by Dave Williams | Jul 18, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Electric-vehicle manufacturer Rivian will establish a new East Coast headquarters in Atlanta, creating about 500 jobs when completed.
Rivian will occupy the top floor and lobby of a building on Auburn Avenue adjacent to the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail.
“Georgia is a prime location for any company headquarters,” Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday. “We’re glad to see Rivian will soon join the growing list of brands not only operating in our state but also wholly or partially based in our capital city.”
Rivian is no stranger to Georgia. The California-based company announced plans in late 2021 to build a $5 billion truck manufacturing plant near Covington, generating 7,500 jobs. It was the largest economic development project in Georgia history for a few months until Hyundai revealed plans to build a $5.5 billion EV plant west of Savannah.
While the Hyundai plant opened earlier this year, the Rivian project has been delayed by financial challenges. A nearly $6 billion federal loan announced last November is allowing construction to restart following a switch in plans to producing R2 crossover models. The plant is due to open in 2028.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said the Rivian headquarters will help burnish the city’s reputation as technology hub.
“Atlanta continues to lead in EV innovation and technology integration, and Rivian’s growing presence here reinforces our city’s role in shaping our future economy,” he said.
Rivian expects to employ around 100 people at the headquarters site by the end of this year.
by Dave Williams | Jul 17, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – A food company founded in Hawaii but now based in California will grow its Georgia presence with a $54 million plant expansion in Hall County, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday.
The investment by King’s Hawaiian in Oakwood will create 135 jobs.
“For nearly 15 years, King’s Hawaiian has proven to be an incredible partner in creating quality jobs in Northeast Georgia,” Kemp said. “Expansions like these are an important part of our economic development work, helping create further opportunities in growing communities.”
King’s Hawaiian was founded in 1950 by the Taira family in Hilo, Hawaii. Since coming to Georgia in 2010, the company has grown to support more than 800 jobs in the Peach State.
“This expansion represents a major milestone in our journey,” said Mark Taira, the company’s CEO. “Georgia has been an essential part of our success.”
The expansion will add a new production line at the 150,000-square-foot Oakwood plant, producing additional flavors of King’s Hawaiian Pretzel Bites.
With operations due to begin in the second quarter of next year, the company will be hiring for positions in management, maintenance, food safety, and quality control. For more information on those openings and to apply, click on kingshawaiian.com/careers.
The state Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team worked on the project in partnership with the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce and Georgia EMC.
by Dave Williams | Jul 17, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – 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.
“Businesses big and small showed up day after day – hiring, investing and believing in Georgia’s commitment to growth,” state Commissioner of Labor Barbara Rivera Holmes said Thursday. “That consistency has kept us the No.-1 state for business 11 years running.”
To reach that historic jobs number, the number of jobs in the Peach State rose by 9,100 last month. Job sectors hitting record highs in June included health care and social assistance, which posted a gain of 623,300 jobs; and leisure and hospitality, which grew by 522,100 jobs.
Sectors with the most job gains in June included health care and social assistance, with an additional 3,900 jobs; entertainment and recreation, which gained 3,500 jobs; and administrative and support services, with a gain of 3,100 jobs.
The durable goods manufacturing sector lost 2,300 jobs last month, followed by state government, which fell by 1,600 jobs. The accommodation and food services sector declined by 1,100 jobs.
Georgia’s labor force increased slightly in June to nearly 5.4 million. The number of employed Georgians rose by 2,802 almost 5.2 million.
Unemployment declined by 2,597 in June to 186,417, but initial unemployment claims increased by 522 to 19,657.
by Dave Williams | Jul 17, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Lt. Gov. Burt Jones Thursday announced the creation of a state Senate committee that will consider eliminating Georgia’s income tax.
Jones, who presides over the Georgia Senate, announced last week he will seek the Republican nomination for governor next year. He signaled in his opening campaign video that, if elected, he would push to get rid of the tax.
Legislative Republicans and conservative tax policy advocates have long called for abolishing Georgia’s income tax to help the state compete for jobs with neighboring states.
“Among southeast states, only South Carolina has a higher income tax rate than Georgia,” Jones said Thursday. “If we wish to remain the No.-1 state for business and keep our state competitive, we must expand on the progress made over the past four years to eliminate Georgia’s income tax.”
Term-limited Gov. Brian Kemp has steered legislation through the General Assembly gradually reducing the state’s income tax rate.
This year, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a Kemp-backed bill to cut the tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19% retroactive to the beginning of the current tax year. Democrats who opposed the measure argued it would benefit primarily wealthy taxpayers.
The 11-member Georgia Senate Committee on Eliminating Georgia’s Income Tax will include eight Republican senators and three Democrats. It will be chaired by Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia, who also heads the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The panel will begin meeting later this summer and will have until Dec. 15 to wrap up its work and make recommendations.
by Dave Williams | Jul 16, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is calling attention to months-long delays by state and federal agriculture agencies to deliver relief to farm communities devastated by Hurricane Helene last September.
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper dated Wednesday, Ossoff asked why a federal block grant agreement still hasn’t been finalized more than nine months after the storm struck and more than six months after Congress appropriated disaster aid.
“Although some funds have been made available at the national level through USDA (the U.S. Department of Agriculture), many of Georgia’s farmers and producers who were most affected by Hurricane Helene are not eligible for this assistance and tell me they are instead counting on a block grant,” Ossoff wrote.
“The failure of USDA and the state of Georgia to conclude the block grant agreement has left many Georgia farmers and producers in limbo.”
Ossoff pressed the federal and state agriculture agencies to provide an update on the timetable for completion of the block grant agreement within one week.
The massive hurricane roared through South Georgia and north through the Augusta area in late September, killing 34 and causing heavy rainfall and widespread flooding as well as extensive power outages.
The General Assembly approved $862 million in disaster relief for victims of the storm during this year’s legislative session.
Harper’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
