GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County government lost its “rock star” on Wednesday, March 16.

Grants Research and Applications Manager Megan Covey delivered her final report, then headed north to her new home in Asheville, North Carolina, to be closer to her husband-to-be, after digging through hundreds of proposals and applications to find nearly $100 million in grants for Clay County since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

County Manager Howard Wanamaker called her “a rockstar,” saying the return on investment since she joined the county government was 72-to-1.

“Our pace has slowed a little bit in the last year, but a lot has happened in the last couple of years,” Covey said. “It’s time for me to start a new adventure. This has been a great community to call home. I’m so grateful. It’s been a wonderful ride. But everything’s in good hands.”

Chris Curington has been appointed to replace Covey.

“He will keep all the good work going,” she said.

Two of her major accomplishments were helping to secure funding for roadwork and the new Animals Services building on County Road 220.

While many are frustrated by construction, especially along CR 220, Henley and Sandridge roads, U.S. Highway 17 south of Fleming Island and through Green Cove Springs, Covey said the frustration will be worth the wait.

“Just wait: It’s all going to be spectacular,” she said.

Covey helped pull grants from PETCO and Lincoln Memorial University to reduce Clay County’s financial burden on the new Animal Services building that will significantly benefit the care of lost and unwanted pets.

When she started, she helped the county get its share of the $1 trillion in COVID relief funds issued by the federal government called the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and CARES Act money. Clay received nearly $12.5 million in ARPA money and $38.3 million in CARES Act money.