Georgia Trend Daily – July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025 Gainesville Times
King’s Hawaiian expansion to create 135 jobs
Jeff Gill reports that a $54 million planned expansion of the King’s Hawaiian bakery in Oakwood is expected to create 135 jobs, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday, July 17. The project involves a new production line at the 150,000-square-foot King’s Hawaiian plant in the Oakwood South Industrial Park off H.F. Reed Industrial Parkway.
July 18, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
How a veteran found a new mission through AI manufacturing at Georgia Tech
Catherine Barzler reports that Air Force veteran Michael Trigger discovered a new career path thanks to Georgia Tech. After driving a truck for several years, he was ready for a change. Trigger enrolled in an AI in manufacturing course at the Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center (VECTR) in Warner Robins, Georgia.
July 18, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rivian to employ 500 at new East Coast HQ along Atlanta Beltline
Zachary Hansen reports that electric vehicle startup Rivian announced Thursday it will establish an East Coast headquarters in Atlanta with plans to hire hundreds of employees as it prepares to break ground on its Georgia factory next year. The Irvine, California-based automaker signed a lease for 45,000 square feet of office space within the Junction Krog District building along the Beltline Eastside Trail.
July 18, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Georgia sets all-time record for jobs
Dave Williams reports that the number of jobs in Georgia topped 5 million last month for the first time in history, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday. Georgia’s unemployment rate, meanwhile, held steady at 3.5% in June, sixth-tenths of a point lower than the national jobless rate.
July 18, 2025 GlobalAtlanta.com
Georgia Peaches Back in Mexican Market After 27 Years Thanks to Locally Grown Technology
Trevor Williams reports that the last peach shipment from Georgia to Mexico cleared the border 27 years ago, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. That changed in June as a shipment of 42,000 pounds of peaches —a volume greater than what Mexico imported in 2024 from the entire world — crossed the border, thanks to a new treatment technology developed by a Georgia-based company.
July 18, 2025 Marietta Daily Journal
Mableton moves forward with blight reduction, $6.7M redevelopment bond
Megan Jackson reports that week, the Mableton City Council passed an Urban Redevelopment Plan and bond resolution for $6.7 million to fund the plan. Dozens of residents gathered to get answers from officials about the city’s new redevelopment plan and bond resolution Wednesday evening.
July 18, 2025 WABE
MARTA CEO stepping down over issues with immigration status
Kendall Murry, Melissa Feito and Meimei Xu report, MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood stepped down from his position Thursday, citing concerns about his immigration status and “personal matters.” According to the transit authority, Greenwood is a Canadian citizen, and his work permit expired last month.
July 18, 2025 Griffin Daily News
Trump’s executive orders easing some of workload on airport project
Larry Stanford reports that the Griffin Spalding Airport Authority (GSAA) has received a letter from Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, stating that several of President Donald Trump’s executive orders related to federal contracts mean that certain requirements will no longer be enforced. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and almost half of the funding designated for the new Griffin-Spalding County Regional Airport (48.2 million) is coming from the FAA, so the lessening of the requirements could mean a potential savings for the airport project.
July 18, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Georgia Court of Appeals judge is appointed to fill state Supreme Court vacancy
Amber Roldan reports, as a law student at the University of Georgia, Benjamin A. Land clerked for the Georgia Supreme Court. After decades of judicial experience and a stint serving in the state appellate court, Land will soon return to the Supreme Court, this time as a justice.
July 18, 2025 State Affairs
Income tax on chopping block in Georgia Senate
Beau Evans reports, the state income tax has been officially served notice in Georgia. On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones announced the creation of a new panel of lawmakers tasked with evaluating how to eliminate Georgia’s income tax.
July 18, 2025 Georgia Recorder
Georgia’s congressional, Senate candidates are off to fast start with 2026 campaign fundraising
Maya Homan reports that the 2026 election is still over a year away, but candidates across the Peach State are already hard at work, seeking to win over Georgia voters early and raise funds for their campaign. Tuesday was the most recent Federal Election Commission filing deadline, when all candidates in federal races must publicly disclose information about how they raise and spend campaign funds.
July 18, 2025 Capitol Beat News
Carr attacks Jones over self-financing of his gubernatorial campaign
Ty Tagami reports, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr launched an attack against his Republican primary opponent for governor Thursday, calling for an investigation of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ $10 million loan to his own campaign. “In his 2022 financial disclosure, Jones reported a $12 million net worth with only $700,000 in liquid assets,” Carr’s campaign said.
July 18, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
GOP Senate hopefuls vie for staff as they woo Brian Kemp and Donald Trump
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, former college football coach Derek Dooley made a splash when he hired a pair of Gov. Brian Kemp’s aides as he gears up for a potential U.S. Senate bid. But he’s not the only Republican contender staffing up.
