Georgia Trend Daily – Oct. 6, 2023
Oct. 6, 2023 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Announces GEORGIA MATCH Direct College Admissions Initiative
Staff reports that Gov. Kemp yesterday announced the launch of GEORGIA MATCH, one of the largest state-run direct admissions initiatives in the nation. The culmination of multiple state agencies working together to ease the process of connecting students with higher education opportunities, this program will engage all learners and households, including those that do not typically consider postsecondary education pathways.
Oct. 6, 2023 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Ups, Downs and In-Betweens
Susan Percy reports that all eyes are on Georgia: The two-year-plus investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis that led to grand jury indictments of former President Donald Trump and 18 other defendants on charges of violating the state’s RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) Act has guaranteed that Georgia will remain in the national spotlight for a while.
Oct. 6, 2023 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta’s abundance of available office space exceeds record
Zachary Hansen reports, during the summer, metro Atlanta set a record for its vast amount of empty and unwanted office space. Nearly 31% of all office square footage in metro Atlanta was available for rent at the end of September, according to data from real estate services firm CBRE.
Oct. 6, 2023 State Affairs
Georgia Chamber Report: rural Georgia vital to state’s economic future
Tammy Joyner reports that over the next decade, rural Georgia is projected to get more than 780,000 jobs. By 2050, job growth in rural Georgia is forecast to grow 45%, according to the Georgia Chamber Foundation’s Third Quarter Economic Report.
Oct. 6, 2023 Clayton News-Daily
Forest Park City Council member named one of 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia
Staff reports that the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has recognized Forest Park City Council member Hector Gutierrez as one of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in Georgia. Gutierrez was joined by dozens of other community leaders from across the state during a special awards luncheon recently held at Truist Park in commemoration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Oct. 6, 2023 Rome News-Tribune
Design work continues on facility to remove PFAS pollutants from Rome’s drinking water
David Crowder reports that design work is continuing on the new reverse osmosis water treatment facility, but the issue that keeps Rome Water and Sewer Division Director Mike Hackett up at night is staffing the new facility once it’s complete.
Oct. 6, 2023 11 Alive News
Georgia rental assistance program to reopen applications | What to know
Bobeth Yates reports, help is coming for local families who need assistance covering their rent. For the first time since April 2021, the Housing Choice Voucher Program will open its applications to be on the waitlist and the move comes as housing costs skyrocket.
Oct. 6, 2023 Georgia Dept. of Labor
Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is Now Available for Two Additional Georgia Counties in the Wake of Hurricane Idalia
Staff reports, on Wednesday, State Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said workers in two additional Georgia counties may now be eligible for federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to compensate for income lost directly resulting from Hurricane Idalia, which struck the areas on August 30, 2023. The affected counties are Berrien and Brooks.
Oct. 6, 2023 Albany Herald
EDC President Jana Dyke elected first vice chair of Southern Economic Development Council
Staff reports that Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission President/CEO Jana Dyke recently became the first female in more than a decade to be elected first vice chair of the Southern Economic Development Council. The 17-state council recently elected its officers for the 2024 term. Dyke has been a member of SEDC since 2015, holding several positions during her eight-year tenure. She currently serves as the Southern Economic Development Council’s second vice chair.
Oct. 6, 2023 GPB
Democratic state lawmakers push for more HBCU funding in Georgia
Sarah Kallis reports, some Democratic state lawmakers are demanding that Gov. Brian Kemp allocate more funding to Georgia’s historically Black colleges and universities. Federal officials said that Fort Valley State University should have received an extra $600 million over the past 30 years if it received the same amount of money per student as the University of Georgia.
Oct. 6, 2023 Capitol Beat News
Public fishing rights a thorny issue for General Assembly
Dave Williams reports, legislation on fishing access Georgia lawmakers may take up during this winter’s legislative session will pit public interest against private property rights. That was the takeaway message from the initial meeting this week of a House study committee on fishing rights created at the end of this year’s session.
Oct. 6, 2023 Georgia Recorder
GOP state senators train sights on review of Fulton County jail notorious for inmate deaths
Stanley Dunlap reports, a Georgia Senate panel is set to launch the second outside government investigation into the dangerous conditions of a Fulton County Jail that Sheriff Patrick Labat has labeled a humanitarian crisis. Several Republican senators flanked Lt. Gov. Burt Jones on Thursday as he announced a Senate Public Safety Subcommittee is set to hold its first meeting on Nov. 2 to discuss overcrowding in an Atlanta jail and the deaths of inmates at the complex.
