By Pamela Permar-Shierling
The Brunswick Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has initiated a grant application for the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Disaster Supplemental Grant Program. The FY25 EDA Disaster Supplemental Grant Program provides $1.45 billion in funding to support economic recovery activities in areas that received major disaster declarations in 2023 and 2024.
The Disaster Supplemental Grant Program supports recovering communities in transforming their local economies to exceed pre-disaster conditions.
The city commission gave DDA the go ahead to start the application process during their July 15 commission meeting.
In September of last year the DDA leased the properties at 1200 and 1240 Glynn Avenue (properties that include Marshside Restaurant) from the city of Brunswick. DDA became responsible for the property’s improvements and maintenance.
These properties suffered damage from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
The grant application will include site improvements for seawall additions and improvements, stormwater infrastructure, parking lot resurfacing and reconstruction of the dock on the eastern side of the property.
The preliminary cost estimate for the project is $840,000 and the grant will contribute 80% of the project costs. The 20% match will come from the property’s rental fees.
Cassidy Taylor, DDA Development Associate, told the commission that she expects it will take two years for the DDA to accumulate the match provided maintenance on the property is normal.
The final grant application will come back to the commission for approval.
