Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 16, 2020

Oct. 16, 2020 Capitol Beat News

Unemployment rises in Georgia but initial claims fall

Dave Williams reports that unemployment in Georgia rose last month, but first-time unemployment claims fell significantly, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday. The state’s unemployment rate in September was up 0.7% from August to 6.4%. But joblessness in Georgia remains below the national unemployment rate of 7.9%.

Oct. 16, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Economic Development Around the State

Christy Simo reports on announcements around the state, including that minority-owned digital media company RYSE Interactive is opening RYSE Creative Village, a content production studio and incubator, in Southwest Atlanta. The $10-million first phase is scheduled to open in summer 2021 and will create 85 jobs.

Oct. 16, 2020 Georgia.gov

Gov. Kemp, CMS Administrator Verma Announce Approval of Georgia Healthcare Reform Package

Staff reports that Governor Brian P. Kemp joined Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma yesterday to announce federal approval of Georgia’s healthcare reform package. “Since the passage of the Patients First Act in 2019, we have worked with a team of experts and the Trump Administration to develop a Georgia-centric healthcare plan that provides access to health insurance for the first time to hundreds of thousands of Georgians, and makes it affordable for millions more,” said Governor Kemp.

Oct. 16, 2020 Georgia Health News

Breaking down Georgia’s waiver plans after Capitol ceremony

Andy Miller reports that Federal health officials gave formal approval Thursday to Gov. Brian Kemp’s request for a waiver to expand health coverage options for low-income Georgians. States have to seek federal permission for changes in certain health care programs, and Gov. Kemp submitted two proposals for federal waivers several months ago.

Oct. 16, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle

New $10M Dunkin’ bakery facility coming to Atlanta’s southside

Dyana Bagby reports that a $10 million food manufacturing plant where Dunkin’ signature donuts and other tasty snacks will be fried, baked, glazed is opening soon on the city’s southside. The new facility is expected to employ some 70 full-time workers and supply some 150 Dunkin’ restaurants throughout metro Atlanta.

Oct. 16, 2020 GlobalAtlanta.com

Film and Video Games: A New Dimension in Atlanta’s Investment Ties With France

Trevor Williams reports that Atlanta and France have connected on biotechnology, manufacturing, science and airport development over the years, but one area remains where each can get better acquainted: the overlapping creative spheres of gaming and film.

Oct. 16, 2020 Savannah Morning News, Beacon Magazine

The presence of healthcare, military and higher education in Savannah creates a perfect environment for tech start-ups

Heather E. Ohlman reports that Savannah is not yet known as a vibrant technology ecosystem, but it has the ingredients to become one: STEM-focused educational programs, a nurturing environment for entrepreneurs, more than one research-based university, a growing density of engineers, and big industry presence in healthcare, military, manufacturing and shipping.

Oct. 16, 2020 Georgia State University

Georgia State Start-Up Awarded NIH Grant To Develop Contrast Agent for Early Detection of Liver Disease

Noelle Toumey Reetz reports that Inlighta Biosciences, LLC, a start-up company led by Jenny Yang, Regents’ Professor of Chemistry at Georgia State University, has been awarded a National Institute of Health grant to accelerate development of a magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent to detect liver fibrosis, formation of scar tissue in the liver caused by alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Oct. 16, 2020 Georgia.org

2020 Georgia ‘GEAR Award’ Winners Announced by Georgia Department of Economic Development

Staff reports that Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced the five companies who earned 2020 Georgia Emerging Automotive Recognition (GEAR) Awards after holding presentations in the winners’ communities throughout the week in accordance with state executive orders and public health guidelines.

Oct. 16, 2020 Gwinnett Daily Post

Gwinnett chairman candidates tackle early voting lines, economic development tax at debate

Curt Yeomans reports that a debate between the two candidates vying to be Gwinnett County’s next commission chairman on Wednesday ultimately boiled down to one thing: who was ready to lead the county. Republican candidate David Post and Democratic candidate Nicole Love Hendrickson are running for the chairman’s seat, which is open this year because current Chairwoman Charlotte Nash opted to retire at the end of the year.

Oct. 16, 2020 WABE 90.1

As 2020 Census Deadline Nears, Georgia Advocates Look To Congress For A More Accurate Count

Roxanne Scott reports that census door knockers in Georgia will stop counting people early Thursday evening. A ruling from the Supreme Court on Tuesday allows the Census to stop counting before the end of the month. “Time is running out, and it’s running out fast,” said Marilyn Stephens, assistant regional census manager for the Atlanta region, which includes Florida, Alabama and Louisiana, as well as several other states in the South.

Oct. 16, 2020 Georgia Recorder, GPB

Early End To Census Count Could Cost Georgia Lots Of Power, Money

Ross Williams reports that the U.S. Supreme Court this week sided with the Trump administration in its effort to shut the U.S. Census count down early, putting an end to a contentious census season marred by the COVID-19 pandemic and other obstacles. And despite Georgia reaching 99.9% of households counted, the loss of those extra weeks could mean residents miss out on hundreds of millions of dollars in federal spending over the next 10 years.

Oct. 16, 2020 Dalton Daily Citizen-News, CNHI

In Southern states, data show Republicans have a historically higher use of mail-in ballots

Riley Bunch and Kaye LaFond report, despite cries from some of voter fraud as the use of mail-in voting has grown, data show in Georgia and Florida that Republicans have relied on it more heavily than Democrats. With Florida already seen as a key state in the battle for President, Georgia has emerged as an up-and-coming battleground since the 2018 gubernatorial election was decided by about 55,000 votes.

Oct. 16, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia 2020: Democratic candidates outpace Republicans in third-quarter fundraising

Tia Mitchell reports that Democratic candidates in Georgia’s most competitive federal races outpaced their Republican opponents in fundraising. The pattern was evident in both U.S. Senate contests, as well as two hotly contested House battles.