Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 16, 2021
Feb. 16, 2021 Georgia.gov
Georgia a top-10 exporting state for the first time
Dave Williams reports that Georgia was ranked among the nation’s 10 top exporting states last year for the first time, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Monday. Georgia businesses exported $38.8 billion in goods in 2020, reaching 215 countries and territories and suffering the lowest rate of export contraction among the top-10 states, despite the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Feb. 16, 2021 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Economic Development Around the State
Christy Simo reports on announcements in Swainsboro, Columbus, Rome and beyond. In Athens, ByoPlanet International, which produces electrostatic spray technology, is investing $7 million to expand its Athens- Clarke County manufacturing operations an additional 40,000 square feet, creating 250 jobs.
Feb. 16, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta considers creating its own bottling business to employ ‘water boys’
J.D. Capelouto reports that after a year that brought more attention to the young men known as Atlanta’s “water boys,” the city is studying whether it should start its own water bottling and distribution business that could employ some of the teens. The Atlanta City Council on Monday passed a resolution that tasks the city with conducting a feasibility study on whether it should launch the new venture.
Feb. 16, 2021 GlobalAtlanta.com
Rolls-Royce Support Center Named for Georgia Female Aviation Pioneer With British Links
Trevor Williams reports that United Kingdom-based aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has opened a support center in Savannah bearing the name a Georgia-born pioneer in women’s aviation who served the U.S. in two wars. The Rolls-Royce Raines Building, a 62,000-square-foot facility located next to longtime customer Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., honors Georgia “First Lady of Flight” Hazel Jane Raines, who started as a commercial and stunt pilot before blazing a trail for women in the armed forces.
Feb. 16, 2021 WABE 90.1
Atlanta’s Emergency Water Supply Project At Bellwood Quarry Is Complete
Molly Samuel reports that the city of Atlanta has finished the Bellwood Quarry reservoir project, meaning Atlanta now has an emergency water supply to serve as a backup lasting for a month or more. Bellwood Quarry, before it was filled with more than 2 billion gallons of water from the Chattahoochee River, was used in a handful of TV shows and movies.
Feb. 16, 2021 GPB
Kemp Signs Amended Fiscal Year 2021 Budget
La’Raven Taylor reports that the new budget allocates for a $1,000 bonus for state employees who make less than $80,000 annually. 57,000 state employees will receive the one-time bonus.
Feb. 16, 2021 Georgia Recorder
Delayed U.S. Census Bureau data a setback for state’s political remapping
Ross Williams reports that the demographic data lawmakers use to redraw Georgia’s Congressional and legislative districts will be delayed this year because of COVID-19, and what the once-a-decade remapping will look like is anyone’s guess. The U.S. Census Bureau announced Friday it won’t release the population data states need to create their new boundaries and distribute billions of federal money until Sept. 30 — six months later than that data is typically made available.
Feb. 16, 2021 Politico
Perdue ‘leaning heavily’ toward challenging Warnock in Georgia
James Arkin reports that David Perdue, the former Republican senator from Georgia who lost one of two runoffs in the state last month, filed paperwork to run again in 2022 but has not yet made a final decision on whether to launch another campaign, according to two advisers. Perdue lost his bid for a second term to now-Sen. Jon Ossoff in January after failing to get a majority of the vote in November.
Feb. 16, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kemp to unveil overhaul of ‘ripe for abuse’ citizen’s arrest law
Greg Bluestein and Maya T. Prabhu report that Gov. Brian Kemp is set to unveil a proposal on Tuesday to overhaul Georgia’s citizen’s arrest law, a statute dating to the Civil War that came under renewed scrutiny after it was cited by a prosecutor to justify the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.
