Glynn County accepts federal grants to build aircraft rescue station at Golden Isles Airport

The Glynn County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 18 approved two federal grant agreements to fund construction of a new Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) station at the Golden Isles Airport.

Robert Burham, executive director of the Glynn County Airport Commission, told the board the project is “to build the new aircraft rescue and firefighting station at Station 5 in [the] Golden Isles Airport.” He said the project will be funded in part by local SPLAS funds, federal grants and anticipated state participation. The board voted to accept an Airport Improvement Program grant not to exceed $4,294,167 and an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) airport infrastructure grant not to exceed $2,694,985.

“Recommendation is to accept this grant money and move ahead on the project,” Burham said during the meeting. Commissioner (S4) moved to approve the grant agreements; Commissioner (S3) seconded and the motion carried with the board’s affirmative vote.

The agreements were described as covering construction of the ARFF station to support airport emergency response. Burham said the county is also expecting a state grant to participate and that local funds would supplement the federal awards. The county did not provide a detailed construction schedule or a final local-match figure during the public discussion on Sept. 18.

Next steps: with the board’s approval the county is authorized to accept the federal funds and proceed with project planning and procurement. No timeline for completion or a definitive construction budget beyond the grant amounts was specified at the meeting.