Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Department of Economic Development Thursday announced that some 16,000 jobs have been created in the state in the first half of fiscal year 2021, totaling nearly $6 billion in new investments. This represents a 40% increase in new jobs created over the first half of 2020, a great sign that the state’s economy is on the rise after an obvious dip in much of last year. The main industries creating jobs are food processing, manufacturing, and logistics and distribution. Great work in trying times has the GDEcD team RISING…
House passes elections reform bill
The Georgia House of Representatives Monday passed the hotly contested elections reform bill that would require ID for absentee voting and regulate drop boxes, among other changes. The 97-72 vote fell along party lines following intense debate, with Democrats strongly opposing what they deemed an attempt at “voter suppression” and Republicans, including bill sponsor Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem), saying it is needed to “restore confidence in our voting system.” The bill now heads to the Senate well ahead of Crossover Day, where debate will surely continue, (the Senate is also pondering several elections bills of its own). A long way to go yet in the session, but for Republicans pushing for elections reform this legislation passing the House has their hopes RISING…
