“Tonight, I am proud to proclaim that the state of the city of Statesboro is strong, and its future is brighter than ever. …,” Mayor Jonathan McCollar, after some welcomes, began the State of the City speech for his eighth year in office.

Several of his themes of past years– diversity, inclusivity, economic development – were repeated, perhaps with some added emphasis in the national political environment of 2025. Around 200 people filled many of the ground-floor seats at the Emma Kelly Theater, near City Hall, for the Tuesday evening program in which the mayor’s speech was the main event.

“We are a unified city, strengthened by our diversity and shared vision,” he continued.  “Your government is working for each of you, ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table and a stake in our future.”

McCollar has always promoted an activist vision of city government, launching or backing city-led projects for youth development, job creation, recreational events and affordable housing. Public safety, especially policing, has received more emphasis the past couple of years, and he trumpeted successes in crimefighting in this, a city election year. But reducing poverty – which he identified as a major goal during his first successful campaign for mayor in 2017 – re-emerged with a victory-lap pronouncement in 2025.

“When we took office in 2018, poverty and the need for livable-wage jobs were among our greatest challenges,” McCollar said. “Since then, we’ve reduced our poverty rate by more than 30 percent —the fastest reduction our community has ever seen—while bringing unemployment down from double digits to 3 percent. These are more than statistics; they represent lives changed and futures secured.”

‘Thriving economy’

In the printed version of the mayor’s speech, the first named subsection was entitled, “A Thriving Economy, Built for the Future.”

“Economic growth doesn’t happen by accident,” he said. “It takes vision and the courage to invest in our future. In 2015, we extended utilities down 301 to I-16—a decision that some saw as a risk, but we saw as an investment. Today, that investment is paying off.”

He said that three new manufacturing facilities in Bruce Yawn Commerce Park now generate approximately $260,000 in annual utility revenue. That was apparently an estimate of the city’s water, sewer and natural gas revenue from auto parts suppliers located down U.S. Highway 301 south of the city limits, where the city extended utilities to the county’s I-16 Tax Allocation District that includes the Commerce Park. But in fact, only one of those three manufacturing plants, Ajin Georgia, is located in Bruce Yawn Commerce Park.

Like Ajin, the other two Bulloch County auto parts factories – SECO Ecoplastic, which is beside U.S. Highway 301 just north of the interstate, and Hanon Systems, which is nearby in the  older Gateway Regional Industrial Park – supply components to Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in northern Bryan County. Regionally, McCollar noted, that electric vehicle assembly plant and its suppliers are predicted to eventually create more than 15,000 jobs through investments totaling about $10 billion.

But Aspen Aerogels, which was building the only manufacturing plant other than Ajin actually inside the Bruce Yawn Commerce Park, recently announced that it has halted the project. McCollar didn’t mention that, but his statement about industrial projects countywide had been adjusted, with information recently presented to city officials by Development Authority of Bulloch County CEO Benjy Thompson, to reflect the new reality.

“Here in Bulloch County, industrial projects are set to create 1,300 new jobs and inject $772 million into our local economy,” McCollar said. “These numbers represent opportunity and prosperity for our city.”

His “A City Where Business Thrives” segment then reflected on commercial growth.

“Statesboro is not waiting for opportunity – we are creating it,” McCollar said. “With strong partnerships, we are aligning businesses with our vision for sustainable economic growth. In 2024 alone, we issued 191 new business licenses. Once dotted with empty storefronts, our downtown is now thriving, thanks to the dedication of local business owners and the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority.

“Whether it’s grabbing a coffee at Cool Beanz, enjoying a meal at Bull and Barrel, browsing Charlie’s Funky Junk Shop, or visiting our new farmers’ market, these businesses are more than economic engines – they are the heart of our community,” the mayor continued.

From the city staff’s figures, he reported that $128 million worth of commercial development is currently underway in Statesboro.

Housing & Parks

As is well known, a number of new residential developments are also taking shape, which he quantified in “Housing: Building for the Future.”

“Today, 2,100 residential units are under construction, with 2,400 more approved and an additional 1,600 on the horizon,” McCollar said. “That’s over 6,000 homes coming to Statesboro. This growth means thousands of families, workers, and students will find a place to call home.”

He touts the city government’s creation of a Unified Development Code, which replaced some old zoning regulations, with encouraging new construction, and said the city has programs aimed at “revitalizing historic neighborhoods, ensuring longtime residents can stay in the communities they love.”

The mayor mentioned the city’s use of federal funding received under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to expand sewer lines to previously unserved neighborhoods and, under the heading of “Investments in the Community,” to help Statesboro Food Bank build a new facility and now, to renovate a park.

“We’ve committed $1.2 million in federal ARPA funds to renovate Whitesville Park—our fifth park project since taking office,” McCollar said. “Parks are not just amenities; they are the heartbeat of a community where families gather, children play, and friendships form.”

“We’ve reimagined our city’s Downtown landscape with the Art Park, transforming a once-vacant space into a cultural hub,” he continued. That smaller park  project was locally, not ARPA-funded.

The city’s Downtown Live concert series, he said, has brought thousands of people together, “filling our streets with energy and supporting local businesses. …”

“Across the nation, uncertainty looms,” McCollar continued. “Federal layoffs and economic instability have left many families worried about the future. We know that economic turmoil in Washington can ripple through communities like ours, affecting jobs, businesses, and household security. But let me be clear—Statesboro is strong, and we stand together.”

Other topics

Under the heading, “Public Transportation: Connecting Our City,” McCollar noted the creation of the city’s small-bus transit system, its ridership so far and planned expansion. He mentioned, in a general way, public investments in infrastructure such as sidewalks and street resurfacing.

His comments under “Public Safety: A Safer City” reflect some of the facts in the recent annual reports of the Statesboro Police Department and Statesboro Fire Department, which are, or will be, the subject of separate stories.

In “Investing in Our Future: Building a Stronger Statesboro for Our Youth,” McCollar talked about the city’s Village Builders initiative and Youth Connect program.

Indeed, Junior Mayor Jamersyn Hughes, who holds that title as a leader of the Youth Council, had given the mayor’s introduction before his speech. Hughes is in 11th grade at Statesboro High School. The high school’s JROTC Color Guard posted the flags onstage while the Statesboro Youth Chorale sang the National Anthem.

After the speech, Gazzie White, who performed on “American Idol” in 2018 and has recorded a gospel album, sang “Georgia on My Mind” and “Feeling Good,” accompanied by her husband, Deven White, on piano.

Whitney Lavoie of Grice Connect sat down with McCollar for an onstage interview after the speech. He and City Manager Charles Penny then presented Keys to the City and similar awards to Bulloch VOAD, Pastor Wayne Williams and the Our Girls Rock Too youth organization. The Rev. Matthew H. Lovett said the invocation.