Kemp Says Local Communities Need to Make 'Public Safety' a Priority

Governor Brian Kemp spoke at the Georgia Chamber's Congressional Luncheon in Columbus on August 10 at the Trade and Convention Center.

He boasted broad numbers about how well Georgia has done with bringing in investors, even amidst a global pandemic, and said that he will not mandate mask-wearing as a government mandate and will leave the decisions up to businesses and organizations as to how to handle their own communities and spaces. 

Kemp was not clear on which form of public safety was more important, crime or protecting citizens and visitors during the COVID crisis. However, diagnosed coronavirus cases have escalated in the valley area in recent weeks.

To date, Georgia's Top Investors include:

• NCR, headquartered in Atlanta
• Atlantic Capital Bank, Atlanta
• Techstars Atlanta/Cox Enterprises
• Raymond James, Atlanta
• Equifax, Atlanta
• Atlanta Seed Company
• TTV Capital
• Fulcrum Equity Partners
• Panoramic Ventures
• United Community Banks

Georgia tourism statistics for 2019 was 3,551,000,000.00, a 0.94% increase from 2018. The number of tourists visiting Georgia in 2019 reached a record high. As of December 2019, five million tourists visited Georgia, which was 6.8 percent more compared to the same period in 2018.

Local city councilors (sponsors and co-sponsors Walker Garrett, Pops Barnes and Toyia Tucker) recently took an interest in making Columbus a more inclusive city in order to attract businesses and more investors to help Columbus with growth and sustainability. They believe it will help our local economy to mandate ways to enforce federal laws against discriminatory behaviors that tend to drive possible investors, tourists, and businesses away from the area.