Georgia Trend Daily – Sept. 16, 2021
Sept. 16, 2021 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Announces New Economic Development Role to Empower Small Businesses
Staff reports that businesses with fewer than 500 employees account for 99.8% of businesses in Georgia, and through a recommendation of Governor Kemp’s Georgians First Commission, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) has established a Director of Small Business Outreach to build on the Department’s current portfolio of services and provide greater direct engagement with this community. GDEcD’s former Director of Creative Industry Partnerships, Allen Fox, will serve in this role.
Sept. 16, 2021 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Economic Development Around the State
Christy Simo reports on announcements in Bacon County, Leesburg, McDonough and beyond, including Purple Innovation Inc., a mattress manufacturer, is expanding in McDonough, creating an additional 500 jobs.
Sept. 16, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta fintech GreenSky gets offer of $2.24 billion
Christopher Quinn reports that the Goldman Sachs Group is offering a stock swap worth $2.24 billion to merge Atlanta-based financial technology company GreenSky into its digital banking unit. It’s the second Atlanta high-tech company to receive a multibillion-dollar offer this week, but whether the deal goes through will depend on GreenSky’s stockholders.
Sept. 16, 2021 GlobalAtlanta.com
OneTrust Hits Milestone in Brazil
Trevor Williams reports that OneTrust, a privacy software platform that has become one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States, hit a 500-customer milestone in Brazil, a growing market where the Atlanta-based unicorn has invested in a physical presence.
Sept. 16, 2021 Macon Telegraph
New amphitheater, Macon Mall transformation planned in $100 million revitalization project
Becky Purser reports that Mayor Lester Miller announced Wednesday a $100 million revitalization project that includes transformation of the Macon Mall and construction of “the second largest amphitheater in Georgia” next door. Miller, along with commissioners, business leaders and college representatives, unveiled the plans at a news conference outside the mall at 3661 Eisenhower Parkway.
Sept. 16, 2021 Rome News-Tribune
Floyd County looking to expand broadband coverage
Olivia Morley reports, with the Broadband Community Ready ordinance in place, Floyd County is ready to work with any broadband providers who wish to expand their service locally. “Broadband Ready allows us to have a process in place for any broadband providers or projects that come through our area,” said County Manager Jamie McCord.
Sept. 16, 2021 Milledgeville Union-Recorder
Baldwin County wins prestigious international award
Billy Hobbs reports that international recognition doesn’t come often, if ever, for county governments. But such an honor recently came Baldwin County’s way based on its impressive blight program, which was initiated several years ago but really took off three years ago.
Sept. 16, 2021 University of Georgia – CAES
Georgia 4-H receives AmeriCorps funding to support youth programs
Maria M. Lameiras reports that University of Georgia Cooperative Extension’s Georgia 4-H program is one of 21 Georgia organizations to receive AmeriCorps funding to support programming across the state. Organizations in Georgia received $4,531,101 in AmeriCorps funding from the federal agency for 2021-22.
Sept. 16, 2021 Georgia Recorder
State judge sides with EPD on tougher limits for dumping sewage into Chattahoochee
Jill Nolin reports that a state judge has ruled against a middle Georgia water utility that has spent years waging a costly battle against a state permit requiring tougher water quality standards. Judge Ronit Walker, an administrative law judge, backed state regulators’ decision to issue a permit last year imposing stricter limits on the amount of pollution that can flow from the Columbus sewer system into a popular stretch of the Chattahoochee River.
Sept. 16, 2021 Capitol Beat News
Georgia Senate examining growth in university fees
Dave Williams reports that ever-increasing fees the University System of Georgia’s (USG) 26 colleges and universities charge students are making it harder to afford a college education in the Peach State, a state senator said Wednesday. The fees even part-time and graduate students are forced to pay each semester have grown significantly, particularly since the Great Recession, Sen. Sally Harrell, D-Atlanta, told members of a Senate study committee created this year to examine the issue and make recommendations.
Sept. 16, 2021 Savannah Morning News
Buddy Carter has never raised less than $1.2 million in a 1st District race. Can Wade Herring win?
Will Peebles reports, money isn’t everything, but during campaign season, few political assets are more important. Just ask 1st District Rep. Buddy Carter. The Pooler native has managed to hold his congressional seat since winning it in 2014 and has raised $1.2 million or more in all four election cycles.
Sept. 16, 2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Jolt: Georgia GOP U.S. House candidate to headline rally backing Jan. 6 rioters
Patricia Murphy, Greg Bluestein and Tia Mitchell report that U.S. Capitol Police are on heightened alert ahead of a rally planned this weekend in Washington to support people imprisoned and charged with participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Organizers of Saturday’s “Justice for J6” event have so far announced just two speakers, both little-known congressional candidates. One hails from Washington state, and the other is Georgia’s Mike Collins, who is running in a crowded GOP primary for the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jody Hice.
