Georgia Trend Daily – Sept. 25, 2025
Sept. 25, 2025 Georgia.gov
Georgia No. 1 for Business for 12th Straight Year
Staff reports, Gov. Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), today announced that the state has been recognized as the No. 1 state for business by Area Development magazine for the 12th year in a row, marking an unmatched record of success and consistency in economic development. “For 12 straight years, site selectors who decide where companies invest have voted Georgia as the ‘Top State for Business’ in this annual poll from the leading publication for these decisionmakers,” said Governor Brian Kemp.
Sept. 25, 2025 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Gwinnett County | Modern-Day Melting Pot
Jennifer Hafer reports, Gwinnett County is one of the 10 most diverse counties in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That diversity is credited with helping build a strong economy, creating a vibrant cultural scene and pushing the county population to more than 1 million people, making it Georgia’s second largest county.
Sept. 25, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As International Paper mills shutter, coastal Georgia families pay the price
Brian Montgomery reports, by the end of September, about 1,100 workers in Savannah and Riceboro will lose their jobs when International Paper closes two historic mills. For nearly a century, the Savannah mill has anchored local families, small businesses, timber growers and loggers, and their closures will send shock waves through every corner of our region.
Sept. 25, 2025 Norfolk Southern
Norfolk Southern, City of Refuge open welding training center to grow jobs in Atlanta
Staff reports that Norfolk Southern has partnered with City of Refuge, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that helps individuals and families transition out of crisis, to provide $350,000 in funding to support the construction and equipment needs of its new welding training center. Part of City of Refuge’s broader job training program, the welding center will offer individuals free training, mentorship, and placement services to build the skills and confidence needed for meaningful and sustainable careers.
Sept. 25, 2025 WABE
Georgia-based companies and workers scramble after visa change
Molly Samuel reports, questions for Georgia-based companies and workers remain after the Trump administration announced changes to the visa program for skilled workers late last week. Trump’s order last Friday, set to go into effect the same weekend, created a $100,000 fee for H-1B visas, sending workers and companies scrambling.
Sept. 25, 2025 Savannah Morning News
Even as Savannah navigates drop in tourism, hospitality leaders point to signs of optimism
Evan Lassiter reports, since Covid-19, visitation to Savannah has boomed with visitors from 2021 to 2023, and 2024 kept up the pace. But now through the first half of this year, key metrics within the hotel market show moderate dips.
Sept. 25, 2025 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
LaGrange halts new data centers for 6 months. Does it affect the $8B one already planned?
Kala Hunter reports, the LaGrange City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday calling for a 180-day moratorium on all data centers in LaGrange. This comes just six days after Troup County passed its own moratorium on data center development for 90 days, but it did not apply to LaGrange.
Sept. 25, 2025 Griffin Daily News
City of Griffin discussing possibility of providing power to data center
Larry Stanford reports, data centers can generate significant property and equipment tax revenue for local governments. They can also provide substantial revenue through power consumption if it is done in a way that does not put the burden of paying for the power on the backs of local citizens.
Sept. 25, 2025 Milledgeville Union-Recorder
Century Bank and Trust acquires Bank of Wrightsville
Staff reports that Century Bancorp Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary Century Bank and Trust, have entered into an agreement to acquire Wrightsville Bancshares, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary Bank of Wrightsville in Johnson County. “This partnership is a natural fit,” said Derek Williams, CEO and president of Century Bank and Trust.
Sept. 25, 2025 The Brunswick News
Brunswick Breeze sees successful first week
Taylor Cooper reports, the Brunswick Breeze’s first week has been a great success. Ridership of the city’s new public transit system is matching that of similar busy transit networks in the Southeast.
Sept. 25, 2025 State Affairs
Georgia agencies seek $39B as federal cuts loom
Beau Evans reports that state agencies have asked for around $39 billion in budget funding ahead of next year’s legislative session, keeping taxpayer spending largely flat amid looming federal cuts. The official requests preview expected battles in the 2026 session over whether lawmakers should fill a gap in low-income food assistance and Medicaid programs left by White House budget reductions set to kick in later this year — or if the state may tighten its belt.
Sept. 25, 2025 Gainesville Times
Update: Why Rep. Emory Dunahoo will not seek another term in the state House
Jeff Gill and Danny McArthur report, State Rep. Emory Dunahoo, R-Gillsville, will not seek re-election after his latest two-year term ends in December 2026. Dunahoo, who has served in the state House since 2011, said he decided to step down after a few health problems, such as issues with his lower back and requiring surgery for his shoulders.
Sept. 25, 2025 Albany Herald
Georgia gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms talks with farmers during Albany campaign stop
Lucille Lannigan reports, the former mayor of Atlanta and 2026 Georgia’s gubernatorial candidate made a stop in Albany Tuesday as part of her “Standing Pp for Georgia Tour.” Keisha Lance Bottoms visited with black farmers at the Albany office for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, a nonprofit cooperative that supports black farmers and landowners.
Sept. 25, 2025 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bottoms up? Poll shows why name recognition matters in governor’s race.
Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy and Adam Beam report, an emerging trend in the governor’s race is that nearly every ideological lane is covered — from MAGA to mainstream to business outsider to centrist to anti-Donald Trump firebrand. And if state Rep. Ruwa Romman of Duluth enters as expected, she’s likely to plant her flag on the Democratic party’s populist left.
