[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6192835,"mediaKeyId","3972550-df8588e321559b6a747caf906ee007f3","parentId",3972550,"title","Brunswick presents microtransit plan, asks Glynn County for $150,000 contribution","audioSeconds",724,"startMs",639000,"endMs",1363000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3972550-df8588e321559b6a747caf906ee007f3&start=639&end=1363","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3972550-df8588e321559b6a747caf906ee007f3/thumbnail_639000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6192835/Glynn-County/Georgia/Brunswick-presents-microtransit-plan-asks-Glynn-County-for-150000-contribution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192835-aab7a440784c9be4ea1d0ca0c9a7635d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422512&Signature=d8FrmyZXL6onaunPgiT5~lvY2oscoxET0Y8wH80J2xl9n4O5D~BwQbugBaZF516qZVLTcExkbTSJk2gVRBzuuwPc4F0jLjhrDnDz4jko7H2HlfPcAg7zokcSERzAzhyxYISoQJnJcctpQ1iuRNnlv1IIm0xmjKCkKaSGTkEvcGBs0h-OWlJXZSnz-PBaWe5sl6ymdmCBQLuPLkukMBiJ8auWcj6tuY85lN8zPRpaBAjPj5VfSwE0vHMy5RKCQViz9GYSmaTacfP~FWu20zHcL45~LVJGJs2NP8g1WF6HKKTKWOOv1Twroq3na3KUqYHhzJMWhe87Zs-PsSg6ldTj5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-20T00:48:01.99Z","article","The Glynn County Board of Commissioners on June 17 heard a presentation from Regina McDuffie, city manager for the City of Brunswick, on the city’s proposed microtransit service and a request that the county provide $150,000 in initial funding.

McDuffie said the city selected Via as a turnkey operator after an RFP and interview process and described the service as an on-demand, shared-ride system with smaller vehicles and “virtual” or digital stops rather than fixed routes. “The micro transit system is a public on demand system that kinda takes you where you want, when you want,” McDuffie said.

Why it matters: Brunswick officials said the service is designed primarily to support workforce mobility and to fill gaps for residents who lack reliable transportation to jobs, medical appointments and basic services. The city’s presentation cited local studies and said the service could help reduce vehicle miles and emissions while supporting economic development.

Key details from the presentation and discussion:
- Operator: Via was described as a national supplier used in other Georgia communities; the city said Via will supply drivers, supervision, a call center and customer service and intends to hire local drivers and supervisors. McDuffie said the provider has systems “in 40 countries and over 750 communities, including Valdosta” and other Georgia locales.
- Cost and funding ask: The city presented an estimated first-year contract cost of about $1,100,000 for operations plus roughly $150,000 for city administration and grant oversight. The city said it expects to contribute about $440,000 and sought $150,000 from Glynn County; the presentation also listed $57,000 in local payer revenue and said federal and state grants would supply the bulk of the remainder.
- Five‑year forecast: The presentation included projected growth in operating costs if the service footprint and hours expand (city estimate: roughly $1.8 million in year two with a possible increase to about $1.9 million by year five).
- Service area and limits: The initial service footprint will cover the city and nearby corridors, including I‑95 Exits 36 and 38, the airport and portions of Saint Simons Island; McDuffie said the city is limited to the federally defined “urbanized area” for the FTA/GDOT funds it plans to use and that boundary drives the initial map. She said the digital platform can expand the footprint later as data and funding permit.
- Schedule and operations: The city said it is aiming to launch as early as October 2025. Proposed hours under consideration would support early morning workforce shifts (about 5:30–6:00 a.m.) and run into the late evening (9–10 p.m.) to accommodate hospitality shifts; fares were presented at about $2 per ride with premium surcharges possible for longer trips (for example, airport service).
- Vehicles and accessibility: City staff said they expect to begin with about five to seven ADA‑compliant passenger vans with wheelchair access.

Discussion and unanswered items:
Commissioners and county staff pressed for more detail on ridership projections, payback and data collection. A commissioner asked why some parts of the county (examples cited: Exit 29, Brooklyn, Fancy Bluff and Jekyll Island) are not in the initial footprint; McDuffie and John Hunter, the city’s planning and development director, said the federal/state funding rules tied to the urbanized area restrict the financed service area but that the program’s digital footprint can be expanded later and that the city will pursue other funding sources and partners to broaden coverage.

County officials also asked about fare collection and inclusivity. McDuffie said the system can accept cash, online payments, credit cards and pre‑purchased vouchers and that community partners could buy rides for employees. Staff said Via will provide fare tracking, driver communications and emergency communications systems.

Several county commissioners and staff urged quicker expansion and recommended that county and city managers coordinate on funding and footprint options. Commissioners asked county staff (named in discussion as Bill and Monica) to work with city staff to explore matching funds, subsidies from major employers and other revenue sources such as advertising on vehicles and visitor fees.

No formal county vote or funding commitment was recorded during the session. Commissioners asked staff to continue working with city officials and to return with more financial detail and options for phased contributions.

What remained unresolved: The presentation did not provide a final annual ridership estimate, a formal county funding commitment, nor a signed contract; several commissioners asked for explicit payback metrics (cost per ride and fiscal scenarios) before making a multi‑year commitment.

Ending note: City staff framed the program as an economic development and workforce tool that could adapt as ridership and funding evolve. County staff and commissioners expressed general support for continuing negotiations but requested more concrete ridership and fiscal modeling before committing county funds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","County Commission Special Called Meeting 6/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Glynn County Board of Commissioners on June 17 heard a presentation from Regina McDuffie, city manager for the City of Brunswick, on the city’s proposed microtransit service and a request that the county provide $150,000 in initial funding.","taxTitle","Glynn County, Georgia","taxId",28533,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6192825,"Glynn County staff outline Recreation Parks master plan update, say indoor facility capacity lags peers",252,3393000,3645000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3972550-df8588e321559b6a747caf906ee007f3&start=3393&end=3645","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3972550-df8588e321559b6a747caf906ee007f3/thumbnail_3393000.jpg","/articles/6192825/Glynn-County/Georgia/Glynn-County-staff-outline-Recreation-Parks-master-plan-update-say-indoor-facility-capacity-lags-peers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192825-5ba2ae2af4149f4cfd38f545a16c29ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422512&Signature=Id-jNq6Fd-hiSnPAsKtaCRbJRh8Gfsv5w6rJo2pqZ3IEBfDxez4Y2Az9l7h4OpkiP-mZTWJrqSYJUskrnXNecjuteZpC8Ph0QLlZkgC3clXZ4Hcbq2W9phCdShVXu0b9HtHLEZpymQcCkLxVhW6ld37o4xXuW525WtWJR22LLseugx3fXT43niaf0RX4426XrxxvFXgAk7cJ12Vyjg9Y6O6f4soDpeHtLN-dVpDLhBgphuqZy3Mi9W2nNnx9YBwbSEIa4kHLEpAy27JphxdSl6VxlU27bKRuLw6hJlWy845l9mTNdFJhWLyzxet7oW9XauxbJKuIvOwDFE7-bWXdqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Glynn County staff on June 17 briefed commissioners on the Recreation Parks master plan update and on next steps for community engagement and facility assessments.

Parks Director Michael Gleaves (presenting) said the update aligns with the county strategic plan and responds to population growth and changing demands. “We’d like to make sure Glynn County is a recreation destination,” staff said while outlining a gap analysis and service‑area maps for the county’s four community parks and several neighborhood parks.

Why it matters: Staff said the county’s population is about 88,000 and projected to climb toward 95,000 in coming years, which affects demand for parks, indoor recreation space and connectivity. The presentation compared Glynn County to peer jurisdictions and found the county well supplied with park acres overall but relatively low in indoor square footage compared with similar jurisdictions.

Key points presented:
- Service areas: Staff mapped a ten‑minute/5‑mile service radius for each community park and identified underserved western and northern parts of the county where future parks or facilities may be prioritized.
- Indoor space shortage: The master‑plan update noted Glynn County’s indoor recreation square footage is lower than peer communities and recommended strategies to increase capacity for indoor sports and programs.
- Staffing and metrics: The presentation listed about 74 full‑time equivalent parks staff (staff said this aligns with national averages for a county Glynn’s size) and said the county’s park acres per resident are high when including large regional parks.
- Next steps: Staff proposed community engagement (surveys and stakeholder interviews), facility assessments and development of a prioritized list of capital projects for commissioners’ review.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about neighborhood parks that were not included in the community‑park mapping and about whether certain regional parks (for example Blythe Island) were included in the analysis; staff said neighborhood parks were excluded from the community‑park service maps but will still factor into an overall needs assessment. No budget or formal action was taken; staff will return with community engagement materials and a draft facilities list.","Parks and recreation staff presented a high‑level update on the county’s Recreation Parks Comprehensive Master Plan process, identified gaps in indoor facility space and recommended community engagement and facility assessments as next steps.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6192829,"Nonprofit developer asks Glynn County for $800,000 pledge to unlock Rise Grizzly renovation grants",335,2497000,2832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3972550-df8588e321559b6a747caf906ee007f3&start=2497&end=2832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3972550-df8588e321559b6a747caf906ee007f3/thumbnail_2497000.jpg","/articles/6192829/Glynn-County/Georgia/Nonprofit-developer-asks-Glynn-County-for-800000-pledge-to-unlock-Rise-Grizzly-renovation-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6192829-87352cbd50d1d97b4eb7dd52cad627e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770422512&Signature=orjqmp4fAi0zb7~R7swsUr5~t34s-z-vQrobd-zTjTsZ96lYKI-bLWI9uWPSeryepo4dPCSs7jBTFbMHE4Q~yQmNXhspz8pj1460K3RhEEAVgC44fmVoKYIondIVPuQPxWeVzrfGvSjf2EWedYG1sPS8TuE7ezJLcyscJz75W9Pq3ytd231FkKmgIHf3buYQdQARhPLqQh5AuNLcCWJYUxVFTO460kpawbWcbqJ80xA0VQWcCdIhOj2xW1Wb5ts3i5zoT8fUTHle0ihf2fl-lSZBaEEC7c--smzmZw8M17FkeilygXoeUc5OWTiUs8onct4oFQeRIYxYHyrDGsDoOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Glynn County Board of Commissioners on June 17 received an update on the Rise Grizzly historic renovation project and a request for a formal $800,000 commitment from the county to strengthen grant and tax‑credit applications.

Theresa Hamilton, representing the project, introduced Mitchell Davenport, the developer engaged to close and manage construction financing, who described the project scope, risk‑mitigation work completed to date and remaining steps to get the project to construction. Davenport said the project team has completed a Phase I environmental review and a structural assessment, removed asbestos tile from a second floor and prepared schematic designs and cost estimates.

Why it matters: Presenters said Rise Grizzly will repurpose a large historic campus in a low‑income census tract as affordable office and service space for nonprofits, training and a small‑business kitchen incubator. The team argued that local government support will bolster the project’s competitiveness for state and federal grants, historic tax credits and new markets tax credit allocations.

Financial and schedule details provided by the developer:
- Hard construction estimate shown to commissioners: about $18,345,131 (the presentation stated this figure includes a 14% contingency). Davenport said a current rounded total development budget is about $22,100,000.
- Grants and equity: Presenters said they have received or been awarded about $1,649,832 in grants to date and have applied for over $26,000,000 in additional grant funding. The team also reported a pending National Park Service historic tax‑credit Part 1 approval (NPS project number cited in the presentation) and that a Part 2 application had been submitted on May 29 for a 2027 tax‑credit reservation.
- Local ask and near‑term reimbursement: The presenters asked for the county’s formal commitment to an $800,000 local contribution (Commissioner Booker previously designated $800,000 for RISE). Davenport also requested reimbursement of approximately $400,000 for early milestone costs to allow the nonprofit to proceed to exploratory demolition, finalize architectural plans and secure additional capital and tax‑credit buyers.
- Timeline: If the county is amenable and an MOU is finalized at a near meeting, the developer said exploratory demolition could be ordered immediately, design completion could take four to six months, contractor mobilization about three months, and an 18‑month construction period would put a potential delivery around September 2027.

Discussion and context:
Commissioners and staff asked for detail on prior spending, reimbursement mechanics and revenue assumptions. Davenport said roughly $460,000 in private donations has been raised to date, that the project assumes some rental income from nonprofit tenants (presentation listed about 23,300 rentable square feet of office/school space and roughly 50,000 gross square feet overall), and that many grant approvals and tax credit buyers are contingent on seeing local government financial support.

Presenters emphasized the project’s community uses — nonprofit offices, Head Start and training space, a possible museum or gift shop in the former library building, and a kitchen incubator to support small food businesses. Davenport said the project team is pursuing new markets tax credits to provide equity and low‑interest loans and that showing local financial commitments strengthens grant and investor confidence.

No formal county vote or appropriation was recorded during the meeting. Commissioners said they would continue reviewing materials; a county official noted the city commission had previously voted to enter an agreement to support the project but that document had not yet been executed.

Ending: Project leaders asked for a near‑term MOU and financial commitment so they can complete milestone work, attract tax‑credit investors and schedule construction; county staff and commissioners requested additional documentation and clarity on reimbursement timing and grant conditions before approving funds.","Presenters seeking a local commitment said the historic Rise Grizzly campus needs gap funding to advance architectural plans and construction; the developer described project scope, tax credit targets and a request for an $800,000 county commitment plus reimbursement for early milestone costs but no formal county action was taken at the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Brunswick presents microtransit plan, asks Glynn County for $150,000 contribution

Glynn County staff outline Recreation Parks master plan update, say indoor facility capacity lags peers

Nonprofit developer asks Glynn County for $800,000 pledge to unlock Rise Grizzly renovation grants