Georgia Trend Daily – Sept. 10, 2025

Sept. 10, 2025 Georgia.gov

Gov. Kemp: August Net Tax Revenues Up 3.2%

Staff reports that the State of Georgia’s net tax collections during the month of August totaled $2.41 billion, for an increase of nearly $74.1 million, or 3.2 percent, compared to August 2024 when net tax collections approached a total of $2.34 billion. Year to date, net tax revenue collections were $4.91 billion for an increase of $4 million, or 0.1 percent, compared to the prior fiscal year when net tax collections totaled $4.90 billion after two months.

Sept. 10, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!

Economic Development Around the State: From Hall County to Georgia Tech’s Science Square

Christy Simo reports that King’s Hawaiian, which has had a presence in Georgia since 2010, is expanding its Oakwood facility yet again. The $54 million project will add a new production line at its existing 150,000-square-foot facility and will produce additional flavors of King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Bites when it begins operations in the second quarter of 2026.

Sept. 10, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bipartisan bill could help Georgia communities replace aging gas pipelines

Zachary Hansen reports that lines carrying natural gas crisscross the state of Georgia. Bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Sen Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., could extend a program to help communities replace or upgrade the aging infrastructure of those pipelines.

Sept. 10, 2025 GlobalAtlanta.com

Secret Sauce: Gainesville’s Charms Sweeten the Pot for Hong Kong Company Investing $70M 

Trevor Williams reports that a Hong Kong company with nearly a century of experience in the U.S market is set to get a taste of Georgia’s business climate as it sets up a factory by 2028.  Koon Chun (USA), a maker of soy sauce and other condiments, said Gainesville offered the right blend of workforce and logistical infrastructure to attract a $70 million investment the company says will help it better serve American customers.

Sept. 10, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal

Officials break ground on Galleria Centre’s $190M revamp

Abby Cope reports that officials broke bricks to mark the start of the Cobb Galleria Centre’s $190 million renovation and expansion project on Tuesday. Galleria spokesperson Karen Caro said the convention facility’s expansion is scheduled to be completed in early 2027.

 

Sept. 10, 2025 The Griffin Daily News

From tornado to triumph: UWG alum Ozier leads family business to statewide recognition

Hailey Wilkinson reports, from outfitting Wolves fans to supporting UWG Athletics, Ozier Apparel has long been part of the University of West Georgia’s story. Now, owner and alumnus Will Ozier ’06 has his own chapter of recognition to celebrate: his family’s company has been named Georgia’s 2025 Family-Owned Small Business of the Year.

Sept. 10, 2025 Capitol Beat News

Environmental, community activists seek tighter restrictions on data centers

Dave Williams reports that environmental advocates and community activists Tuesday supported a proposal to add data centers to the list of large development projects subject to state review. But they also called for the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to lower the threshold for projects that fall under the agency’s definition of “developments of regional impact” (DRIs).

Sept. 10, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Columbus developer aims to turn this part of midtown into Mayberry. See her plan

Jordyn Paul-Slater reports that over the past year and a half, Jennifer Flournoy has been commuting to Columbus from her home on St. Simons Island to help bring back the vibrant midtown community she grew up in. It’s been back-to-back weekends with 10-hour roundtrip drives, but she said she feels a responsibility to help improved her hometown.

Sept. 10, 2025 WABE

An Atlanta-based nonprofit awards $100,000 in grants to five Westside schools

Marlon Hyde reports that Westside Future Fund, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, is giving $100,000 in grants to support schools on the city’s Westside. The organization is dedicated to revitalizing Atlanta’s Westside through elevating the area’s unique history and the community that lives there now.

Sept. 10, 2025 Macon Telegraph

Georgia Power gets approval for 5 new solar farms. How much energy will they make?

Margaret Walker reports that Georgia Power got the greenlight from the Georgia Public Service Commission last week for five new utility-scale solar farms, according to a news release from the power company. The solar farms will be in Coffee, Jefferson, Laurens, Mitchell and Wilkinson counties and will total 1,068 megawatts of power.

Sept. 10, 2025 Savannah Morning News

‘Federal involvement is necessary’: MTG urges investigation into Georgia elections

Vanessa Countryman reports that U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has formally requested that the FBI and Department of Justice launch an investigation into Georgia’s 2020 election process, citing ongoing concerns related to unresolved complaints and alleged irregularities. In a statement this week on X, Greene said she sent a letter to both federal agencies, calling for a deeper investigation into the handling of elections in Fulton County.

Sept. 10, 2025 Georgia Recorder

Judge says Georgia AG’s office lacked authority to bring racketeering charges in ‘Cop City’ case

Sam Barnes reports that a Fulton County judge says he is likely to throw out racketeering charges filed against 61 people in connection with an alleged conspiracy to stop the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center because the Georgia Attorney General’s office lacked authority to bring the charges. Georgia law specifies the circumstances when the Attorney General’s office may engage in criminal prosecution that might otherwise be handled by a local district attorney.

Sept. 10, 2025 Capitol Beat News

Judge upholds key provision of state elections overhaul

Dave Williams reports that a federal judge has upheld a portion of a controversial 2022 Georgia election law dealing with absentee ballots. In a 50-page ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee declared that the state had a “compelling governmental interest” in restricting the distribution of absentee ballot applications by third-party voting rights activists.

Sept. 10, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ex-Democrat Mesha Mainor launches GOP bid for state school superintendent

Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, former Democratic state Rep. Mesha Mainor, who switched parties after breaking with Democrats on private school vouchers, is running for state school superintendent as a Republican. Her 2023 defection made her the first Black woman to serve as a Republican in the General Assembly.