Georgia Trend Daily – July 19, 2023
July 19, 2023 Rome News-Tribune
Yakult beverage company adding $305 million campus in Bartow
John Druckenmiller reports that Bartow County’s sizzling string of new corporations just got hotter with Tuesday’s announcement that Yakult — the world’s No. 1 probiotic beverage — is bring 90 jobs and a $305 million campus in 2026. Yakult will build at Highland 75 Corporate/Industrial Park. The company will be hiring for everything from managers to quality control and warehouse positions.
July 19, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
South Metro CIDs: Punching Above Their Weight
Kathy Roberts reports, community improvement districts (CIDs) in Georgia are some of the most powerful and influential public-private partnerships. Using self-imposed tax revenues from commercial businesses within their districts, CIDs have been able to drive positive improvements, from safety to infrastructure and transportation to beautification.
July 19, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First lady Jill Biden visits Georgia to tout White House’s job plans
Zachary Hansen reports that First lady Jill Biden toured an East Georgia technical college on Tuesday to highlight the White House’s economic policies on workforce development. The visit by Biden and other top officials to Augusta Technical College is part of a national blitz to tout President Joe Biden’s economic agenda — or “Bidenomics” — and how billions in federal investment will grow jobs and train the next generation of workers.
July 19, 2023 The Center Square
Company opening Georgia facility without any ‘discretionary incentives’
T.A. DeFeo reports that the state did not provide any discretionary incentives to a Japanese probiotic beverage company building a Bartow County facility, officials said Tuesday. Yakult U.S.A. plans to spend $305 million on the beverage production facility in Bartow County’s Highland 75 Corporate / Industrial Park, its second U.S. facility. It expects to create 90 jobs at the Northwest Georgia location.
July 19, 2023 GlobalAtlanta.com
Consuls Teaming Up for Central Europe Trade Mission in September
Trevor Williams reports that two of Atlanta’s business-oriented honorary consuls are teaming up to lead a group of local companies on a September trade mission to Central Europe, aiming to capitalize on what they see as growing bilateral investment interest. Diplomats representing Hungary and Czech Republic in Georgia are taking the group on a weeklong trip Sept. 20-27 to the countries, hoping to unlock opportunities in both directions.
July 19, 2023 Milledgeville Union-Recorder
$1.8 million Head Start grant coming to Baldwin
Matthew Brown reports that the Baldwin County Early Learning Center received a visit Monday from U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who brought with him the news that Baldwin’s Head Start program was awarded a $1.8 million federal grant. “Any discussion of education needs to begin with gratitude and expression of respect for teachers and educators,” said Ossoff, leading a round of applause for that group in the audience.
July 19, 2023 The Brunswick News
GICCA receives $417K grant to purchases heavy equipment simulators
Lauren McDonald reports that students at the Golden Isles College and Career Academy will have new opportunities to learn about heavy equipment operations when four new full-motion simulators are installed. The Georgia Department of Education recently awarded GICCA a $417,000 grant to support the school’s new heavy equipment operations pathway.
July 19, 2023 Marietta Daily Journal
Former Georgia chief justice to defend Mableton
Hunter Riggall reports, the city of Mableton has hired the former chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court to defend itself in a lawsuit which threatens the existence of the fledgling city. Harold Melton, who served as chief justice of the high court from 2018 to 2021, and spent 16 years as an associate justice before that, will defend Mableton from charges that the legislation which enabled the formation of the city was unconstitutional.
July 19, 2023 Albany Herald
Albany, Dougherty County seem to be on track for transportation sales tax
Alan Mauldin reports that this time around, a sales tax agreement between the city of Albany and Dougherty County should be handled smoothly and without the weeks of acrimonious back-and-forth that preceded a 2022 dispute over a separate penny sales tax. At least that’s how the two governments seem to be approaching pending discussions on the issue of extending the transportation special-purpose local-option sales tax that is up for renewal this year.
July 19, 2023 State Affairs
How did Georgia General Assembly’s freshmen class of 2023 perform? Better than you might think.
Tammy Joyner reports, a number of guaranteed worker protections became law, along with other significant legislation, this year thanks, in large part, to legislative newcomers such as state Rep. Matt Reeves, a Duluth lawyer, and state Sen. Rick Williams, a funeral home owner and former state representative. The pair are among the largest freshman class in recent memory in the Georgia General Assembly, the nation’s third largest Legislature, which gained 57 new lawmakers this year.
July 19, 2023 Georgia Recorder
Court challenges to Georgia’s political maps set for federal court trial
Jill Nolin reports that a trio of redistricting challenges in Georgia are set to advance to a trial this fall in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that Alabama’s 2022 congressional maps violated the Voting Rights Act. The potential effect of last month’s Supreme Court decision on Georgia’s maps remains to be seen, but if the still-pending challenges here are successful, it could potentially send lawmakers back to the Gold Dome to draw new maps.
July 19, 2023 Capitol Beat News
Marjorie Taylor Greene tops Georgia congressional fundraisers
Dave Williams reports that U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. R-Rome, is proving to be the most prolific campaign fundraiser by far among Georgia’s congressional delegation. The conservative firebrand raised $1.7 million toward her bid for a third term in the House during the first half of this year, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
July 19, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Jolt: Kemp suggests Trump focus on Biden — not 2020 — to win in Georgia
Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Greg Bluestein report that Gov. Brian Kemp sat down for a CNN interview, where he sharpened his remarks about the 2024 race. He repeated that he’d back former President Donald Trump if he’s the GOP nominee, despite their toxic relationship.
