Brunswick’s DDA moving downtown forward

By Pamela Permar-Shierling

The job of Brunswick’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is to create incentives for downtown investment, encourage historic preservation, support Brunswick’s small businesses, and activate Brunswick with events.

DDA was activated in 1981; Brunswick was named a Main Street City in 1986; and named an Exceptional Main Street City in 2023.

The Exceptional designation was renewed this year for three more years.

“One of our goals,” DDA Executive Director Mathew Hill told the Brunswick City Commission on July 15, “is to create incentives for businesses along Newcastle St., the Norwich St. corridor, and Gloucester St.”

The Atlanta North Gallery on the corner of G and Reynolds Streets is a recent recipient of a DDA $3,000 facade grant.

“Keep an eye on them,” Hill said. “They have done some wonderful work on that old law office.”

DDA provides three local redevelopment grants including the facade grant which is a matching grant for exterior improvements awarded to 15 businesses totaling $35,000 in fiscal year 2026.

The Jump Start grant is a no-match grant for business start-up expenses. Seven were awarded in FY 2026 totaling $12,000.

One Re-Start grant for $1,000 was awarded in FY 2026. This is a no-match grant for business expansion expenses.

For networking and marketing help there is the Main Street Alliance (MSA) which is a membership program designed to support downtown businesses. MSA has 44 members including four corporate members.

There are also state and federal redevelopment incentives available to downtown businesses.

These include the Downtown Revolving Loan Fund which is a Dept. of Community Affairs (DCA) loan capped at $250,000 at 2% interest rate and the Georgia Cities Foundation loan also capped at $250,000 and a 3.4% interest rate.

Federal and State Historic Preservation Tax incentives are available as well as Local Enterprise Zone and Federal Opportunity Zone.

1400-1402 Newcastle is a Historic Preservation Tax Credit  project. When finished the building will include 5,000 sq. ft. of retail space on the ground floor and three residential units on the second floor.

Hill told the Commission that this building was an important historical building for Brunswick which was built in the 1880s. For many years both buildings housed an eye doctor and a drug store but fell into disrepair.

To restore the buildings has taken Enterprise Zone credits, Historical Preservation tax credits, as well as a facade grant.

Hill also reported that Brunswick’s  events are doing very well. First Friday brought 12,000 to Downtown this month.

The weekly Saturday Farmer’s Market brings out about 400 each week and the First Thursday Art Loop grew to 2,000 visitors this month.

DDA hosted 999 events in FY 2026 which brought a total of 240,000 attendees.

New initiatives include Brunswick Spice, an initiative for downtown’s restaurants, held during March and made a $47,000 economic impact in downtown.

Downtown Dollars is another new initiative which keeps money in Brunswick. When you purchase Downtown Dollars, the money must be spent with downtown merchants.

It encourages people to try out a new to them business. And Downtown Dollars are good for five years, so you don’t have to spend them right away.

Hill closed his report stating,” Downtown Brunswick is for everyone. It’s easy to walk or ride a bike because it’s flat. There are plenty of restaurants. A person can enjoy beer, wine, cocktails or food. And it was named one of the most beautiful towns in the U.S. by WorldAtlas.”