Gov. Brian Kemp (R) spent September announcing a $1.2 billion factory expansion, suspending the state gas tax and announcing a nearly $500 million federal award to help communities hit by Hurricane Helene shore up their water systems.
Kemp is not on the ballot this year. The race to succeed him, between gubernatorial candidates Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) and Rick Jackson (R), heads into early voting Oct. 13. Through July 31, Jackson had raised $118.9 million, more than $111 million of it his own money, to Bottoms’ $5.8 million.
Pirelli will invest $1.2 billion to expand its tire plant in Rome and create 1,000 new jobs, Kemp’s office announced Sept. 22. The company has had its U.S. headquarters and factory in Rome since 2002 and employs 234 Georgians. It plans to add robotics equipment first and then a traditional manufacturing process, with the bulk of hiring starting in 2029 and full operations projected for 2033.
On Sept. 28, Kemp declared a state of emergency over what his office called global market volatility and suspended Georgia’s motor fuel excise tax for 30 days, through Oct. 29, along with state weight limits on commercial vehicles. His office put the tax at 33.3 cents a gallon for gasoline and 37.3 cents for diesel. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones (R), House Speaker Jon Burns (HD-159) (R) and Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper (R) backed the move in statements in Kemp’s release.
The EPA awarded Georgia $499.4 million to help communities affected by Hurricane Helene strengthen drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and respond to water-related emergencies, Kemp’s office announced Sept. 10. The money comes through the 2025 American Relief Act and will be administered by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, whose board takes up the first group of project awards at its November meeting.
The month also brought a 13th consecutive No. 1 ranking for business from Area Development magazine, a 3.5% increase in August net tax revenue, and judicial and district attorney appointments on Sept. 4, 21, 24 and 29.
