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March 2, 2026

Chattooga Chamber to Host Lunch & Learn with Summerville City Manager Jason Winters

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogachamber, #chattoogacounty, #CommunityGrowth, #EconomicDevelopment, #JasonWinters, #LunchAndLearn, #northwestgeorgia, #RuralZone, #smallbusiness, #summervillega, #wzqznews 0

The Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce will host a Lunch & Learn event on Monday, March 16 at 12 p.m. featuring Summerville City Manager Jason Winters as the guest speaker.

The event will be held at 10050 Commerce Street in Summerville.

According to the Chamber, Winters will discuss how the City of Summerville’s recently awarded Rural Zone designation is expected to help revitalize the city’s business landscape. The designation is designed to encourage investment and economic development in designated downtown areas.

The catered lunch is open to the public, but reservations are required. Admission is $12 for Chamber members and $17 for non-members. Organizers encourage attendees to review the event policy on the official event page prior to registering.

Chamber officials say the event will provide valuable insight for business owners, community leaders, and residents interested in the future of economic growth in Summerville.

February 27, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Senate Panel Rewrites Data Center Power Cost Bill as Northwest Georgia Families Worry About High Electric Bills

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ConsumerProtection, #CostOfLiving, #DataCenters, #EconomicDevelopment, #ElectricBills, #ElectricityRates, #EnergyPolicy, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgiapower, #Infrastructure, #LocalConcerns, #northwestgeorgia, #PowerBills, #PublicServiceCommission, #summervillega, #trionga, #UtilityRates, #wzqznews 0

A Georgia Senate committee has rewritten legislation meant to protect consumers from higher electricity costs tied to the state’s fast-growing data center industry, advancing a version that supporters say is less explicit about shielding residential customers. The Senate Regulated Industries Committee approved the revamped proposal after rejecting language that would have clearly barred utilities from passing certain data center-related costs onto regular ratepayers.

February 25, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Senate Approves Mid-Year Budget with Tax Rebates, Mental Health Funding Boost

Local News, Local News Items #briankemp, #EconomicDevelopment, #GABudget, #georgiapolitics, #GeorgiaSenate, #GeorgiaTaxpayers, #Infrastructure, #MentalHealthFunding, #MidYearBudget, #PropertyTaxRelief, #RuralGeorgia, #StateBudget, #TaxRebate, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Senate on Friday approved its version of the $42.3 billion amended state budget, keeping major tax rebates for Georgians while increasing funding for mental health services and rural infrastructure.

February 18, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Pilgrim’s Pride Plant in Walker County Set to Break Ground This Fall in $400 Million Project

Local News, Local News Items #BusinessNews, #ConstructionNews, #EconomicDevelopment, #FoodProduction, #GeorgiaEconomy, #GeorgiaJobs, #GoldKist, #JobCreation, #JustBare, #LaFayetteGA, #ManufacturingJobs, #NewIndustry, #northwestgeorgianews, #PilgrimsPreparedFoods, #PilgrimsPride, #PoultryIndustry, #PreparedFoodsPlant, #US27, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyBusinessPark, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

Construction on Pilgrim’s Pride’s new prepared foods plant in Walker County is expected to begin this fall, a major step forward in a $400 million development local and state leaders say could reshape the area’s economy and bring hundreds of jobs to Northwest Georgia.

February 12, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

New Home Construction Slows in Walker County, but 2025 Still Ranks Among Best Years on Record

Local News, Local News Items #EconomicDevelopment, #georgiahousing, #Growth, #HomeBuilding, #Housing, #LaFayetteGA, #LocalNews, #NewConstruction, #northwestgeorgia, #RealEstate, #WalkerCounty, #wzqznews 0

New home construction in unincorporated Walker County slowed in 2025 as rising construction costs pushed home prices higher, but county officials say activity remains historically strong despite the slowdown.

February 9, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Chamber Foundation Releases 2026 Economic Competitiveness Redbook

Local News, Local News Items #BusinessNews, #chattoogacounty, #CompetitivenessRedbook, #EconomicDevelopment, #GeorgiaChamber, #GeorgiaEconomy, #LocalEconomy, #northwestgeorgia, #RuralGeorgia, #StatewideData, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Chamber Foundation has released its 2026 Economic Competitiveness Redbook, offering a detailed snapshot of economic conditions, trends, and benchmarks across the state — including county-level research findings for Chattooga County.

February 7, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

City of Summerville Issues Request for Bids for Outdoor Basketball Court Pavilion

Local News, Local News Items #BasketballCourt, #BidNotice, #chattoogacounty, #CityOfSummerville, #CityProjects, #CommunityFacilities, #ConstructionBid, #ContractorOpportunity, #EconomicDevelopment, #GeorgiaConstruction, #LocalGovernment, #MunicipalProjects, #northwestgeorgia, #OutdoorRecreation, #ParksAndRecreation, #PavilionProject, #PublicNotice, #RequestForBid, #RFB, #summervillega, #wzqznews 0

The City of Summerville has issued a Request for Bids (RFB) for the construction and installation of an Outdoor Basketball Court Clear-Span Pavilion.

According to city officials, sealed bids for RFB-2026-120 – Outdoor Basketball Court Pavilion will be accepted at Summerville City Hall, 120 Georgia Avenue, until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026. All bids must remain valid for 60 business days and comply with the conditions outlined in the bid documents.

Bids will be opened publicly at 2:00 p.m. on March 6 in the City Hall Council Room. While bids will be opened that day, the City notes that no award will be made immediately, allowing designated officials adequate time to review all submissions.

To be considered, bids must be submitted in sealed envelopes clearly marked on the outside with:
“RFB-2026-120 – Outdoor Basketball Court Pavilion.”
Any bids received after the deadline will not be accepted. The City of Summerville emphasized that it is not responsible for late submissions, regardless of delivery method or cause.

Interested contractors can access full bid specifications and requirements through the official bid document provided by the City of Summerville. Click here for Bid Document

February 4, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

State Senator Raises Concerns Over Data Center Incentives in Georgia

Local News, Local News Items #ChuckHufstetler, #DataCenters, #EconomicDevelopment, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgiapolitics, #PublicPolicy, #RomeGA, #StateSenate, #wzqznews 0

State Senator Chuck Hufstetler, a Republican from Rome, says lawmakers are taking a closer look at the rapid growth of data centers across Georgia, calling it one of the most pressing economic and infrastructure issues facing the state.

February 4, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Siemens Energy Announces $1 Billion U.S. Investment, Expands Fort Payne Operations

Local News, Local News Items #AlabamaJobs, #BusinessNews, #EconomicDevelopment, #EnergyIndustry, #FortPayneAL, #JobCreation, #manufacturing, #NorthAlabama, #SiemensEnergy, #wzqznews 0

Siemens Energy announced Tuesday that it will invest $1 billion in its operations across the United States, including a major expansion at its facility in Fort Payne, Alabama. The investment is aimed at increasing manufacturing capacity to meet growing demand for power generation and electrical grid equipment.

January 30, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia Lawmakers Push Constitutional Amendment to End Sales Taxes on Timber

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChuckEfstration, #ConstitutionalAmendment, #EconomicDevelopment, #Forestry, #GeorgiaForestry, #GeorgiaLegislature, #georgiapolitics, #HR1000, #LocalNews, #northwestgeorgia, #RuralGeorgia, #TaxRelief, #Timber, #wzqznews 0

Capitol Beat News Service contributed to this story

A proposed amendment to the Georgia Constitution could eliminate sales taxes on timber, a move supporters say would help stabilize a forestry industry that has been hammered by mill closures and storm damage. House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration of Mulberry is sponsoring House Resolution 1000, saying the bipartisan effort is meant to protect what he called a cornerstone of Georgia’s rural economy.