by Dave Williams | Aug 25, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Georgia’s leading aerospace companies Monday announced the formation of a new statewide organization dedicated to advancing the state’s aerospace and defense industries.
The Georgia Aerospace & Defense Alliance (GADA) – being launched by Gulfstream Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, FlightSafety International, and Pratt & Whitney – will be housed at Mercer University in Macon, with Ember Bishop Bentley as executive director and Jay Neely as its initial board chairman.
Bentley most recently served as chief of staff and vice president for external affairs at Middle Georgia State University in Macon, home to Georgia’s flagship School of Aviation. Neely serves as board chairman for the state Department of Economic Development.
Aerospace is Georgia’s second largest industry, with an annual economic impact of more than $57.5 billion and about 200,000 employees.
“Georgia has long been a national force in aerospace and defense,” Bentley said Monday. “Through GADA, we will bring together industry, education, and government to ensure we remain competitive, innovative, and forward looking in every aspect of this critical sector.”
The new alliance will work to sustain the aerospace and defense industries through coordinated advocacy, workforce development, and industrial collaboration.
by Dave Williams | Aug 25, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp will lead a trade mission to Brazil and Argentina this week.
The governor and First Lady Marty Kemp will join representatives from the state departments of Economic Development and Agriculture and the Georgia Ports Authority in meeting with executives from companies already operating in Georgia or building new projects here.
Last year, Georgia exports to Brazil totaled $748 million, with another $120 million in exports going to Argentina.
“We’re always eager to grow those pipelines of opportunity so more Georgians from all parts of the state can benefit,” Kemp said Monday.
“I look forward to working with our partners in Brazil and Argentina to continue to build upon our already strong relationship,” Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper added.
During the trip, the state economic development agency will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Georgia’s trade office in Brazil.
“Georgia’s connectivity to South America means opportunity,” said Pat Wilson, the state’s commissioner of economic development. “Brazil and Argentina are home to some of the largest agriculture and infrastructure companies in South America, aligning with Georgia’s strong agribusiness and food and beverage industries.”
The state delegation also will include Maj. Gen. Richard “Dwayne” Wilson, Georgia’s adjutant general, who will meet with members of the Georgia National Guard and their Argentinian counterparts as part of the Department of Defense State Partnership Program.
by Dave Williams | Aug 25, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – The University System of Georgia (USG) is launching a need-based scholarships program financed through the private sector.
The USG Foundation raised more than $4.5 million in startup funds for the new DREAMS Scholarship to help students bridge financial gaps, system Chancellor Sonny Perdue announced Saturday during the annual Regents’ Scholarship Gala. The first scholarship will go to Giuli Capparelli Sanabria, a junior majoring in biology at Georgia Tech.
“The Board of Regents is focused on affordability, but unmet needs for students can still arise,” Perdue said. “By helping to close the gap between the cost of college and what families can afford, this program helps us expand access to higher education for those who need it most.”
Georgia and New Hampshire are the only states that don’t offer a need-based scholarships program in their four-year public colleges and universities. The HOPE Scholarships program is based on merit and covers only tuition costs.
Funded in part with $2 million in seed money from Truist Charitable Fund, DREAMS will provide up to $3,000 per year to eligible students. The program encourages student responsibility by expecting part-time employment or volunteer service by participants.
Once fully built out, the program aims to serve not only USG students but those enrolled in one of Georgia’s technical colleges.
“The support we’ve received will help more students complete their studies, thrive in their careers, and contribute to a stronger, more competitive Georgia,” said Regent Cade Joiner, chairman of the USG Foundation Board of Trustees. “We’re building new pathways that change lives through education.”
by Dave Williams | Aug 22, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – A leading industrial storage and automation solution company will invest $36 million to build a new plant in Gordon County, Gov. Brian Kemp announced this week.
Stow Group’s manufacturing facility will create about 200 jobs in the Northwest Georgia county.
“Georgia’s reliable infrastructure network and strategic location ensure we remain a gateway to opportunity,” Kemp said Thursday. “Companies like stow Group are a big reason why our robust logistics industry continues to deliver results across the state.”
Based in Belgium, stow Group produces industrial racking systems and develops customized warehouse and storage solutions for its clients, which include companies in logistics, food and beverage, life sciences, and other industries.
“I am very excited to ramp up a highly automated production plant with the latest technologies in rack manufacturing,” said Michael Morgenroth, plant manager at stow U.S. “We believe this will offer great career development opportunities for anyone in the local workforce interested in steel manufacturing.”
The new plant will occupy 240,000 square feet in an existing building along U.S. 41 in Adairsville. Operations are expected to begin next year.
The company will be hiring for production roles related to profiling, stamping, welding, powder coating, automation, and assembly as well as logistics, administrative, and management roles. Interested individuals can learn more at www.stow-group.com/en/careers.
The state Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team worked on the project in partnership with the Gordon County Chamber, the Development Authority of Gordon County, Georgia Power, and the Technical College System of Georgia’s Quick Start program.
by Dave Williams | Aug 21, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service
PERRY – International Paper will close two pulp and paper mills in Coastal Georgia, a move that will put about 1,100 employees out of work, the company announced Thursday.
Mills in Savannah and Riceboro will shut down by the end of next month, as will the company’s Savannah packaging facility. The combined changes will result in a net reduction of International Paper’s annual containerboard capacity by about 1 million tons.
The company will offer severance packages along with outplacement assistance for eligible employees, said Tom Hamic, president of International Paper’s North America Packing Solutions business.
“We understand how deeply these decisions affect our employees, their loved ones, and the surrounding communities,” he said. “We are committed to supporting both our employees and customers as we navigate this transition.”
“These mill closures will undoubtedly deal a devastating blow not only to Georgia’s timber industry, but to the economic fabric of the entire Southeast Georgia region,” added Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington.
The pulp and paper industry has been buffeted by a long-term reduction in demand for its products. The number of mills in Georgia has fallen from 18 at the height of production in 1977 to just nine with Thursday’s closure announcements, Marshall Thomas, president of Albany-based F&W Forest Services, told an audience of political and ag business leaders at the annual Ag Issues Summit at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry.
Gov. Brian Kemp said he will mobilize Georgia’s technical colleges and the state departments of labor and economic development to connect affected workers with job opportunities.
“Thankfully, the strong state economy we’ve built together over the last seven years has made our job market healthy and resilient, with a steady pipeline of investments and opportunities coming to the regions affected by this announcement,” he said.
Kemp said he has asked the economic development agency to make attracting more businesses that use wood to give the struggling timber industry a boost.
Thomas said Georgia lawmakers are working to increase demand for timber products, including a state Senate study committee that began meeting last year to explore developing sustainable aviation fuel from biomass, which has become popular in Europe.
“Why aren’t we doing this?” he said. “The world wants green stuff … and we’ve got some of the greatest forestry in the world.”
Thomas said another way to increase demand for timber is being worked on at the federal level. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s renewable fuel standard is aimed at increasing the use of renewable fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it bans the use of commercially produced trees in producing those fuels.
“If we could get that relaxed to include trees, it would go a long way,” he said.
“I, along with each member of our delegation in the House, remain committed to working tirelessly with our state leaders, federal partners and timber producers to navigate this difficult transition, secure new employment opportunities for the hundreds of citizens impacted by the closures and safeguard the long-term strength and viability of Georgia’s timber industry,” Burns added.
