The City of Atlantic City was a uniquely nimble public client with high aspirations to develop competitive economic strategies focusing on diversifying the economy with new industries and opportunities while continuing to leverage the tourism and entertainment industries. The client team was most interested in creating shared prosperity for all Atlantic City residents and creating equitable access to economic opportunities.

The current administration inherited a city with deep financial problems and a long history of corruption. However, over the past several years, the City has continued to develop resources, opportunities, and strategic partnerships to support the city in recovering from economic shocks from previous environmental challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. The local economy remains highly reliant upon lower-wage sectors, like tourism and leisure, which experienced difficulty during the pandemic. While there is targeted growth in other sectors, the lack of economic diversification leaves the City vulnerable to further economic shocks. Additionally, the large waterfront hotels, resorts, and casinos stand in stark contrast to the largely underdeveloped inland areas of the city, creating a divide between the areas for tourists and locals. Moreover, the city sees little real estate development across all typologies, and developments underway are slow progress.