Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 28, 2020

Oct. 28, 2020 Capitol Beat News

New state wildlife management area to open on Georgia coast

Dave Williams reports that the Georgia Board of Natural Resources voted Tuesday to acquire nearly 8,000 acres of the historic Cabin Bluff property in Camden County for designation as a state wildlife management area. The Nature Conservancy and the Open Space Institute bought the property in 2018 along with an adjacent tract of nearly 3,200 acres. The smaller site is slated to become a retreat for a Jacksonville, Fla.-based church congregation.

Oct. 28, 2020 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Trendsetters: Edible Environments

Mary Ann DeMuth reports that Decatur’s Cory Mosser has had a varied career, but food has always been his focus. After stints as farm manager, local retail grocer and chef, among others, he was inspired six years ago to create Natural Born Tillers, a small firm that creates innovative edible landscapes for commercial clients and farms throughout the Southeast.

Oct. 28, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

UPS holding virtual job fairs to hire seasonal Atlanta workers

Kelly Yamanouchi reports that Sandy Springs-based UPS is holding virtual job fairs for metro Atlanta job seekers on Thursday and Friday, part of a big seasonal hiring push. The shipping giant plans to hold virtual and in-person job fairs Friday across the U.S. to hire 50,000 seasonal workers.

Oct. 28, 2020 Albany Herald

Production plant announces expansion in Jackson County

Staff reports that Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday that Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America will expand its Pendergrass production facility to meet growing demand for its onboard power electronics. The company will invest $5.5 million in the project and create at least 27 new jobs in Jackson County over the next 18 months.

Oct. 28, 2020 The Center Square

Georgia rail companies ask state for millions more in tax incentives

Nyamekye Daniel reports that short-line railroad companies that help transport goods across Georgia called on state lawmakers Tuesday for more funding. Ben Tarbutton III, president of the Georgia Railroad Association (GRA), asked the Georgia Freight and Logistics Commission to double the state’s tax incentive and issue additional credits to short-line railroad companies.

Oct. 28, 2020 Augusta Chronicle

Newsweek names Queensborough Georgia’s best small bank

Damon Cline reports that Queensborough National Bank & Trust Co., one of the largest community banks in the metro Augusta area, has been recognized as “Georgia’s Best Small Bank” by Newsweek magazine. The Louisville, Ga.-based institution made the announcement Tuesday.

Oct. 28, 2020 Atlanta Business Chronicle

Chase Bank pledges investment in low-income areas as part of Georgia expansion

Grace Donnelly reports, as the country’s largest bank expands its footprint in Georgia, it’s also working toward increasing its presence in historically overlooked communities in Atlanta and around the state. Progress in opening branches in these neighborhoods so far, though, remains slow.

Oct. 28, 2020 Saporta Report

Georgia continues to build roads, seek transit funding as other states cut back

David Pendered reports that the pandemic has not slowed road construction in metro Atlanta, nor prompted Gwinnett County to delay the vote on a proposed 1 percent transit tax. Slowdowns are underway in other states.

Oct. 28, 2020 GlobalAtlanta.com

Georgia Exporters Can Apply for GLOBE Award from State Through Nov. 1

Trevor Williams reports that the Georgia Department of Economic Development is accepting applications for the awards constituting its yearly celebration of export achievement, now in their seventh year. GLOBE Awards — Georgians Leveraging Opportunities By Exporting — are given to companies based in the state that have expanded into a new country in a given year.

Oct. 28, 2020 Brunswick News

Regents reflects on decision to reopen Georgia’s colleges

Lauren McDonald reports that public colleges and universities in Georgia reopened for in-person learning this fall at a time when many learning institutions across the country remained hesitant to make that move because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was made in part because of the need to reenergize the important economic role public higher education plays for the state, said Don Waters, a member of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents, during a presentation Tuesday to the St. Simons Island Rotary Club.

Oct. 28, 2020 Savannah Morning News

Here is when the Georgia Secretary of State expects to see election results next week

Will Peebles reports that in the June 9 primary, it took Chatham County 10 days to count the massive influx of absentee ballots brought on by COVID-19. But Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said he expects the winners of most of the races in the Nov. 3 general election to be announced by Nov. 4.

Oct. 28, 2020 WABE 90.1

Will Black, Latinx And Other Minority Voters Choose The Presidential Winner In Georgia?

Jim Burress reports, we’re exactly one week from Election Day, and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is making a last-minute campaign swing through Georgia. Several polls show Biden and President Donald Trump are in a dead heat in Georgia.

Oct. 28, 2020 Georgia State University

Elections attract growing interest of young voters

John Millsaps reports that November’s national, state and local elections appear to be attracting the interest of a larger than usual number of young voters, including Niles Francis. A freshman at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College and first-time voter, Francis is attracting attention himself — as an 18-year-old political strategist.

Oct. 28, 2020 Georgia Recorder

Ga. House Speaker David Ralston to visit Golden Isles on tour to boost members in tough re-election fights

Stanley Dunlap reports that a top Georgia Republican is traveling to Coastal Georgia this week to shore up support for vulnerable incumbent GOP lawmakers, aiming to avoid a repeat of November 2018 when Democrats gained ground in the battle for control of the state House. House Speaker David Ralston will bring his pre-election tour to St. Simons Island Wednesday to show support for Rep. Don Hogan, facing a challenge from Democrat Julie Jordan.

Oct. 28, 2020 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Jolt: U.S. Senate debate canceled by WSB-TV after Warnock, Loeffler pull out

Jim Galloway reports that last week’s Atlanta Press Club debate featuring U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler and her top challengers wasn’t just the first showdown in the special election contest. It was the only one. Candidates received word last night that a once-delayed WSB-TV debate that was postponed from last weekend to this Sunday has now been canceled because both Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock declined to participate.