AGP Executive Report

Advanced Energy Jobs: DeltaX will invest $141M to build a North American battery energy storage manufacturing headquarters in Monroe, creating about 250 Walton County jobs, with an initial 100,000-square-foot assembly facility planned at Piedmont Regional Industrial Park. Road & Construction Impacts: GDOT is closing part of I-285 on Atlanta’s westside this weekend for a $206M rehab/reconstruction project, with detours via I-20 or Langford Parkway and work set to end early Monday. Public Safety & Health: Savannah is opening cooling centers amid extreme heat, with heat index values forecast near 114–115. Separately, Walmart recalled Marketside tomato bisque soup kits in 29 states over possible Listeria contamination. Workforce/Training: UGA’s Turfgrass Field Day in Griffin drew 500+ professionals and homeowners for education on irrigation, sustainable disease management, and continuing pesticide-license training. Local Industry & Risk: Decatur County Sheriff’s Office warned of a bogus “Bradley Tractor and Equipment” scam targeting south Georgia farmers using AI.

Healthcare & Rankings: U.S. News named multiple Georgia hospitals among the state’s best and nationally ranked specialty performers, with Emory University Hospital leading several categories and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta earning top specialty spots. Workforce & Regional Industry: A Northeast Georgia roundtable at Athens Technical College brought employers, health leaders, and state workforce officials together on recruitment, retention, and pipeline building. Construction & Public Safety: Athens-Clarke County crews and a specialized surgical team rescued a worker after he fell into heavy machinery during concrete work on the Athens Bypass. Emergency Preparedness: Macon-Bibb EMA is taking student artwork for its 2027 emergency preparedness calendar, with submissions due Sept. 30. Telecom M&A: California regulators cleared the Charter-Cox merger after concessions, setting up a late-month close. Local Business Buildout: Renovations are underway for a new Treats with Lenise restaurant on the courthouse square in a former Pickled Okra building. Energy/Tech Investment: Braemont Capital invested in Atlanta-based Thought Logic to accelerate growth and potential acquisitions. Food Safety: Walmart tomato soup kits were recalled over Listeria risk, including distribution in Georgia. Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Pembroke logged two scam reports in July. Broadband Policy: Georgia’s broadband office says BEAD economics are getting harder, with rising costs and providers backing out.

AI in Health: A new report highlights how Americans are increasingly using AI chatbots for medical questions, with one Georgia-area visitor crediting ChatGPT for pushing her to get pneumonia care sooner—raising both promise and privacy/overreliance concerns. Data Center Governance: Fulton County’s data-center debate heats up as former Commissioner Natalie Hall calls for more transparency on water and infrastructure impacts, while Georgia Power buys extra time in its PSC review tied to OpenAI’s massive Effingham County campus. Local Infrastructure: Statesboro and Bulloch County picked an engineering firm to design jointly funded Burkhalter Road traffic upgrades, even as the corridor draws attention for a potential data center site. Workplace Safety/Immigration: Federal charges allege a Cartersville flooring manufacturer recruited Chinese nationals on visas and forced unsafe, underpaid labor—threats included deportation and debt. Healthcare Liability: A Fulton County jury awarded $15M in a radiology malpractice case tied to an improperly placed catheter and a fatal complication. Community & Industry Support: Pooler secured an $800,000 GDOT grant to design a park-to-park trail, and 5 Spot restaurants in Savannah funded $5,000 in scholarships for local workers via fried-pickle sales. Business Growth: Codoxo, based in Duluth, earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list for a fourth straight year.

Labor Trafficking Case: Federal prosecutors indicted Wellmade Industries owner Zhu Chen, his nephew Jiayi Chen, and Chinese national Jianjun Lu, alleging they recruited Chinese workers on B-1/L-1 visas, forced 12-hour shifts in unsafe conditions, underpaid them, and threatened deportation. Data Centers & Power: Effingham County’s proposed “Project Camellia” data center could demand up to 3.2 gigawatts, prompting scrutiny of Georgia Power’s grid and a public hearing on Plant McIntosh expansion in Rincon. Local Governance: Floyd County advanced a data center ordinance with limits to heavy industrial zones and a public comment vote set for Aug. 25. Grocery Retail: C&S Wholesale Grocers moved to become majority owner of The Winn-Dixie Company, aiming to expand and remodel stores across the Southeast. Tech & Health: Loan Vision launched Luna, an AI assistant built into its mortgage accounting software; Noah Medical rolled out Galaxy II software for robotic-assisted bronchoscopy. Consumer & Safety: Equifax agreed to pay $100M over a 2022 credit scoring coding error; FDA recalls expanded salmonella-tainted jalapeño products. Community & Events: PDK’s Good Neighbor Day Air Show returns Sept. 19 with a STEM Expo, drone light show, and fireworks.

Food Safety: Whole Foods announced a salmonella recall of dozens of products (salsas, guacamole, pico de gallo) across 12 states tied to jalapeños sourced from Coast Citrus Distributors, with no illnesses reported so far; the move follows related jalapeño recalls involving Taylor Farms. Local Governance/Data Centers: Marietta City Council approved an 11-acre data center on Powers Ferry Place off Delk Road in a 5-2 vote after residents packed the meeting to demand noise, utility-cost, and environmental guardrails plus more transparency. Energy Efficiency: Georgia’s Home Energy Rebates surpassed $50 million in issued rebates, with more than 3,500 households saving an average $1,407 annually and an average rebate of $12,104. Construction/Infrastructure: Marinex won a $33.05 million Savannah maintenance dredging contract for up to 5.6 million cubic yards, with work expected to run through Nov. 30, 2027. Business/Finance: Beazer Homes agreed to be bought by Dream Finders for $915 million ($33.50/share), with shareholder pressure cited as a key factor in accepting the deal.

Food Safety: Taylor Farms’ jalapeño recall has expanded to major retailers including Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Target and more, with 345 people sickened and 36 hospitalized, after Salmonella-tainted product linked to Mexico was distributed across 27 states. Affordable Housing: Gainesville is set for a Wednesday Aug. 19 groundbreaking on Lakeside at Harrison Village, a 100-unit affordable senior community backed by a public-private partnership. Energy Incentives: Georgia’s Home Energy Rebates have topped $50 million, with more than 3,500 households saving an average $1,407 annually. Local Fraud Watch: Fairmount is among Georgia cities with BBB Scam Tracker reports in July, while Atlanta remains the state’s top hotspot for scams. Workforce & Industry: Cartersville flooring owner Wellmade Industries and two others face federal forced-labor charges tied to alleged visa misuse and unsafe, underpaid work. Infrastructure & Growth: GDOT plans another I-285 weekend closure in Atlanta for concrete slab repairs, with detours in place. Veterans Services: More than 100 veteran-serving groups met in Columbus for the VetResources Community Network convening, reporting joint outreach and VA healthcare enrollment gains.

Workforce & Courts: A federal court approved an $11.5M settlement for Mexican workers who said they were recruited for engineering jobs but forced into manual line work at Hyundai Mobis in LaGrange, with pay lower than promised—potentially covering 600+ workers. Education Funding: A new look at Georgia’s HBCUs points to long-running deferred maintenance tied to chronic state and federal funding gaps, with students describing mold and delayed repairs. Nursing Pipeline: A national nursing-education squeeze is turning away qualified applicants because schools lack faculty, money for scholarships, and training facilities—worsening the looming RN shortage. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Tucker approved emergency funding up to $221,972 to repair a sinkhole on Windsong Way after a stormwater pipe failure threatened access for homes. Local Housing: Coweta County home sales and median prices rose in July even as inventory grew, signaling a more balanced market. Data Centers & Power: Georgia’s data-center buildout keeps colliding with energy and zoning realities, including a Tier-3 project tied to AI and cloud workloads. Food Safety: Taylor Farms’ jalapeño-related salmonella recall continues to ripple through downstream retailers and states. Politics & Business Climate: Georgia statewide races show Republicans outraising Democrats in most contests, shaping how candidates gear up for November.

Local Infrastructure Funding: Roswell City Council approved a $4.75 million Phase II plan to expand pedestrian connectivity along Green Street, including applying for a $3 million loan and a $1.5 million state grant to improve mobility in the historic district. Public Safety & Operations: GDOT crews are restriping and installing a new traffic signal at US 80 and Akins Pond Road in Bulloch County, targeting activation Aug. 19. Food Safety: Taylor Fresh Foods recalled jalapeno-containing prepared products after a salmonella risk tied to recalled fresh jalapeños; the company says it’s shifting away from the implicated supplier. Cybersecurity: Nonprofit medical system AnMed says unauthorized posts appeared on its Facebook page after a July cyberattack, with the organization investigating potential impact. Business & Growth: Together Women’s Health earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list for the fourth straight year, highlighting expansion across multiple states including Georgia. Industry Watch: Georgia’s data-center boom continues to draw scrutiny as demand strains power and land, with local policy debates heating up. Consumer Protection: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Georgia logged 759 scam reports in July 2026.

Data Centers & Warehousing: Georgia’s AI-driven data center boom is also pulling in warehouse space, with data-center ecosystem firms leasing more than 9 million square feet in metro Atlanta from 2022-2025, helping offset a warehousing slump even as power, land, and water debates heat up. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Georgia’s “DeFlock” push grows as more cases surface of law enforcement misusing Flock Safety camera and license-plate reader data, including arrests tied to alleged personal monitoring. Energy Infrastructure & Industry: Transformer and rectifier reporting points to strong order-book momentum but visible capacity bottlenecks and margin pressure. Local Stormwater Funding: Spalding County and Orchard Hill approved a stormwater utility enterprise fund to charge property owners based on impervious surface area, aiming to meet EPA/EPD runoff requirements. Workforce & Research: Georgia Tech highlights utilities leadership and a new resilience-focused engineering effort connecting communities and researchers for extreme-weather response. Agriculture Leadership: Georgia’s State Agriculture Laboratory announced a new director, signaling continued upgrades to state lab operations.

Food Safety & Recall: Taylor Fresh Foods recalled jalapeño-containing dips, salsas, guacamole and related products sold at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods after a salmonella outbreak tied to Mexican-grown jalapeños; CDC reports 345 illnesses across 27 states, with USDA also issuing a public health alert for affected meat and poultry items. Energy & Data Centers: Lovejoy developers withdrew a proposed 403-acre data center campus after residents pushed back, with the mayor saying the plan didn’t fit a residential city. Public Health Research: A study in the Journal of the Endocrine Society links higher phthalate exposure to elevated blood pressure during pregnancy, suggesting limiting personal-care chemicals—especially fragrance-related ingredients. Georgia Industry & Growth: Georgia’s economic development push supported 423 new locations and expansions in FY2025 totaling $26.3B in investment and 23,200 future jobs, with most projects outside metro Atlanta. Workforce/Logistics: Moody Air Force Base tested a larger oxygen transport system using a 5,000-gallon container to improve mobility for contingency operations. Local Business Support: Augusta’s Downtown Partnership is offering 50% discounted Saturday Market vendor space for businesses hit by construction. Governance: Georgia Department of Agriculture coverage highlights expanded market access for small beef processors via a new federal agreement.

Invasive Pest Watch: Georgia cotton growers are bracing for a second-half season update after the cotton jassid was first detected in June and detections have been rising across the lower Southeast, with University of Georgia and partner Extension specialists set to share activity guidance. Local Budgeting: Guyton City Council approved a $2.5 million FY2027 budget, trimming about $350,000 from requests while still funding road work and SPLOST-backed upgrades to Bazemore Park. Public Safety & Courts: An Atlanta activist tied to “Stop Cop City” faces up to five years in federal prison after a federal charge alleging he deleted digital contents from a phone during a 2025 CBP airport stop. Transportation: GDOT says an I-285 weekend construction closure in Cobb County reopened early, with crews replacing or repairing concrete slabs. Agriculture Claims: Georgia farmers still say Hurricane Helene damage compensation is lagging, even as lawmakers and agencies debate how payouts are handled. Food Safety: A Salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños has triggered recalls reaching major retailers, including stores with distribution in Georgia. Retail Expansion: Five Below is coming to Commerce’s Tanger Outlets later this fall, adding a 9,500-square-foot store. Science in the Classroom: Snellville student Sirish Subash won national recognition for PestiSCAND, an AI device that detects pesticide residues on produce.

Cotton Pest Watch: Georgia’s first discovery of the invasive cotton jassid in June is back on growers’ radar, with detections rising across the lower Southeast and UGA Extension entomologists set to brief farmers on what to expect for the rest of the season. Food Safety: Walmart shoppers are urged to check Bettergoods pistachio nut butter jars for a recall tied to Salmonella findings, with the affected lot distributed in 19 states including Georgia. Public Health & Policy: Georgia’s medical cannabis program saw a sharp jump in registered patients after law changes eased access, with officials and producers citing pent-up demand and a surge in processing volume. Water Infrastructure: Rome’s City Commission is set to consider approval of equipment for a new reverse osmosis PFAS reduction facility, funded by settlement money tied to contamination in the Oostanaula River. Construction & Training: Sandy Springs became an ICC preferred education provider, expanding code-focused training and CEU opportunities for local building professionals. Environment & Tourism: The Okefenokee Swamp was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, a win for biodiversity and long-term environmental records that also has some local concerns about management involvement.

Food Safety & Market Access: Georgia finalized a Cooperative Interstate Shipment agreement with USDA, letting state-inspected meat processors ship across state lines while keeping Georgia’s inspection standards in place—boosting market reach for local plants. Agriculture Watch: Georgia agriculture officials are asking coastal residents to report early yellow-legged hornet nests in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham and Liberty counties to help stop colonies before they grow. Cotton Pest Alert: The cotton jassid has been detected again in Georgia, with entomologists and Extension specialists planning an update on how to manage the insect through the second half of the growing season. Energy & Infrastructure: Georgia’s fuel prices stayed high but eased in early August reporting, with GasBuddy tracking the lowest premium and regular prices by county. Tech & Policy: A report says Georgia lawmakers are among those pushing moratorium-style bills aimed at slowing or pausing approvals for large AI data centers. Local Business & Jobs: Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex is hiring over 600 positions, signaling continued demand for skilled workers tied to defense logistics.

AI Data Centers & Policy: A Reuters report says Georgia lawmakers are among states pushing moratorium bills to pause approvals and permits for large AI/hyperscale hubs, as the U.S.-led Pax Silica plan in the Philippines faces backlash from officials warning against “dumping” data-center growth. NFL & Local Economy: Detroit Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs says his “stressful” contract negotiations are over after signing a three-year extension worth $67.5M (up to $75.75M with incentives), a reminder of how major sports deals ripple into Georgia’s broader pro-sports ecosystem. Transportation & Construction: South Carolina DOT held a ribbon cutting for the $64.15M U.S. 17 widening in Jasper County, expanding the corridor that links Savannah and the Georgia line. Tech & Privacy: A Georgia public-records request found Flock pitched a plan to use 350,000 rideshare dashcams as mobile license-plate readers for a private network. Retail & Consumer Costs: Multiple retailers are rolling out grocery, medicine and energy price cuts, including Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons. Local Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker shows Cartersville tied for 35th in Georgia for scam reports in June, with five reports and $618 in losses. Workforce Training: Ogle School opened its new Tucker location for beauty and hair training starting September.

Cotton Pest Watch: Georgia Extension and partners are tracking a fresh cotton jassid detection first found in the state in June, with numbers rising across the lower Southeast and an industry update planned for the second half of the growing season. Solar Supply Chain: US Power says it’s reaffirmed a factory-direct partnership with Qcells, pointing to U.S.-assembled, Tier-1 panels and citing Qcells’ Dalton, Ga. manufacturing expansion as it pushes for faster delivery and lower pricing. Data Center Backlash: A new wave of Georgia data center disputes is drawing resident opposition, including a Hampton project near a historic Black cemetery and Chamblee pausing new applications while rules are reviewed. Food Safety: Walmart shoppers in 19 states are being told to check pantries after a recall of Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter tied to possible salmonella contamination. Local Business/Industry: Buford commissioners approved two large warehouses for a site currently used by the Buford Corn Maze, with industrial development targeted to begin in 2028.

Construction Jobs Pay Spike: A USA TODAY analysis of ADP data finds pay gains are surging for workers switching into construction, with June job-changers up 12.9% year over year and median pay around $59,000—highlighting a widening wage gap versus slower-raising sectors. Atlanta Sidewalk Gaps: Atlanta leaders broke ground on a $2.9 million Beecher Road sidewalk project in southwest Atlanta to improve walkability and safety where sidewalks are missing. Food Safety Watch: Health officials report a growing salmonella outbreak tied to Mexican jalapeños (345 sick in 27 states) alongside a large cyclosporiasis surge, prompting more recalls and renewed prep-and-wash reminders. Water Cybersecurity Push: A coalition says cyberattacks on water systems show critical security gaps and is urging new federal direction, funding, and legislation. Georgia Tech & Aerospace: Georgia Tech awarded an M.S. in aerospace engineering to Garrett Beebe, part of a large spring commencement cohort. Local Business Development: Macon-Bibb planners will consider rezoning for a proposed Dollar General on Northside Drive. Invasive Pest Update: UGA researchers ask residents to help track the invasive yellow-legged hornet’s spread.