Georgia Trend Daily – Nov. 5, 2024

Dec. 5, 2024 Georgia.gov

Gov. Kemp Announces First Grant Recipients of New Rural Site Development Initiative

Staff reports, Gov. Kemp on Wednesday announced the inaugural recipients of the OneGeorgia Authority’s new Rural Site Development Initiative grant. Recognizing the vital importance of ready for development sites, this initiative enables Georgia’s rural communities to identify, assess, and develop new industrial sites, helping to maintain the capacity for economic growth and Georgia’s competitive edge.

Dec. 5, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Giving Healthcare a Boost

Ben Young writes, this issue of Georgia Trend Magazine contains our Top Hospitals ranking and our feature on the current state of Georgia’s hospitals. Like many other states, we see a pattern of closures in rural areas that threatens the health and economy of all of Georgia. Many hospitals are depending on state support, like the $6 million given to 13 Georgia rural hospitals as part of the Dual Track Rural Hospital Support program.

Dec. 5, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

These leaders have been tapped to help guide Georgia’s film industry

Savannah Sicurella reports, as a slow year for film and television production comes to a close, Georgia’s largest film industry trade association has elected a new set of leaders. Brennen Dicker, executive director of the Georgia State University Creative Media Institute has been named the new chair of the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition with Michael Clark, the general manager at Eagle Rock Studios, to serve as vice chair.

Dec. 5, 2024 GlobalAtlanta.com

Mayor Dickens Headed to South Africa on Reciprocal Mission

Trevor Williams reports that Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens is headed to South Africa this week on a trip designed to solidify the city’s position at the forefront of the country’s relationship with the U.S. The mission is taking place under the banner of Atlanta Phambili (“Forward” in Zulu), an initiative kick-started by the U.S. Embassy in South Africa earlier this year.

Dec. 5, 2024 WSB TV

Neighbors split on whether to accept data center project in their small Douglas Co. community

Tom Jones reports, neighbors are split over whether a data center project will help or hurt their small community. If approved, it will be built in the town of Winston, in Douglas County.

Dec. 5, 2024 GPB

Georgia Ports CEO ambivalent over future Trump tariffs’ effect on U.S. trade

Benjamin Payne reports, the head of the Georgia Ports Authority is expressing uncertainty over what impact tariffs pledged by President-elect Donald Trump will have on U.S. trade. Speaking to GPB on Monday after the agency’s first board meeting since the November election, Georgia Ports CEO Griff Lynch said that it depends on what the Trump administration’s goal is.

Dec. 5, 2024 Saporta Report

Transit experts point to economic concerns as the main reason Gwinnett and Cobb County voters rejected transit expansion this year

Grace Donnally reports, transportation was on the ballot for Cobb and Gwinnett County voters in November, but both referendums to fund public transit expansion with a local 1 percent sales tax failed. Long-time transit advocates in the Atlanta region pointed to concerns about the economy as the main reason these initiatives didn’t find more support with voters in 2024.

Dec. 5, 2024 Rome News-Tribune

International Paper’s Rome Mill Awards $62,000 In Grants to Support Local Nonprofit Projects

Staff reports that International Paper Foundation grants to 13 local organizations, demonstrating the company’s commitment to education, hunger, health and wellness, disaster relief and initiatives that improve our planet. “The Rome Mill has been an integral part of the Rome and Floyd County communities for 70 years. We are proud to continue supporting our community and partnering with these organizations to encourage the work they are doing,” said Clay Ingram, the Rome mill manager.

Dec. 5, 2024 Savannah Morning News

Study committee to consider childcare reforms

Maya Homan Savannah Morning News USA TODAY NETWORK Legislators on the Senate Study Committee on Access to Affordable Childcare convened Monday at the state capitol in Atlanta to discuss policy proposals to improve Georgia’s current childcare landscape, which advocates say is unsustainable for families, childcare businesses and early childhood educators alike. Proposed solutions may include increased Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) funding, improved protections for pregnant and postpartum workers, or even a constitutional amendment establishing a child care trustfund.

Dec. 5, 2024 WABE

Georgia lawmakers propose sweeping AI policies, privacy and ethics laws

Meimei Xu reports that Georgia lawmakers are recommending that all state bodies, cities, counties and school systems create “comprehensive” policies to ensure the ethical use of artificial intelligence. The bipartisan Georgia Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Republican State Sen. John Albers, released its final report on Tuesday, which included findings and recommended policies and steps to both promote the technology’s advancement and address potential negative consequences.

Dec. 5, 2024 Capitol Beat News

Trump moves to dismiss Georgia election interference case

Dave Williams reports that President-elect Donald Trump’s legal team asked the state Court of Appeals Wednesday to dismiss an indictment charging him with trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. In a five-page filing, three of Trump’s lawyers argued that since the U.S. Constitution already prohibits indicting and prosecuting a sitting president, the same provision should apply to a president-elect.

Dec. 5, 2024 Georgia Recorder

Trump taps former Georgia U.S. Sen. Loeffler to lead Small Business Administration

Jill Nolin reports that former Georgia U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler has been announced as President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Small Business Administration. Trump made the announcement Wednesday night on his social media site Truth Social, citing her business background and her help to “secure the Big Election Win in Georgia!”