About The Islander. (St. Simons Island, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2019)
Page 2, October 7, 2019, The Islander AGE '2 Development Authority awards two grants By Pamela Permar-Shierling The Brunswick Glynn County De velopment Authority (BGDA) award ed two Share the Future grants to local businesses during their meeting last week (Oct. 1). The Share the Future Initiative was developed to give local area busi nesses access to capital to help grow and promote their business. Grants are available to support businesses who are investing in place making, innovating (equipment or technology), or storytelling. Opportunities for support are available to businesses that are incor porated in Glynn County and whose majority owners live in Glynn County. Grant applications are reviewed by the BGDA and then a recommenda tion is made to the City and Coun ty Board of Commissions for final approval. The approved grants included up to $10,000 for Sundance Tile and Stone and up to $7,500 for Haven Manufacturing. Sundance is a manufacturer of natural stone shelves and has been a Golden Isles business since 2004. They will use the funds to help bridge the gaps needed for the equipment in a new facility in Brunswick. Haven Manufacturing has a thirty- year history in Brunswick, solving industry needs for tube cutting and processing. They will use the grant to help en hance the exterior of their Sterling Industrial Park location. Haven’s new president Steve Thiry was at the meeting and encouraged by the program’s support. “It’s great to see a community in vesting in placemaking,” he said. The placemaking grant requires a dollar-for-dollar match from the business. Twice annually the Development Authority will host a call for area businesses to submit stories that il lustrate the success of their business. All submitted stories will be re viewed and three finalists will be cho sen based on the criteria outlined for the specific call. Each finalist will receive a grant of $500 to go towards the marketing of their business. A grand prize winner will be cho sen by the Development Authority and will receive an additional $1,500 to use for a specific marketing initia tive that will support the growth of their business. Examples of market ing initiatives include: • Media kit to announce a new product or service line of the business • Social media campaign • Print materials for a special event or trade show Finalists will have to provide a brief explanation of how they will use the funds and provide an invoice to the Development Authority to re coup expenses for their marketing initiative. Participating companies will be asked to sign a standard release form that allow the Development Authority to use any submitted material on so cial media, print, or other marketing material to help promote the region and the businesses in our community. Development Authority President Ryan Moore told the Authority that staff is working with the H20 group to determine how the opportunities offered by the Golden Isles College and Career Academy and Coastal Pines Technical College can be bet ter communicated to middle and high school students. Moore also said that technology allows employment and salary track ing of technical students who receive a certificate, and they are working on “crunching” the data. City Commissioner Julie Martin and City Manager Jim Drumm up dated the Development Authority on city transportation activities. Com. Martin said, “We are moving forward with a transportation study. This includes looking at a water taxi from St. Simons Island to Jekyll Is land to Brunswick.” Drumm said the city has applied for federal funding for ‘rolling bus stock.’ Com. Martin continued saying a study is looking at what to do with the intersection of Lanier Blvd. and Gloucester. “Another study is on-going for the re-configuration of Bay Street from Fourth St. south to First Avenue,” she said. “We need to work through Bay Street’s separation from down town Brunswick and we will need help from all parties at both local and state levels,” she said. Calendar Events Exchange Club Fair Craft Barn / Competition - Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 (5 PM to 8 PM) and Nov. 2 (12 Noon to 8 PM).Exchange Club Fairgrounds Price: Crafters - Free to enter. Public - free for Craft Barn with paid Fair Admission. The annual Exchange Club Fair celebrates the fall season in the Golden Isles. In addition to the midway, yummy food, entertainment, and plant and flower show, one of the traditional favorites of the Fair is the Craft Barn, where tal ented crafters showcase their creations and compete for prizes. Come and see the handiwork of these local artisans and find out who won the coveted ribbons for their outstanding work. Contact: Susan Fyfe Molnar - upthecreekmolnar@ att.net McGlNTY-GORDONg^SSOCIATES cling clients to confidence LET US HELP YOU PROTECT YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET—YOUR FAMILY! Brighter and more secure futures come with protecting those parts of our lives we hold most dear. To learn more about our future-minded solutions for all your insurance needs, please contact us at 912.638.8600 or www.mgassi.com PERSONAL & COMMERCIAL INSURANCE • I.IKE& IIKALTII INSURANCE ♦ EMPLOYEE BENEFITS • RISK MANAGEMENT Annual October ART & CRAFT MARKET Postell Park, St. Simons Island October 12 and 13,2019 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days www.SoGloGallery.com
