South Jersey Secures $99 Million in Federal Funding for Beach Replenishment

There’s some big money heading to the Jersey Shore… and it’s going to directly impact the beaches that drive South Jersey’s economy.

Congressman Jeff Van Drew has announced that nearly $99 million in federal funding has been secured through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for beach replenishment and coastal protection projects across the region.

This funding will go toward major sand replenishment efforts in Ocean City, Strathmere, Sea Isle City, Avalon, and Stone Harbor… all communities that rely heavily on wide, stable beaches to protect homes, businesses, and tourism.

If you’ve ever seen one of these projects in action, it’s pretty impressive. Giant pipes pump sand from offshore or nearby inlets onto the beach, while bulldozers reshape dunes and rebuild the shoreline. It’s not just about making the beaches look nice… it’s about storm protection and long-term survival of these barrier islands.

And the stakes here are huge.

Cape May County’s tourism industry is estimated at $12 billion, supporting roughly 40,000 jobs and generating about $700 million annually in state and local revenue. Without regular replenishment, erosion would quickly eat away at beaches… putting that entire economy at risk.

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Van Drew says this is one of the largest investments New Jersey has seen in a “non-storm year,” meaning this funding wasn’t triggered by a recent major disaster… but instead through strategic use of federal disaster funds and ongoing project planning.

There’s also additional funding tied to dredging projects across South Jersey… more than $5 million will go toward improving waterways like the Salem River, Maurice River, Cold Spring Inlet, and the Intracoastal Waterway. These projects help keep boating channels open and support commercial activity.

Now… here’s the part that many locals will immediately notice.

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North Wildwood is NOT included in this funding.

The reason comes down to a technicality that has been a major issue for years… North Wildwood does not currently have an active federal coastal storm protection project. A long-planned project fell apart in 2025 after more than a decade of work.

But there is finally some forward movement.

Officials have now secured support to redesign that project, with a new plan focused on pulling sand from the ebb-tidal delta at Hereford Inlet. If approved and implemented, that could provide a more consistent and localized solution to the erosion problems that have hammered North Wildwood’s beaches.

Looking ahead, Van Drew is also pushing for another $70 million in future funding through the 2027 federal budget. That next round would target projects on Long Beach Island and Absecon Island… including Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport.

He’s also working on a broader solution called the Coastal Trust Fund Act, which aims to create a steady, reliable funding source for beach replenishment instead of relying on one-off federal allocations.

Bottom line… this $99 million investment is a big deal for South Jersey.

It protects beaches, supports the economy, and keeps the Shore in the game as one of the top summer destinations on the East Coast.