’ Campaign

To market Atlantic City businesses and promote shopping local, the City of Atlantic City has created signage encouraging people to ‘Shop, Eat, Explore’ in Atlantic City that the Planning & Development team will push for all businesses to put in their windows in the coming weeks. The signs are six different colors, with one color representing each of Atlantic City’s six wards. Every business that adds this signage to their store will be featured on the City of Atlantic City’s new website – www.greatdayatlanticcity.com.

Small Business Academy and Other Free Programs

The latest cohort of the City of Atlantic City’s Small Business Academy, a free program that teaches Atlantic City residents the tools needed to start and grow a business, graduates later this month. Tonight, participants in the program will be doing their business pitches at The Simpson Restaurant and Bar at 6:00 PM. The City of Atlantic City also offers other free programs for residents such as “How to Do Business with Atlantic City”

Atlantic Avenue Shops

The City of Atlantic City is working on a comprehensive incentive package to attract businesses to open shops along Atlantic Avenue to increase the vibrancy along the street and to make Atlantic Avenue a better place for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. The hope is to specifically attract businesses that are currently lacking in the city, such as a hardware store.

Community Partnerships

The City of Atlantic City is continuing to work closely with the neighborhood Community Development Corporations (CDC’s) and the Atlantic City Metropolitan Business and Citizens Association (MBCA) to promote the new ‘Keep it Local’ campaign and leverage resources to encourage new businesses to grow. The CDC’s offer various grants to help new businesses get their feet off the ground and anybody interested in starting a business in Atlantic City should contact their neighborhood CDC or the MBCA to help get the word out.

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