Patel says education and health care sectors continue to drive growth, with major employers such as Cooper University Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Rutgers University–Camden and Rowan University leading the way. Corporate anchors such as Campbell Soup Co., Subaru of America and New Jersey American Water further diversify the economy.

Camden has seen a shift away from its manufacturing roots, but the city is positioning itself for a resilient future with strategic investments in sectors such as health care, Patel says. The proposed Strategic Innovation Center and Cooper University Health Care’s $3-billion “Imagine” expansion signal a strong trajectory toward innovation-driven growth.