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Work begins on new VA clinic in St. Marys

Brunswick News - 4/10/2017

April 10--ST. MARYS -- Work has begun on a new Veterans Administration community-based outpatient clinic at Kings Bay Village shopping center in St. Marys.

Once work is completed, it will more than double the size of the existing clinic located on Lakeshore Point near Southeast Georgia Health System in St. Marys. Another four full-time employees will be hired to raise the clinic's staff to 28 workers.

City officials approved an economic package earlier this week to encourage the clinic to relocate in the shopping center, which is in the city's enterprise zone.

The enterprise zone designation enables the city to offer an economic package, which gives VA a $25,000 break on permits for relocating in the shopping center.

City Manager John Holman said he was "thrilled" to offer the incentive and hopes other businesses located in the shopping center, which has struggled in recent years with merchants closing or relocating, will benefit.

"We want businesses to come in, and the VA, when we calculated that benefit, was an excellent benefit," he said. "Hopefully, it will encourage other businesses to come to the center."

Once the clinic opens at the new location, Holman said the VA, if it chooses, can apply for a military payroll tax credit.

Councilman Dave Reilly predicted the clinic will help spur growth in the shopping center and the midtown area.

"It really sends a message we're anxious to bring businesses into our city," he said. "I look forward to seeing the VA clinic there and I look forward to seeing the impact that is going to have on our city."

Holman said the city had to compete with other bidders to lure the clinic to the shopping center.

Councilman Jim Gant said he was "excited" about the clinic coming to the shopping center.

The clinic serves an estimated 500 veterans a day and it's likely the number of people treated each day will increase at the new facility.

Gant predicted merchants at the shopping center, as well as local restaurants and gas stations, will benefit from the additional traffic.

"That's going to be nothing but an economic plus for the city of St. Marys," he said.

Mayor John Morrissey agreed, saying the new clinic will create new momentum at the shopping center.

"We look forward to our neighbors staying in town and growing their businesses a bit," he said.

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(c)2017 The Brunswick News (Brunswick, Ga.)

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