Georgia Trend Daily – May 24, 2024
May 24, 2024 Georgia.gov
Gov Kemp: First Quality in Macon to Create 600 New Jobs
Staff reports that Gov.Kemp on Thursday announced that First Quality Baby Products, LLC will invest $418 million to expand its footprint in Macon-Bibb County, creating 600 new jobs. “We’re always thankful when job creators like First Quality choose to expand in Georgia, and we’ll keep working to strengthen these long-term partnerships that enrich communities in every corner of the state,” said Governor Brian Kemp.
May 24, 2024 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Foundational Literacy
Candice Dyer reports, with some help from a local group, Dolly Parton is expanding her empire of good works into Georgia. The country legend’s Imagination Library is now working with Foundational Literacy, a nonprofit based in Cleveland, in the Northeast Georgia mountains, to get books into the hands of Appalachian children.
May 24, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta-based Kabbage to pay up to $120 million to settle PPP fraud allegations
Thad Moore reports that the bankrupt Atlanta financial technology firm Kabbage will pay the federal government as much as $120 million to settle allegations that the lender enabled fraudsters preying on a pandemic-era stimulus program. Whistleblowers alleged that Kabbage boosted its revenue by approving suspicious applications for federally backed loans under the Paycheck Protection Program and taking steps that inflated the cost to the government.
May 24, 2024 Savannah Morning News
Savannah’s median existing home price hits $344,000 in March
Amy Paige Condon reports, according to Savannah Area Realtors, residential listings increased by 7.6%, closings dropped by 4.6%, and inventory increased nearly 30%, and yet home prices continued to rise by another 4.2% in March 2024. Across the country, the median existing home sales price is just under $394,00; in Savannah, it’s around $344,000.
May 24, 2024 11 Alive
Three Georgia cities make list of final 15 to host Sundance Film Festival
Reeves Jackson and Cody Alcorn report, three signature Georgia cities have made an exclusive list of just 15 cities that have been narrowed down to host the preeminent film festival in the United States. Out of 90 cities to apply to host the Sundance Film Festival beginning in 2027, Atlanta, Athens and Savannah were among three of the 15 cities to make the second phase.
May 24, 2024 Valdosta Daily Times
Carpenter Media Group to acquire 10 titles and print facility from CNHI
Staff reports that Carpenter Media Group (CMG) and CNHI, LLC announced today they have reached a preliminary agreement for CMG to acquire ten newspapers spread across Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, as well as a print facility in Valdosta, Georgia. The titles acquired include The Meridian (MS) Star, Dalton (GA) Daily Citizen, Milledgeville (GA) Union-Recorder, Valdosta (GA) Daily Times, Moultrie (GA) Observer, Thomasville (GA) Times-Enterprise, Tifton (GA) Gazette, Athens (AL) News Courier, Cullman (AL) Times, and the St. Clair (AL) News Aegis.
May 24, 2024 GPB
New initiatives receive millions in federal funds to fight Georgia’s maternal health crisis
Ellen Eldridge reports that more than $1 million in federal money will support the Atlanta Healthy Start Initiative from the Center for Black Women’s Wellness. The maternal and infant health program is designed to support moms-to-be during pregnancy and throughout the critical postpartum period.
May 24, 2024 Macon Telegraph
Why the EPA gave Warner Robins a $1 million grant, and how it’ll be used for redevelopment
Jessica Payne reports that Warner Robins has received a big boost in its efforts to clean up the city’s Commercial Circle area: The Environmental Protection Agency gave the city a $1 million multipurpose grant for the project, the city announced Wednesday. The grant will focus on the redevelopment and cleanup of the Commercial Circle area, a key project aimed at transforming “brownfield sites” into productive, community-enhancing spaces, the city said.
May 24, 2024 Saporta Report
Atlanta cracks top 25 in annual ParkScore ranking
Delaney Tarr reports that Atlanta has earned its highest annual ParkScore yet in 2024, placing 25th out of the 100 largest U.S. cities in the yearly Trust for Public Land park ranking index. It marks a three-spot jump from last year when Atlanta placed 28th.
May 24, 2024 Georgia Recorder
Georgia senators emerge unscathed from the 2024 primaries as three House lawmakers face defeat
Ross Williams reports that unlike in the House, no incumbent Georgia state senators will be involuntarily leaving after Tuesday’s primary election. Voters reelected two Atlanta Democratic incumbents facing credible challenges, and some Republican senators fought off challengers from their right.
May 24, 2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PG A.M.: Georgia congressman protests food aid freeze in 2025 farm bill
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Van Brimmer report that Georgia U.S. Rep. David Scott threw the first punch in Congress’ next budget brawl on Thursday, railing against Republican plans to freeze food aid funding in next year’s farm bill. Scott, an Atlanta Democrat and the minority party’s top-ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, charged GOP lawmakers were not negotiating in good faith.
