Author: On Common Ground News

CONYERS, GA—Conyers will kick off the holiday season on Friday, Dec. 3, with the Olde Town Christmas Party featuring the Trucks on the Tracks food truck event followed by the Conyers Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 4. Sponsored by the City of Conyers, the Olde Town Christmas Party and Trucks on the Tracks will take place on Railroad Street in the historic business district on Dec. 3, 5 to 8 p.m. Families are encouraged to bring their cameras for selfies with Santa and photos with special guests scheduled to appear. Guests will also enjoy…

Advance Voting Nov. 17 –24, Election Day is Nov. 30 DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb Board of Voter Registration and Elections (DeKalb BRE) recently approved details for the upcoming runoff election, scheduled for Nov. 30, and for the designated advance voting period, scheduled for Nov. 17 – Nov. 24. DeKalb is hosting a number of runoff contests held in three cities: Atlanta, Tucker and Stonecrest.  In the City of Atlanta, DeKalb-Atlanta voters will return to the polls to vote for Mayor, City Council President, City Council Member Post 3 At-large, City Council Member District 5, and Board of Education Member District 7…

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA–Because of inclement weather forecast for Thursday, Nov. 11, the Gwinnett County Veterans Day Ceremony at the Fallen Heroes Memorial is being moved indoors to the auditorium of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. The ceremony will be held Thursday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m.                        County Administrator Glenn Stephens will emcee the event with District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden, District 3 Commissioner Jasper Watkins III and District 4 Commissioner Marlene Fosque providing remarks. Maj. General (ret.) Ronald Johnson, a professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech, will be the keynote…

DECATUR, GA—DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has proposed to the Board of Commissioners a $500 DeKalb Employee Vaccinations incentive. “These $500 in incentives would help promote a healthier, safer county workforce as we face the looming possibility of a COVID-19 and flu ‘twindemic,’” Thurmond said Thurmond proposed a $300 incentive for county employees who provide documentation by Jan. 31, 2022, that they have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 Additionally, Thurmond proposed a $200 incentive for employees who provide documentation that they have received Fall 2021 flu vaccination. DeKalb County has approximately 6,000 employees. If approved by the DeKalb County…

Gov. Kemp: American Peanut Growers Group to Open New Processing Facility, Expand Shelling Plant ATLANTA—Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced Nov. 9  Georgia-based American Peanut Growers Group (APGG) will invest $85 million in expanding operations in the state, creating 90 jobs. In addition to expanding its current Donalsonville shelling plant, APGG will open a new food processing facility on its 45-acre campus in Seminole County. “It’s truly exciting to see American Peanut Growers Group create jobs across rural south Georgia and celebrate the hardworking Georgians of Seminole County who put Georgia-grown food on the table for countless families in our…

DeKalb County Board of Ethics has cancelled its regularly scheduled meeting of November 18, 2021, at 6 p.m.  The DeKalb County Board of Ethics will hold a Special Called Meeting on November 17, 2021, at 6 p.m.    

STONE MOUNTAIN, GA— The Redan Lady Raiders basketball program was recognized for its work on the court and in the classroom with a pair of donations from the Support Her Sole Foundation and as a Sole School. Hibbet Sports District Sales Manager Troy Williams represented Hibbett and Nike in presenting the team with a $10,000 donation from the Support Her Sole Foundation. Redan was recognized as one of 10 women’s basketball programs across the country for their hard work, both academically and on the court. “We believe in…

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA–Gwinnett County will offer new tag office hours that will standardize the schedule for all locations. Saturday hours will no longer be offered. As of Jan. 3, all tag offices will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays, with Wednesdays extended to 6 p.m. “As promised, I extended tag office hours to accommodate later visits,” said Gwinett County Tax Commissioner Tiffany P. Porter. “However, I saw that there was a greater need for more accommodation from 8:30-5:30 weekdays. I’m also expanding the window for appointments from 9:30 to 4:30. Appointments are optional, but making…

By Terri Denison SBA Georgia District Office Director Since the start of the pandemic, the U.S. Small Business Administration has delivered more than $1.1 trillion in COVID-related relief to millions of entrepreneurs. The COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is the remaining SBA relief program open to small business owners who still need assistance. The COVID EIDL program, which runs through Dec. 31, offers 30-year loans with fixed interest rates of 3.75 percent for small businesses, including sole proprietors and independent contractors, and 2.75 percent for nonprofits. Many businesses have been able to keep their doors open and retain…