Victor Carstarphen, Mayor, City of Camden

In an interview with Invest:, Mayor Victor Carstarphen of Camden highlighted a year low in crime, driven by community policing, and record infrastructure improvements, including paving over 280 roads. He credited public-private partnerships, such as with Campbell Soup and Subaru, for supporting local businesses and job creation. “Camden’s success isn’t about me — it’s about ‘we,’” he said.

What have been some of the key milestones for Camden over the past 12 months?

A lot of great things are happening in Camden. Last year, we reached a 55-year low in crime, after being labeled one of the nation’s most dangerous cities back in 2010. Since 2012, when we introduced the Camden County Metro Police Department, we’ve seen a 75% reduction in homicides. That transformation comes down to community policing — building trust between officers and residents. Today, people know their officers by name, and they feel comfortable reporting issues because that connection is there.

Infrastructure has been another major focus. When I campaigned 3½ years ago, residents told me — almost unanimously — that fixing our roads was a top priority. Since 2021, we’ve paved over 280 roads, more than any administration in Camden’s history. Some major streets hadn’t been touched in over 50 years. People tell me it feels like driving through a brand-new city, and that means a lot because it’s about improving quality of life.

We’ve also invested in public spaces, putting over $100 million into park renovations over the past decade. This year alone, we allocated $5.6 million to improve several parks, creating spaces where families can gather and kids can play. Projects like these reinforce that leadership cares about the community’s well-being.

Another huge project is the $250 million rebuild of the Walter Rand Transportation Center. It’s a critical hub connecting South Jersey and Philadelphia, and the new center will include retail space and modern amenities, transforming the downtown experience and boosting our local economy.

Our “Meds and Eds” corridor, which combines our healthcare and educational institutions, is expanding rapidly. Cooper University Health Care recently celebrated a $3 billion expansion. The Coriell Institute for Medical Research, a leader in life sciences, is breaking ground on a new campus in Parkside. Together with Virtua Health and Rutgers, Rowan, and Camden County College, these institutions drive jobs, research, and educational opportunities that uplift our entire community.

How are Camden’s public-private partnerships contributing to economic growth?

Our partnerships with major corporations are at the heart of Camden’s resurgence. Campbell Soup Company, which has been here for 153 years, stayed committed to Camden when others might have left. They’ve remained a cornerstone employer and community partner. We’re also home to the national headquarters of Subaru of America and the executive headquarters of American Water. Holtec International, a global leader in nuclear technology, is here, as are the Philadelphia 76ers, whose corporate offices and practice facility are on our waterfront.

What makes these partnerships special is their deep engagement with the community. These companies aren’t just operating here, they’re investing in our nonprofits, supporting local schools, and creating opportunities for our residents. For example, our Buy Camden First initiative connects local small businesses with these corporations, ensuring they have opportunities to provide services, from catering to landscaping, right here in their own city.

How are you supporting small businesses and workforce development?

Small businesses are the backbone of Camden’s economy, and we’re doing everything we can to support them. Our Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program offers grants for façade improvements, helping business owners upgrade storefronts and attract more customers. It’s about making our neighborhoods more vibrant and inviting. Another key initiative is Camden Works, a job portal that connects residents with employment opportunities from our corporate partners. We’ve placed over 1,000 Camden residents in jobs through this program, directly boosting local employment.

Community engagement seems central to your leadership. How is your administration building trust with residents?

I’m a community guy at heart. People often ask me how I can be everywhere at once. The truth is, I’ve built a strong team at city hall so I can be out in the community, supporting events, visiting schools, and engaging with our small businesses. One initiative I’m especially proud of is Camden Strong, which we launched in 2021. It’s a citywide community cleanup campaign that runs from spring through fall. We schedule cleanups in 16 neighborhoods, and each one feels like a celebration. We gather at a park, I grab my bullhorn, and we walk the streets together — residents, nonprofits, city workers, and even corporate teams like Campbell’s and Subaru, who show up with hundreds of employees.

But it’s more than just picking up trash. It’s about pride. It’s about neighbors seeing their mayor and city leadership shoulder-to-shoulder with them. And because everyone from Public Works to the police department is involved, it becomes an opportunity for real conversations. That’s how you build trust — not just through words, but through consistent action. It’s why Camden Strong has become a cultural movement in our city, recognized by mayors from other cities who’ve come to learn from what we’re doing.

How has Camden’s progress in public safety and infrastructure impacted the housing market?

Our investments in safety, roads, and public spaces have made Camden more attractive for development. As a result, we’re seeing significant growth in the housing market, from affordable housing to mixed-use projects. One success story is Ablett Village, an affordable housing development that has transformed a once-blighted area into a vibrant community.

Our waterfront is also prime for growth. Although the Philadelphia 76ers ultimately decided to keep their arena in Philly, their serious consideration of Camden put a national spotlight on our potential. It made developers take notice of what’s possible here.

We’re also building for seniors. The Michaels Organization, one of the nation’s largest affordable housing developers, is constructing The Oliver, a senior housing project that includes a healthcare facility on-site — the first of its kind in South Jersey.

We’ve been aggressive in eliminating blight as well, demolishing over 3,150 abandoned homes in the past three years. That’s $15 million invested in turning problem properties into opportunities for new development.

How is Camden ensuring access to quality education for its residents?

Education is foundational to Camden’s future, and we’re making sure families have choices. We offer public, charter, and Renaissance school options, so parents can decide what’s best for their children. Healthy competition has raised the bar for all our schools. We’ve also invested in state-of-the-art facilities. Two years ago, we opened the new Camden High School, a $150 million campus that serves as a symbol of our commitment to education. But it wasn’t enough to stop there.

When we saw the condition of Eastside High School, which was just as old and in desperate need of repair, we came together as a community. Local officials and I walked through the building with our congressional and state representatives, and what we saw was unacceptable — leaks, broken facilities, a school that needed more than patchwork repairs. We advocated for a complete rebuild, and the state responded with $120 million for a brand-new Eastside High School. Together, Camden High and Eastside High will be pillars of educational opportunity, ensuring that every child in Camden can learn in a safe, modern environment.

Camden’s credit rating has seen significant improvement. What does this mean for the city’s future?

When I became mayor, Camden’s bond rating was B-minus. Since then, we’ve achieved three consecutive upgrades, going from B-minus to B, then B-plus, and now an A rating. It’s the highest bond rating Camden has had in nearly 50 years. This matters, because it shows investors that Camden is financially stable and well-managed. It means we can borrow money at lower interest rates and invest more in our city without increasing the burden on taxpayers. An improved bond rating is a signal to the world that Camden is a place worth investing in.

What is driving Camden’s momentum, and how do you keep it going?

Camden’s success isn’t about me — it’s about “we.” It’s about every partner, from residents to businesses to nonprofits, working together with a shared vision. We don’t work in silos. The city, the county, the improvement authority, and the state — we are all rowing in the same direction. That unity is the secret to our progress. And it’s about consistency. Residents don’t want promises, they want proof. That’s why, whether it’s public safety, education, or housing, we keep showing up and delivering results. Camden is on the rise because the people of Camden are rising together. And we’re just getting started.