Georgia Trend Daily – Feb. 6, 2025
Feb. 6, 2025 WSB Radio
New study finds Georgia will be top state for franchise business growth in 2025
Staff reports, citing the state’s population growth trends, business-friendly policies, and industry growth, the International Franchise Association says it expects franchising in Georgia to grow 6.7% this year adding over 34,000 new business. That is more than any other state.
Feb. 6, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
A Big Boost for Rural Georgia
Ben Young writes, Rural Georgia remains a focus for economic development. There is opportunity for many of our 159 counties to become more competitive with better infrastructure and broader residential development.
Feb. 6, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Trump funding freeze puts $1 billion investment in Georgia grid on ice
Meris Lutz reports that at least $1 billion in projects intended to modernize Georgia’s power grid remain in limbo as President Donald Trump seeks to halt congressionally approved funding for infrastructure and climate projects, business, state, nonprofit and education officials told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Feb. 6, 2025 Georgia.gov
Gov. Kemp Announces New Executive Counsel and Legal Staff
Staff reports that Gov. Kemp on Tuesday announced changes to his legal staff, following the announcement that current Executive Counsel Kristyn Long will depart the Governor’s Office to serve as General Counsel for the Georgia Hospital Association, effective February 14. Sam Hatcher will then serve as Executive Counsel, as Christine Hayes and Rachel Byers continue to serve as Deputy Executive Counsel and Associate Executive Counsel, respectively.
Feb. 6, 2025 Rome News-Tribune
Georgia Students Struggling To Catch Up After The Pandemic
Rachel Hartdegen reports that a national assessment of all 4th and 8th graders showed that students in Georgia are still making up for ground lost during the pandemic, but there has been some growth in math scores in the last two years. The National Assessment of Education Progress is the largest assessment of a student’s knowledge and progress in public and private schools nationwide.
Feb. 6, 2025 Augusta Chronicle
Augusta residents speak out against Solvay chemical plant expansion
Erica Van Buren reports that at a recent public hearing hosted by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, members of the Augusta community voiced their concerns in response to a local chemical plant’s plans to expand its operations and the potential for more pollutants mixing with the air. Solvay Specialty Polymers, member of the Syensqo Group, is a chemical plant in south Augusta looking to expand.
Feb. 6, 2025 Georgia Recorder
U.S. Senate panel moves Loeffler a step closer to leading the Small Business Administration
Ross Williams reports that a U.S. Senate committee has approved businesswoman and former Georgia U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler to lead the Small Business Administration under President Donald Trump’s second administration. Loeffler will still need approval from the full Senate for confirmation.
Feb. 6, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Jerica Richardson is Out of Office
Annie Mayne reports that Jerica Richardson is no longer serving as a Cobb County commissioner, according to her attorney and Cobb Chairwoman Lisa Cupid. “I just learned today that our District 2 commissioner can no longer serve. She will no longer be sitting as a de-facto commissioner,” Cupid announced while speaking to the Rotary Club of Marietta Wednesday afternoon.
Feb. 6, 2025 The Brunswick News
Local legislation on Commission agenda
Gordon Jackson reports that the Glynn County Commission will hold a public hearing at tonight’s meeting to discuss a request for local legislation. The proposed requests for the Georgia General Assembly to consider includes a 2% increase in the lodging excise tax, a pay raise and a commission appointment to the Golden Isles Development Authority.
Feb. 6, 2025 GPB
‘Lawmakers’ Day 10: Lawmakers introduce legislation on school safety, school sports
Sarah Kallis and Tristan Smith report, on Monday, lawmakers from both parties announced education legislation. Speaker of the House Jon Burns’ proposal includes a system for students to anonymously report threats to the authorities, require schools to create a threat management program and mandate a statewide student information database.
Feb. 6, 2025 WABE
Gun safety advocates call for change at Georgia Capitol in first session after Apalachee shooting
Chamian Cruz reports that an Apalachee High School student is urging lawmakers to consider the issue of firearm access in their talks about improving school safety in the aftermath of the deadly shooting in Winder, Georgia, five months ago. Standing inside the State Capitol on Tuesday, Isabel Trejo, a senior at Apalachee, described how her scars from that day are still raw.
Feb. 6, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Senate bill seeking to strip governmental immunity from ‘sanctuary cities’ passes committee
Maya Homan reports, under what circumstances can a Georgia resident sue their local government for crimes committed by another person? Under Senate Bill 21, which passed out of the chamber’s Public Safety Committee Wednesday, the answer may depend on the immigration status of the person in question.
Feb. 6, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Legislation invites lawsuits against cities and schools that ignore immigration law
Ty Tagami reports that a Georgia Senate committee advanced legislation Wednesday that would expose school districts and other governing bodies to lawsuits if they violate a state law that requires cooperation with federal officials and police on immigration enforcement. The Republican-led Senate Public Safety Committee voted 5-3 to pass Senate Bill 21, which would waive sovereign immunity for violators.
Feb. 6, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Republicans renew push for closed primary elections
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report that Georgia Republicans are renewing their push to only let voters who register as party members cast ballots in GOP primaries. It’s part of an attempt to guarantee more ideological purity among the nominees.
