Georgia Trend Daily – May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024 Capitol Beat News
State tax revenues fall again
Dave Williams reports, Georgia tax collections continued their downward spiral last month, falling 5.4% from April of last year, the state Department of Revenue reported Friday. The broader picture for the first 10 months of fiscal 2024 was similar.
May 13, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Economic Development Around the State
Christy Simo reports that Water meter manufacturer Kamstrup recently cut the ribbon on its new headquarters in Forsyth County, where it is relocating from Roswell. The 150,000-square-foot facility includes an assembly plant, warehouse, innovation showroom and offices.
May 13, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
To tackle Georgia’s digital divide, fiber optics firm to add 100 jobs
Zachary Hansen reports, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Sen. Raphael Warnock stood in front of stools of red, white and blue fiber optic cables Friday afternoon to announce a Norcross job expansion aimed at widening broadband internet access across Georgia. Gwinnett County-based OFS said it will add 100 workers in the next few years to expand capacity at its manufacturing facility along I-85.
May 13, 2024 The Brunswick News
Big crowd turns out for 86th Blessing of the Fleet
Terry Dickson reports that the 86th annual Blessing of the Fleet Saturday had a new wrinkle with the holy water coming from on high. During past blessings, Catholic priests have stood on the bows or decks of tow boats or other ships and showered fishing boats and pleasure craft with holy water and they pronounced blessings.
May 13, 2024 Albany Herald
Bishop announces $4 million-plus funding for health centers
Staff reports that Congressman Sanford D. Bishop Jr., D-Ga., has announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $4.8 million in Health Center Program grants to health care centers headquartered in Blakely, Macon and Columbus. The program funds local community-based clinics that treat medical, dental, and other health care needs with a focus on meeting the needs of the areas they serve.
May 13, 2024 Capitol Beat News
Futuristic electric flying vehicles about to become reality in Georgia
Dave Williams reports that flying cars might seem like something out of the distant future, zipping back and forth like in “The Jetsons,” the Hanna-Barbera Space Age animated TV series of the 1960s. But Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), as the technology is known, is about to land at a general aviation airport near you.
May 13, 2024 GPB
Macon wins national award for ‘Main Street’ revitalization
Grant Blankenship reports that leaders of Macon’s decades-long downtown redevelopment efforts are celebrating national recognition of their success. Chicago-based Main Street America annually recognizes cities which best exemplify their approach to revitalizing medium and small cities: public/private partnerships making hyper-local investments aligned with shared community values.
May 13, 2024 Valdosta Daily Times
Georgia agricultural commodity commissions seek nominations
Staff reports, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced Wednesday that 12 of Georgia’s agricultural commodity commissions are seeking nominations from producers to serve on their respective commissions. Nomination forms are available on the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s website and will be accepted until May 24.
May 13, 2024 Macon Telegraph
Warner Robins receives $1.5 million to build new affordable housing units, ready by 2025
Jesse Fraga reports that the City of Warner Robins received a $1.5 million grant to construct new single-family housing for low to moderate-income homebuyers, according to an announcement from the city Friday. The housing units are expected to become available by 2025, Kate Hogan, director of Community and Economic Development told The Telegraph.
May 13, 2024 Saporta Report
Atlanta Business League receives $1.5 million grants to restore Ashby Theatre
Delaney Tarr reports, with two $750,000 grants from the National Parks Service, the Atlanta Business League is taking its first steps in turning the long-vacant Ashby Theatre into a multi-use business and community center in westside Atlanta. The 91-year-old Atlanta Business League fosters economic empowerment and provides business development opportunities for Black-owned businesses in the metro area.
May 13, 2024 Union-Recorder
Baldwin County receives $500,000 CHIP grant
Staff reports that Baldwin County officials were hoping for some more great news and they received it Thursday. It came in the form of a $500,000 Community Home Investment Program grant from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
May 13, 2024 Dalton Daily Citizen
Chatsworth to receive $222,727 for housing improvements
Staff reports that the Housing Authority of the city of Chatsworth will receive $222,727 as part of $80 million in federal housing investments in Georgia, according to a press release from Georgia U.S. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff. “The Public Housing Repair fund will allow public housing authorities to modernize or develop public housing for individuals, families and seniors,” the press release said.
May 13, 2024 Marietta Daily Journal
‘The storm is coming’: Lawyers React to High Court’s Ruling in Home Rule Suit
Jake Busch reports that the day after the Supreme Court of Georgia dismissed a lawsuit against Cobb County over the county commission’s attempt to draw its own district lines, multiple Cobb lawyers told the MDJ they had expected such a decision. Justices did not rule on the merits of the case — whether counties have the right to draw their own commission lines in defiance of the state legislature.
May 13, 2024 Rome News-Tribune
Mullis Backs Challenger in State Senate Race for His Old Seat
Diane Wagner reports, Jeff Mullis — who held the state Senate District 53 seat for more than 20 years before retiring in 2022 — is backing the challenger to his successor. Angela Pence of Chickamauga is challenging incumbent Colton Moore of Trion in the May 21 Republican primary, for the seat Moore won two years ago.
May 13, 2024 State Affairs
Weekend Read: Mesha Mainor expected to face uphill battle to retain seat — even against little-known competitors
Jill Jordan Sieder reports that three of the four candidates for Georgia House District 56 in southwest Atlanta are scheduled to appear at a forum in Fulton County next week, just a few days ahead of the May 21 primary election. Rep. Mesha Mainor won’t be among them. The incumbent, an Atlanta native running for her third term, said she won’t go because her alleged former stalker — one of her Democratic challengers — will be there.
May 13, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Youthful state lawmakers in Future Caucus gather in Georgia to peer into crystal ball
Ross Williams reports, Gen Z and Millennial state leaders from around the South came to Atlanta this weekend for an exclusive summit for young legislators featuring panels on topics like artificial intelligence and mass incarceration. The event, which included lawmakers from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and North Carolina, ran Thursday through Saturday and was hosted by the Future Caucus, a national nonpartisan group dedicated to assisting legislators 45 and younger and encouraging bipartisan cooperation.
May 13, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PG A.M.: Internal feuds flare ahead of Georgia GOP annual convention
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Van Brimmer report that a week before hundreds of activists gather in Columbus for the Georgia GOP’s annual convention, the party is facing new internal turmoil. With many mainstream Republicans following Gov. Brian Kemp’s lead and steering clear of the organization, a MAGA-friendly activist base led by former state Sen. Josh McKoon has taken the reins of the party.
