City’s FY26-27 block grant program helps low to moderate income persons
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By Pamela Permar-Shierling
Each year the City of Brunswick receives federal funding from the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and community development initiatives benefiting primarily low and moderate income persons.
The Annual Action Plan for fiscal year 2026-2027, presented to the city commission July 15 by Dina Carter, Grants Program Specialist, is based on an annual allocation from HUD of $380,563.
The funds will be spent as follows:
• $186,398 – rehabilitate five housing units
• $25,000 – Brunswick Housing Authority (BHA) properties – to make improvements to the BHA properties
• $57,000 – awarded to 14 non-profit entities:
• A Better Glynn – $4,270 – identify, educate, and equip individuals to be equity-driven decision-makers through civic engagement, policy advocacy, and leadership development. Expected to help 10 lower/moderate income individuals.
• Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Georgia – $2,720 – youth programs such as Triple Play for health and fitness and educational programs such as Career Launch and Goals for Graduation. Estimated 10 youth will be served.
• Coastal Coalition for Children – $7,703 – Programs include First Steps to support expecting parents or any caregiver of a child less than five-years old; a home visiting program through Healthy Families, and Grandparent Connection to support grandparents, legal guardians, or kinship placements to create a stable and nurturing environment for affected children. An estimated 10 low and moderate income persons will benefit.
• Coastal Outreach Academies – $6,703 – programs serve students from low-income areas in Brunswick. Their programs provide a fun way to engage the students, provide an exercise outlet in a safe environment, provide positive reinforcement from mentors, and improve school attendance and performance. The programs serve children ages four to eleven. The goal is to keep pre-teen and teen girls involved in physical fitness, cultural enrichment, and empowerment activities. Funds will help pay for salaries of a Director, 4 P/T Trainers, 3 Summer PT Trainers, referees, and a bus driver. 108 students are expected to benefit.
• FaithWorks Ministry – $1,720 – provides pastoral care, resource management, food, financial assistance, transportation, and other services. 20 lower/moderate income persons will be helped.
• First Jordan Grove Missionary Baptist Church – $6,703 – 35 persons to benefit from purchase of fitness equipment for recreational program.
• Hand in Hand of Glynn – $6,703 – permanent supportive housing services. 60 lower/moderate income persons will be helped.
• Opportunity Uplift – $820 – Programs include community wellness, a literature academy, and Ujamaa BWK – a community-centered celebration of Black-owned businesses to foster, support, and sustain these businesses year-round. Estimate 10 individuals to benefit.
• Roosevelt Lawrence Community Youth Center – $8,703 – After School program. The goal of the summer camp program is to achieve academic success. All the children enrolled in the program attend field trips and receive swimming lessons. They also have recreational activities. The children are provided with a breakfast, lunch, and snack. Recently, the Center added another program called Read Together 20 Minutes Every Day. This program will promote reading tools, such as early literacy, math, and social-emotional skills. Benefits 130-140 children per year. Funding to pay for staff salaries and benefits.
• Safe Harbor Children Center, Inc. – $2,220 – Funding will help pay for the salaries of an Outreach Program Director and three staff members. 30 youths will benefit.
• Speech Hearing and Rehabilitation of Coastal Georgia aka SHARE- $4,720 – funds will provide programs and services for individuals with communication disorders. Estimated 20 persons benefit.
• Veritas Shapes Ministries – $725 – Summer camp youth programs helping an estimated 10 youngsters.
• Windsward of Georgia – $1,070 – Great Minds program provides educators with the tools they need to help every student reach their full potential. Estimated to help 10 children.
• Youth Enrichment Learning Center – $2,220 – tutors youths age 5-16 years through after-school programs, and summer camps. Estimated to help 10 children.
• Remove slum and blight – $45,000 – demolish 7 buildings
• Provide Fair Housing education and outreach – $2,000
• Planning and administration of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – $65,165
The commission unanimously approved the CDBG 26-27 action plan.
The City’s Department of Neighborhood & Community Services held two public hearings; one in March and one in April. Both hearings held to identify needs within the community and to solicit comments on the Annual Action Plan (APP).
The Annual Action Plan draft was developed and made available for citizen review and comment for 30 days and all comments received were considered. Both hearings were advertised on the City’s website, Facebook page, Brunswick Newspaper, stakeholders list and all six Neighborhood Planning Assemblies. No comments were received during the first public hearing and two comments were received during the second public hearing.
Funding for 14 organizations were approved by a Citizens Committee who selected the sub-recipient grantees and amount awarded to each.
