Mayor McCullough: "State of the City of Statesboro is strong" as officials cite jobs, housing and public‑safety gains

Mayor Jonathan McCullough delivered the 2025 State of the City address, saying the “state of the city of Statesboro is strong and its future is brighter than ever.” He highlighted job creation, manufacturing investment, housing growth, infrastructure upgrades, expanded transit and public‑safety staffing as the administration’s main accomplishments over the past year.

McCullough said the city has worked to reduce violent crime by investing in the police department, including pay increases that helped hire officers. “We believe that if we bet on our police department our people will win,” McCullough said, and reported 14 new officer hires with fewer than four vacancies remaining; he said the city expects to be fully staffed by July 2025. He also told the audience that violent crime has fallen since 2018 and that, per capita, the city is “safer today than it was in 1991.”

The mayor framed economic growth as central to public safety and quality of life. He cited regional manufacturing growth tied to the Hyundai Palmetto plant and supplier activity and said local industrial projects are expected to create about 1,300 jobs and $772,000,000 in investment for Bullock County. Locally, he said Bruce Young Commerce Park now hosts three new manufacturing facilities generating about $260,000 in annual utility revenue. The mayor also noted issuing 191 new business licenses in February 2024 and said more than $128,000,000 in commercial development is underway downtown.

McCullough described housing and development figures: 2,100 residential units under construction, 2,400 approved and roughly 1,600 proposed — “over 6,000 homes coming to Statesboro,” he said — and cited projects aimed at affordable housing, including Bryant’s Landing (a redevelopment of the old Junior P. Bryant School) intending to bring 100 affordable senior and family units. He also said the city extended sewer service to 97 homes in February 2024 and has used ARPA funds for neighborhood infrastructure.

On infrastructure, McCullough said the city is resurfacing roads, building sidewalks, modernizing sewer systems and preparing to pave the last city‑owned dirt road. He described the West Main Streetscape Improvement Project and noted collaboration with neighboring jurisdictions on a sewer project that he said will support growth in Brooklyn and allow Bullock County Schools to build a new high school serving the county’s south end.

Transit and emergency services also received emphasis. McCullough said the city expanded its transit system in February 2024 by adding two bus stops at the Food Bank and Summit Apartments and reported the system has provided more than 27,000 rides. On fire services, he reported 69 full‑time firefighters covering a 96‑square‑mile district, an ISO Class 2 rating and more than 1,400 fire calls in 2024; he said the city will break ground on a third fire station that should reduce response times.

The mayor also described investments in parks and social services: $1,200,000 in ARPA funds committed to renovate Whitesville Park, continued ARPA support for the local food bank (he said the city committed a total of $930,000 since 2021 and Bullock County contributed an additional $822,000), and downtown programming such as a live concert series and a farmers market.

McCullough used the address to praise youth programs and volunteer efforts, thanking the Statesboro Youth Council, Village Builders Resource Days and workforce initiatives he said have improved employment and training outcomes for young people. He recognized Bullock VOAD, Pastor Wayne Williams and Our Girls Rock Too with ceremonial keys to the city and closed by urging residents to trust verified information and experts when evaluating local policy.

The event included a prayer from Reverend Matthew H. Lovett, a flag presentation by the Statesboro High School Junior ROTC, musical performances and a short moderated conversation with Whitney LaVoi, managing editor of GriceConnect. Following the speech the mayor presented awards and invited attendees to a reception in the lobby.