AGP Executive Report

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.

Cotton Pest Watch: Georgia Extension and partners are tracking a renewed cotton jassid presence after the first June detection, with rising regional finds and an industry update planned for the second half of the growing season. Mining & Capital Markets: Krakatoa Resources secured $2.4M in firm commitments to fund its initial 10% stake in Georgia’s Zopkhito antimony-gold project, including 2026 drilling, sampling, and permitting work. Film & Production: Georgia’s film rebound continues, with 23 active productions listed on the Georgia Film Office site, including major projects shooting or arriving in August. Metro Atlanta Traffic: GDOT is scheduling another I-285 shutdown this weekend (Paces Ferry Rd to South Atlanta Rd), warning of major delays and detours. Public Safety & Finance: AG Chris Carr leads a 15-state push for the Safe Access to Cash Act to strengthen federal penalties for ATM robberies nationwide. Food Security Snapshot: A Marietta drive-through food pantry shows how many working families still need help, with volunteers distributing groceries and supplies from cars. Data Centers: Lovejoy withdrew a proposed large data center plan and pivoted toward residential development.

Cotton Pest Watch: Georgia Extension and partners are tracking a newly detected cotton jassid first found in June, with detections rising across the lower Southeast and an industry update planned for the rest of the season. Retail Turnaround: Wayfair reported Q2 results that beat forecasts, with revenue up 7.5% to $3.5B, active customers up to 21.7M, and operating margins improving to 3%—though the bottom line still needs work. Public Safety & Food Supply: The CDC says a salmonella outbreak tied to Mexican jalapeños has reached 27 states, including Georgia, with restaurants like Chipotle and Qdoba stopping the implicated peppers. Local Business/Tech: The FCC voted to repeal the long-standing TV ownership reach cap, a move that could reshape Atlanta-area station deals as broadcasters compete with streaming. Workforce & Agriculture: Coverage highlights how H-2A and H-2B seasonal visa programs keep labor flowing for farms and seasonal non-ag jobs. Energy/Permitting: Evans County approved a 198-acre solar farm near Claxton, targeting completion by March 2028.

Data Centers & Tax Policy: Fulton County leaders voted to push development authorities to stop offering tax breaks to data centers, as the county reviews whether projects are being undervalued for property-tax purposes. Local Government & Permitting: Maysville approved a state-backed land disturbance permit for a controversial data center, but the city council meeting was cut short after crowd disruptions. Metro Transportation Funding: Sandy Springs cleared a $280M, 10-year transportation master plan funded largely by TSPLOST, setting up November votes on whether the tax continues. Public Safety After Flooding: McCaysville closed its police department and post office after structural damage from flooding, with services temporarily moving to nearby locations. Food Safety: The FDA recalled Bettergoods pistachio nut butter sold at Walmart in 19 states due to possible salmonella contamination. Solar Supply Chain: Proposed U.S. polysilicon curbs could raise costs for Korean solar firms, even as Georgia’s solar industry watches trade policy closely. Agriculture Watch: Georgia Extension is tracking the return of the cotton jassid after a first June discovery, with an update planned for growers. Health & Research: Georgia Tech researchers reported progress toward waking up “exhausted” immune cells, aiming to improve defenses against cancer and infection.

Economic Growth: Georgia reported 7.9% economic growth in the first half of 2026, with June up 8.6% year over year, led by manufacturing, transport, construction, IT, and finance. Water & Cybersecurity: Clayton County Water Authority and Columbus Water Works disclosed breaches tied to last week’s cyberattacks; both say supplies are safe while investigators assess impacts. Industrial Real Estate: PXV Multifamily made its first acquisition in Atlanta, buying the 216-unit Village on the Green for $29.5 million and planning a rebrand to The Grove at Ben Hill. Manufacturing & R&D: CDM Smith expanded its Research and Testing Laboratory by 1,100 square feet in Bellevue to support water, wastewater, PFAS, and emerging contaminant testing. Agriculture Update: Georgia’s cotton jassid is back, with new detections since June and an industry update planned for the rest of the growing season. Local Business Expansion: Paros Studios opened a new 3,500-square-foot production hub in downtown Statesboro, adding commercial video, content creation, post production, and studio rental. Food Retail: Publix reported slower sales growth in Q2 and lowered its stock price, citing ongoing headwinds tied to the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug pricing changes. Public Safety Tech: Flock Safety faced renewed scrutiny as Georgia-based ALPR use raises privacy concerns and audits found officers accessing databases for personal searches.

Falcons Injury Update: Atlanta edge rusher Jalon Walker is feared to have a torn ACL after going down in practice; an MRI is expected to confirm, and a confirmed tear would likely end his 2026 season. Pipeline Fight: The Southern Environmental Law Center sued the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over permits it says let oil and gas pipelines bypass key environmental protections, including a project crossing Alabama’s Black Belt toward Georgia. Retail Expansion: Costco is set to open a new 164,000-square-foot store in Stone Mountain on Aug. 27, bringing about 300 jobs and amenities like a pharmacy, tire center and gas station. Medical Cannabis Access: Georgia’s medical cannabis patient registry jumped more than 22% after July law changes eased access, signaling “pent-up demand” as more patients register. Data Center Pushback: Harris County residents asked commissioners for a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data centers, citing long-term community impacts; commissioners took no action. Local Infrastructure: Bulloch County reopened Country Club Road in Bulloch County, restoring a washed-out stretch about a month ahead of schedule after storm damage and culvert repairs. Tech & Security: Airlock Digital announced agentic AI control and governance capabilities aimed at governing what AI agents can do on endpoints. Autonomous Transit: Waymo launched public robotaxi rides in Dallas via its app, expanding its driverless network beyond Atlanta and other U.S. cities.

Climate & Youth Leadership: Atlanta again lands Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund, with the city citing youth-led projects pushing a “100% clean energy future,” including a Georgia Tech microplastics effort. Housing & Development: Augusta moves ahead on a long-delayed zoning rewrite after approving nearly $70,000 more for consultants and adding more public meetings—aimed partly at future data center rules. Public Safety & Cybersecurity: Clayton County water customers faced a boil water advisory and low pressure after a pump station failure, with officials saying it may have involved unauthorized cyber activity tied to broader attacks on water systems. Local Industry & Retail: Dalton’s new Dalton Rug Pad launches custom cut-to-size rug pads online, leveraging the region’s “Carpet Capital” manufacturing base. Food & Agriculture: The Georgia Peanut Commission launches a $10,000 Georgia Peanut Innovation Award for new peanut-based products, with entries due Aug. 20. Tech & Investment: Applied Optoelectronics (with an Atlanta R&D presence) will present at Rosenblatt’s 6th Annual Technology Summit Aug. 18. Sports Business: MLS names LAFC co-owner Larry Berg as next commissioner, succeeding Don Garber.

Extreme Heat Response: Atlanta City Council ordered Mayor Andre Dickens’ office to build an “extreme heat” safety plan after criticism following late-June/early-July conditions, including more cooling centers, targeted outreach to high-risk groups, and expanded alerting. Public Health & Food Safety: FDA flagged a Pistachio Nut Butter recall tied to possible salmonella contamination, with Walmart as the exclusive distributor and Georgia among affected states. Healthcare Education: UGA welcomed the first class to its new School of Medicine, marking a major milestone for medical training in Athens. Cyber & Media: Georgian investigative outlet Studio Monitor said its Facebook page was restored after a roughly 12-hour outage tied to a cyberattack. Energy & Finance: Southern Company priced upsized convertible notes totaling $2.375B, signaling continued capital planning. Industry & Logistics: India’s U.S. ambassador visited Georgia to push trade, investment, logistics, and education ties, including meetings with Gov. Brian Kemp and UPS CEO Carol Tome. Sports & Local Economy: Metro Atlanta’s sports scene also stayed busy, from UGA football-related headlines to major league updates.

Public Health & Pharma: Georgia State University researchers say an oral antiviral candidate, GHP-88310, blocked measles-like transmission in ferrets and is now headed toward human clinical testing. Healthcare Supply Chain: The FDA warns a stereotactic breast biopsy needle shortage could stretch into early 2027, with hospitals told to prioritize who gets scheduled first. Food Safety: Publix recalled GreenWise frozen organic blueberries and mixed berries in eight states, including Georgia, over possible E. coli contamination. Retail Recall: Walmart pulled Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter in 19 states, including Georgia, after salmonella was found in tested jars. Utilities & Data Centers: Georgia Democrats are pushing to flip control of the Public Service Commission amid anger over electricity bills tied to grid upgrades and data center growth. Logistics: UPS (based in Sandy Springs) is rolling out new digital tools for pickups and shipment tracking. Infrastructure: Johns Creek opened a $6.5M pedestrian tunnel to improve access to The Boardwalk, with DOT inspections and city maintenance planned. Agritourism: Lowndes County farmers are using USDA disaster assistance to rebuild and add farm attractions after Hurricane Helene. Energy/Environment: Conservation groups, including Georgia’s Ogeechee Riverkeeper, sued the U.S. Army Corps over a nationwide permit renewal that would speed pipeline crossings through streams and wetlands. Cybersecurity: Federal investigators are probing cyberattacks targeting municipal water systems, with Georgia listed among affected states.

Surveillance Backlash: A bipartisan revolt is growing against license plate readers, with Georgia-linked attention rising after reports of misuse and local governments pausing or canceling contracts. Conservation & Tourism: Georgia’s Okefenokee was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list, prompting fresh calls for state and lawmakers to protect the refuge. Aviation & Travel: Delta is expanding CES 2027 service with special nonstop flights from Asia to Las Vegas, while it also ends its Atlanta-to-St. Vincent nonstop route by Sept. 5. Logistics: UPS is seeking DOT approval to reassign cargo flight slots to launch Hong Kong–Clark services, signaling how global freight routes are shifting. Manufacturing Workforce: Inteplast urges manufacturers to modernize recruitment—leaning on apprenticeships, school ties, and clearer career paths—to attract Gen Z as retirements loom. Local Impacts: McCaysville declared a state of emergency after flash flooding tied to storm-drain problems from State Route 5 construction. Food Safety: Publix berry recalls widened after E. coli illnesses. Retail Security: Chick-fil-A loyalty accounts were breached, prompting a potential class-action investigation.

Logistics & Trade: UPS, based in Atlanta, filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation to shift existing Hong Kong cargo flight slots to launch year-round Hong Kong–Clark all-cargo service, even saying it could give up current Warsaw and Hanoi frequencies if needed. Public Works & Water: McCaysville declared a state of emergency after North Georgia flooding damaged its water treatment plant, triggering a boil-water advisory and water conservation push; officials linked part of the flooding to drainage problems tied to ongoing State Highway 5 work. Local Preservation: Milton City Council will consider grant-funded structural repairs to the historic McConnell-Chadwick House, including a $46,888 construction contract and a separate bridge repair analysis agreement. Workforce & Tech: Hyundai says it plans to deploy more than 25,000 Boston Dynamics humanoid robots across Hyundai and Kia plants starting in 2028, a move that could reshape factory labor planning. Policy & Courts: A legal challenge in an Atlanta airport case is testing how far border agents can search travelers’ phones and diaries. Agriculture & Biosecurity: Yellow-legged hornets were confirmed in Union County, with Georgia detections cited as the monitoring focus expands. Business Ops: Hammond Services is urging metro Atlanta homeowners to watch for early AC warning signs as summer strain rises.

AI Data Centers in Georgia: Effingham County residents are questioning OpenAI’s $20B, 4.4M-sq-ft data center plan, citing strain on water, electricity, labor, and land—while negotiations reportedly stayed behind non-disclosure agreements. Local Governance: Albany, Ga. commissioners approved a 12-month moratorium on new data center development, with rules to be drafted during the pause. Power & Manufacturing: HD Hyundai Electric marked its 1,000th ultrahigh-voltage transformer built in the U.S., headed to Georgia Transmission Corp. for Florida power needs. EV Charging Expansion: Bojangles opened a “charge-and-dine” Level 2/Level 3 EV hub in Fairburn, partnering on installation and maintenance. Community & Industry Events: Red Bull Showrun brought Formula 1-style stunt driving to Atlanta’s Summerhill, drawing thousands and spotlighting local traffic and heat impacts. Workforce & Education: Georgia Tech students traveled Route 66 in a solar-powered race car, showcasing engineering talent beyond the state.

Georgia Tech Football & NFL: DeAndre Hopkins says he hasn’t retired and is taking a part-time coaching role as assistant wide receivers coach at Georgia Tech while he waits for an NFL team to call. EV Charging in Metro Atlanta: Bojangles opened a “charge-and-dine” EV hub in Fairburn with Level 2 and Level 3 chargers, partnering with XLR8 America and an installer/maintenance firm. Public Health & Food Safety: Publix expanded a recall of GreenWise frozen organic blueberries and whole mixed berries due to possible E. coli O145 contamination, affecting stores including Georgia. Savannah-Area Logistics Labor: The NLRB ruled against Egreen Transport in Savannah, ordering about $52,937 in backpay and related damages tied to retaliation and labor rights violations. Effingham Data Center Watch: A public meeting drew 500–1,000 residents over OpenAI’s proposed mega data center, now in Georgia’s 45-day DRI review, with concerns about traffic and tax abatements. Community & Workforce: Athens-area Winterville’s Marigold Collective market expands access to fresh food using EBT and redistributes leftovers, while Atlanta Public Schools held its Back-to-School Bash for thousands of families.

Cybersecurity & Defense Contract: Northrop Grumman won a nearly $1.84B ceiling contract to sustain and upgrade the LITENING targeting pod through 2035, keeping the Georgia-linked work on track for another decade. Local Safety & Infrastructure: Volunteers with Fix ATL are patching dozens of open utility holes across Atlanta while urging residents to report hazards through 311, citing slow city response times. Public Safety & Community Impact: Summerhill residents are raising safety and road concerns ahead of the Red Bull Showrun, with MARTA seeking reimbursement for transit reroutes and construction delays. Housing & Affordability Context: A new study maps “American Dream” homeownership access by ZIP code, showing big county-to-county swings even as national affordability strains persist. Crypto Security: A new report tallies $939.86M in crypto losses in the first half of 2026 and says most thefts came through parts of projects auditors didn’t examine. Food Safety: Publix expanded a frozen blueberry and mixed-berry recall tied to possible E. coli O145:H28, with Georgia among the affected states. Transportation Projects: GDOT announced lane and ramp closures for Aug. 2-8 tied to I-16/I-95 interchange work.

Autonomous Vehicles: NHTSA granted Zoox’s purpose-built robotaxis a temporary exemption to run paid public rides, allowing up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years under enhanced oversight. AI & Jobs: Georgia labor leaders say they’re preparing workers for an AI-driven job market, with the state investing in high-demand career pathways and wage-growth routes. Fraud Crackdown: The Justice Department expanded Medicaid/SNAP fraud enforcement via new federal-state partnerships that include Georgia, aiming to improve data sharing and coordinate prosecutions. Data Centers & Power Costs: A new wave of debate over data centers’ impact on electricity and bills continues, with critics pushing back on claims that the projects are “good for towns.” Local Policy: Bulloch County approved temporary outdoor burning restrictions starting Aug. 1 due to drought and wildfire risk. Community & Culture: ONE Musicfest will pause in 2026 to “reimagine” its next iteration after 16 years. Sports/Local Business: Georgia Tech is expected to add DeAndre Hopkins to its offensive staff, reuniting him with OC George Godsey.