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The City of Wildwood announced that the United States Economic Development Administration (USEDA) awarded it $3.2 million to be used for nearly three blocks of Boardwalk reconstruction.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo notified Wildwood of the award May 3.

“This is great news for our city,” said Mayor Pete Byron. “Despite our maintenance efforts over the past 100 years, much of the Boardwalk’s understructure and decking has been ravaged by time and nature, making total reconstruction of the Boardwalk necessary. This award will certainly help us achieve that goal.”

Efforts to reconstruct the Boardwalk began last year with a three-block section of an eight-block area thanks to $4 million in funding from a grant championed by Gov. Phil Murphy. The additional five blocks are expected to be completed with an additional $4 million state grant proposed in New Jersey’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget.

Under the USEDA award, which will be matched with $845,000 in local funds, Boardwalk improvements will start between Pine and Maple Avenues, running to Magnolia Avenue.

“With approximately 6 million visitors every year visiting our Boardwalk, it is the single greatest tourism driver in the Wildwoods,” noted Commissioner Krista Fitzsimmons, who oversees the city’s Department of Revenue and Finance. “Therefore, the need to rebuild this important economic attraction is central to the city’s ability to continue to attract visitors and help keep the local tax base stable.”

The project is expected to create over 100 new jobs and generate approximately $6 million in private investment. The work will include the removal and replacement of existing timber decking and stringers, concrete trolley beams and slabs, repairs to the current concrete substructure, and the installation of new timber stairs from the Boardwalk to the beachfront.

“Cape May County generates, on average, more than $6 billion per year in tourism receipts – nearly one-sixth of the state’s total tourism industry – and a significant portion of that comes [from] the Wildwoods and our Boardwalk,” Bryon said. “Without a safe, attractive Boardwalk, tourism in the Wildwoods would be crippled and would devastate local, county, and state tourism. So, I am particularly grateful for the financial support of the USEDA, the State of New Jersey and all of our partners in this important and impactful Boardwalk Reconstruction project.”

The work is expected to be completed by June 2023.