Brynn Grant (center), a Liberty County native who worked for Savannah Economic Development Authority for nearly two decades, including as chief operating officer, was named in-coming CEO of the Liberty County Development Authority during a news conference Friday morning. Standing with her are members of the LCDA Board, from left; new Vice Chairwoman Melissa Carter Ray (formerly secretary), new Secretary Willa Lewis, new Chairman Al Williams (formerly vice chairman, replacing long-time Chairman Allen Brown), Karl Ryles (newly elected Hinesville mayor), Luke Moses, and Marcus Sack. Board Member Donald Lovette, who is chairman of the Liberty County Commission, is not pictured. Grant takes office on April 1. Most recently she
Brynn Grant named CEO of LCDA
The Liberty County Development Authority (LCDA) Board of Directors is proud to announce the appointment of Brynn Grant as Chief Executive Officer. A native of Liberty County, Grant brings decades of regional leadership and economic development experience to this role.
“Brynn’s demonstrated history of success in building partnerships, inspiring community engagement and delivering impactful results in business, economic and community development makes her the perfect next leader for the LCDA,” said Georgia State Representative Al Williams, newly elected Chairman of the LCDA board. “Her dedication to our community and her unwavering commitment to progress aligns perfectly with our mission to ignite economic growth and create prosperity for all Liberty County residents.”
“I am honored to be joining the Liberty County Development Authority and looking forward to working with the Board and staff to continue to grow and attract quality jobs and investment in Liberty County,” said Grant. “I am committed to building on the strong foundation already established to create a more vibrant and prosperous community for our residents.”
During her four-year tenure as Chief Executive Officer of United Way of the Coastal Empire, Grant was responsible for the management and strategy of the organization with hundreds of dedicated volunteers and a staff of 34 professionals across four counties.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Grant led the United Way team to swiftly raise $700,000 to provide vital support to the region. Additionally, under her leadership, United Way extended its service to local government partners, successfully processing more than $10 million in federal relief funds on behalf of Chatham County and the City of Savannah. Over the last three years alone, the United Way team has mobilized the community to raise, secure, and strategically invest more than $31 million to improve lives in Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty counties.
Ken Rabitsch, Chairman of the United Way of the Coastal Empire Board of Directors, said, “Brynn’s success at United Way stems from her exceptional ability to build bridges, cultivate collaboration, and navigate complex challenges. Brynn leveraged these and many other attributes to improve our organization and countless lives throughout the Coastal Empire. Her departure from United Way will leave big shoes to fill, but I know Brynn will continue to profoundly impact our region in her new role. Liberty County is gaining a dynamic leader, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish through her support and guidance.”
“I am excited about the opportunity to continue supporting our region’s advancement and have a more meaningful impact on the community where I grew up and now live,” continued Grant. “Because the work of United Way is so critically important, I am grateful to be able to offer an extended transition to allow for a proper search with the exact date still to be determined. With certainty, I can say I will continue to donate to our United Way Community Fund before any other giving and I plan to stay engaged as a volunteer.”
Before United Way, Grant worked at the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA) for nearly two decades, serving as Chief Operating Officer for the last seven years. While there, she alone and the SEDA team collectively were recognized with many professional awards, including being named one of the Top Ten Development Groups in the country and receiving the McKinley “Mac” Conway Award for Excellence. Grant led the startup of World Trade Center Savannah and the initiative to strategically market the region as a location for film and television production through SEDA’s creation and management of the Savannah Area Film Commission and regional incentives. With these and other projects, she has a proven track record of success in driving economic growth, developing innovative solutions, and addressing complex community issues.
When announcing Grant’s departure from SEDA four years ago, President and CEO Trip Tollison had this to say about Grant, “Brynn is one of a kind. Her passion and energy are infectious, her smile and character always shine, and her heart always seems to have room for those who get to know her. Simply put, Brynn is one of the best champions of our community that Savannah will ever produce. From workforce development initiatives to landing prospects, Brynn has been a tremendous asset to SEDA in every aspect of the organization.”
Grant recently co-chaired the Housing Savannah Task Force, an appointment by Savannah Mayor Van Johnson, and currently serves on the boards of Housing Savannah, Inc., the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce, and Savannah Christian Preparatory School. Grant is a graduate of Leadership Savannah, Leadership Southeast Georgia and Leadership Georgia. She has been named a Top Ten Working Woman by AWWIN, the Community Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Chamber of Savannah, a Community Star by Savannah Technical College and a Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia.