NATCHEZ — City Grants Coordinator Brett Brinegar announced Friday she will resign from her post effective Oct. 15. She has accepted a job at Copiah-Lincoln Community College as director of student affairs.

Brinegar e-mailed and submitted a hard copy of her resignation letter to Mayor Jake Middleton, City Clerk Donnie Holloway and City Attorney Everett Sanders.

Brinegar confirmed last week she had been laid off as a result of budget cuts, but after protests from supporters, Brinegar said she was told she had been placed under performance evaluation.

“I was ready to go. It’s the best thing for me to go ahead and pursue something else,” Brinegar said.

“The budget is in serious crisis, and (city leaders) have to make some serious decisions. I certainly wish the city the best of luck in whatever it pursues here on out.”

Middleton said he hopes to find a replacement for Brinegar.

“I think that’s one position we definitely have to have in the city,” he said. “I think the majority of the board feels the same way.”

Brinegar said her work as city grants coordinator speaks for itself. According to her figures, she acquired nearly $7 million in grants in five years on the job.

Brinegar and City Engineer and Natchez Water Works Superintendent David Gardner most recently acquired a $171,000 no-match grant for black history exhibits for the Natchez Trails Project.

Brinegar has also received word of a $37,500 capital improvement matching grant for elevator repairs at George W. Armstrong Library, which she said will now be overseen by Library Director Susan Cassagne and Building Inspector Paul Dawes.

“My track record’s been good,” Brinegar said. “I’ve had just about everything I applied for funded. I’ve struck out three times in five years.”

Brinegar has previously acquired a $500,000 matching grant for a sewer line at the Corrections Corporation of America facility on Hobo Fork Road and a $500,000 grant for Forks of the Road, all with assistance from various department heads.

Brinegar and Natchez Senior Multi-Purpose Center Executive Director Sabrena Bartley have applied for $996,000 in federal stimulus funds for one phase in the construction of a regional transportation center and maintenance facility. Items in the packet Brinegar and Bartley submitted to the Mississippi Department of Transportation have received preliminary approval.

Brinegar was the sole employee in her department, but her job entailed working closely with department heads to identify their needs.

“This is not an individual project. It’s always a group project,” she said. “Sometimes it’s a year, three years before grant money comes through.”

Brinegar will have the opportunity do some grant writing in her new role at Co-Lin, where she previously taught history and art appreciation. She’s also been approached by the City of Madison to do freelance grant writing.

Brinegar’s resignation comes after city leaders laid off five employees in an effort to trim the budget.