ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. will travel to Washington, D.C. this week with members of the New Jersey Urban Mayor’s Association (NJUMA) to attend a policy exchange event.
The two-day event will provide an opportunity for NJUMA members to meet with state delegates, members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus to learn more about the tools and resources available to assist municipalities in addressing the pressing issues facing urban centers, according to a prepared statement.
Mayor Small, who serves as Southern New Jersey Vice President of the NJUMA, will represent Atlantic City.
NJUMA members will share insights on how federal policy initiatives can better target local government entities. Meetings are also scheduled with White House policy staff on issues directly impacting urban centers.
“It’s truly an honor to represent the great city of Atlantic City and the great state of New Jersey in our nation’s capital,” said Mayor Small. “Atlantic City has served as a blueprint for any urban city that may be struggling, demonstrating that a turnaround is possible. I look forward to discussing overcoming our challenges and coming up with new ideas alongside my colleagues.”
NJUMA members will meet with senior-level agency staff at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Providing support to the NJUMA is the Urban Mayors Policy Center of the John S. Watson Institute of Urban Policy and Research at Kean University.
“Convenings such as this, provide a unique opportunity for members of the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association to talk about common challenges, share best practices, provide greater access and awareness to federal resources, and discuss solutions that positively impact urban centers,” says Barbara George Johnson, Vice President of External Affairs and Urban Policy and Research at Kean.
Additional scheduled events include “Communities in Action: Building a Better New Jersey,” a series that brings local elected officials and community leaders to the White House to highlight the investments of the Biden-Harris Administration and the impact in communities throughout the country, according to the statement.