Georgia Trend Daily – Aug. 19, 2026
Aug. 19, 2026 WABE
How this Georgia factory is surviving America’s solar policy whiplash
Emily Jones reports, inside the vast QCells factory in Cartersville, Georgia, workers — and a bevy of robots — move ultra-thin slices of polysilicon through a lengthy series of machines and chemical baths to transform them into what are known as cells. In June, the plant, about an hour northwest of Atlanta, expanded beyond assembling the major components of solar panels.
Aug. 19, 2026 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Betting on Georgia’s Future
Tharon Johnson reports, as a campaign consultant with over 20 years of experience in politics, I have advised hundreds of aspiring candidates who want to offer themselves for public service but may not know where to start. I always start by telling them the same thing – make sure you really want it.
Aug. 19, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Marietta company’s innovative space armor to be part of upcoming SpaceX launch
Mirtha Donastorg reports, when SpaceX rocket blasts off from Cape Canaveral into orbit this fall, a tile affixed to a satellite on the craft will mark a major first for a metro Atlanta startup. Space Armor is a new type of debris shield to protect critical infrastructure on spacecraft invented by Marietta-based Atomic-6.
Aug. 19, 2026 GlobalAtlanta.com
Sustainable Food Packaging Company With Indian Roots to Invest $5M Gainesville
Trevor Williams reports that a food packaging company rooted in India is setting up shop in Georgia’s chicken country as its seeks to roll out its environmentally friendly technology across the U.S. and beyond. Cirkla produces sturdy trays for proteins from a blend of fibers including bamboo and sugarcane byproducts, press into a mold and lined using a patented lamination process.
Aug. 19, 2026 Rough Draft Atlanta
Industry leaders discuss the impact of AI on development and permitting
Hayden Sumlin reports, “The AI Era of the Built Environment is Here” was the theme of the Council for Quality Growth’s annual INTERSECTION Development Conference on Aug. 14 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center. This year’s keynote speaker — Greg Lindsay, Urbanist-in-Residence at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities — said there’s fragmentation across the building industry, limiting collaboration.
Aug. 19, 2026 GPB
Northwest Georgia cities make moves to clean ‘forever chemicals’ out of their water supply
Orlando Montoya reports that Rome is moving forward with plans to build an unusual water treatment facility. City commissioners this week approved $34 million for reverse osmosis equipment.
Aug. 19, 2026 Valdosta Daily Times
Prince Automotive of Valdosta donates $173,777 in automotive parts to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Staff reports that Prince Automotive of Valdosta has donated approximately $173,777 in automotive parts to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, providing valuable hands-on learning resources for students in the college’s Automotive Technology program. The donation will help ensure students have access to current automotive components and equipment as they develop the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to succeed in the automotive workforce, Wiregrass Tech said in a press release.
Aug. 19, 2026 Newnan Times-Herald
Project Oak developers to hold additional community meeting, request delay in public hearing
Jeffrey Cullen-Dean reports, developers of the Project Oak data center are requesting another delay of the property’s public hearing, citing plans to hold a second community information meeting. The second community meeting for Project Oak will be held Monday, Aug. 31, at the Coweta County fairgrounds.
Aug. 19, 2026 Savannah Morning News
This generation is flocking to Georgia, new U-Haul data shows
Vanessa Johns reports, a new U-Haul migration report shows Georgia is among the states attracting one particular generation of movers. According to data from U-Haul’s latest migration trends report, Georgia ranked No. 10 among the top states Baby Boomers are moving to.
Aug. 19, 2026 Union-Recorder
BankSouth donates $25,000 to Putnam General Hospital
Staff reports that BankSouth recently announced a $25,000 donation to Putnam General Hospital through the Georgia HEART Hospital Program. This contribution will directly support the hospital’s oncology and urology programs by helping fund the new Hydros Robotic System, the latest generation platform for Aquablation therapy.
Aug. 19, 2026 The Current
Under new legislation, restaurants prep to post origin country for shrimp
Gracie Nelson reports, Coastal Georgia is known for its hospitality as well as its shrimp-abundant waterways and estuaries. However, not all restaurants along the coast source their seafood from local waters, while allowing people to assume they do.
Aug. 19, 2026 Georgia Recorder
An entire school board in central Georgia is fired, kicking off search for new members
Ross Williams reports that Gov. Brian Kemp hopes a newly appointed panel can help clean up a financial mess in Dublin City Schools. Kemp suspended all seven of the board’s members via an executive order Monday and appointed five local leaders to help select temporary replacements.
Aug. 19, 2026 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For some Jewish voters in Georgia, neither U.S. Senate choice is simple
Greg Bluestein reports, suddenly, Mike Collins is all over Georgia’s Jewish community. The Republican U.S. Senate nominee turned up this month at a synagogue’s festival in Atlanta’s exurbs. And he met privately with Jewish leaders at the home of a prominent philanthropist as Georgia’s race is surfacing in Jewish media from Atlanta to Jerusalem.
