Georgia Trend Daily – May 7, 2025
May 7, 2025 GlobalAtlanta.com
South African Software Firm Sees Atlanta as Hub for Future U.S. Growth
Trevor Williams reports, when Adrian Erasmus started flying to the U.S. from Cape Town for business, he inevitably found himself coming through Atlanta. The new nonstop flight, launched in late 2022 after a concerted push by local boosters, opened doors for Warp Development, a 23-year-old venture providing outsourced software development and managed IT services to a range of clients, from startups to sophisticated corporates.
May 7, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
The Importance of Startups
Ben Young writes, as we look at small business this month, it’s important to note the the contribution of startups and Georgia’s startup-friendly ecosystem. Startups comprised some 8.9% of all firms in the U.S. in 2021 – the highest share since the Great Recession.
May 7, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hyundai factory near Savannah fined for violating state wastewater rules
Drew Kann reports that Georgia environmental regulators have fined the hulking Hyundai electric vehicle factory near Savannah $30,000 for violating state wastewater disposal rules. The $7.6 billion facility, known as the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, opened in October and is the largest economic development project in Georgia history.
May 7, 2025 Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
Gwinnett Chamber Hires Kevin Carmichael as New SVP of Economic Development
Staff reports that the Gwinnett Chamber is pleased to announce the hiring of Kevin Carmichael as the new Senior Vice President of Economic Development. In this pivotal role, Carmichael will spearhead the strategic vision and execution of Partnership Gwinnett, the community and economic development initiative aimed at driving sustainable economic prosperity in the community.
May 7, 2025 Saporta Report
Downtown Atlanta leaders eye World Cup progress at town hall
Delaney Tarr reports that a public-private partnership of downtown Atlanta leaders gave a “brief snapshot” of future developments as the city gears up to host eight FIFA World Cup matches in 2026. Central Atlanta Progress President A.J. Robinson said there are approximately $3.5 billion dollars in new development planned for the next five years.
May 7, 2025 GPB, Grist
In Georgia, a fight over credit for its clean energy boom
Gautama Mehta reports that the Peach State is home to more new jobs expected to result from American clean energy projects announced since the Inflation Reduction Act’s passage in August 2022 than any other state. Those jobs — some 42,000, according to a report, shared with Grist first and publishing later Tuesday by Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock — are now at risk, as congressional Republicans consider repealing some or all of the IRA’s tax credits to pay for President Donald Trump’s proposed tax cuts.
May 7, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Ossoff presses Trump administration for Helene aid
Dave Williams reports that federal disaster relief for Georgia farmers who suffered losses from Hurricane Helene should begin to flow before the end of this month, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Tuesday. Congress approved $21 billion in assistance last December to help farmers recover from the disastrous impacts of Helene, which rampaged through a large swath of South, Middle, and eastern Georgia last September, as well as other natural disasters across the country.
May 7, 2025 State Affairs
From sports bans to panic buttons: What bills made the cut – and what’s still on Kemp’s desk
Beau Evans reports that Gov. Brian Kemp has signed dozens of bills into law from the 2025 legislative session, including measures on school safety, medical procedures and transgender rights. Around 400 bills and resolutions cleared the General Assembly from Jan. 13 to April 4, triggering a 40-day period for Kemp to sign or veto.
May 7, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Georgia Dems consider shifting focus from culture war issues at center-left summit
Ross Williams reports that Georgia Democrats are thinking about the path forward as they look ahead to the 2026 midterms, hoping that discontent with President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans will help propel Sen. Jon Ossoff back to Washington and launch a Democrat into the governor’s office for the first time since Roy Barnes served more than 20 years ago.
May 7, 2025 GPB
What’s next for the Georgia Republicans after Kemp declines to run for Senate?
Sarah Kallis reports that Gov. Brian Kemp announced Monday he will not run for U.S. Senate in 2026, setting off a chain reaction in the Republican Party as candidates consider a run against incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Kemp’s decision to decline a Senate run is likely to cause a crowded Republican primary in 2026 for Ossoff’s seat.
May 7, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Audit finds teacher shortage law helped, but not nearly enough
Ty Tagami reports, as a generation of teachers retire and their burned-out younger colleagues quit sooner, complaining about the workload and the pay, public schools have struggled to keep their classrooms staffed. Georgia lawmakers thought they had found a solution, passing House Bill 385 three years ago.
May 7, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After 20 years, REAL ID law takes effect today at airports across the country
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, the federal government has been telling us for 20 years we need to update our driver’s licenses to board domestic flights. But starting today, they really mean it. The Department of Homeland Security will begin enforcing the REAL ID Act at airports across the country today.
