The 2021 session of the Georgia General Assembly session will convene on Monday, January 11. Be sure to review the toolkit to familiarize yourself with the Policy Agenda and priority issues. The toolkit will also serve as a guide throughout the session.

The first Facebook Live and Legislative Update newsletter will be available next Friday, January 15.

Did you know that counties can provide internships to dually enrolled students? This month's spotlight focuses on Josie-Tatum Mattox, a dually enrolled student in Pierce County High School and Coastal Pines Technical College and her internship with Pierce County. Check out this feature story to learn more about her experience with the Georgia County Internship Program (GCIP).

Now, more than ever, counties are celebrated for their tireless work on behalf of their communities. Help ACCG highlight those efforts by sending in your photos for Georgia's Local Lens, the newsletter that provides a weekly snapshot of Georgia's counties. Visit the ACCG website for more information.

Does your county have a story to tell? The Georgia County Spotlight will allow counties to share with ACCG, and other counties throughout the state, what great things are taking place in their communities. Visit the County Spotlight page to get started. Once on the page, share your news by clicking the "Submit Your News Here" button in the top right corner.

Gov. Kemp recently appointed Timothy M. Lowrimore to serve as state forester and director of the Georgia Foresty Commission. Access the full press release here.

USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant Program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. On Wednesday, Jan. 13, USDA will host a free virtual session on application assistance and provide an overview of how the Rural Business Development Grant program can benefit your community.

On December 21, 2020 Congress passed a $2.3 trillion legislative package that contained appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 and for COVID-19 relief. NACo has provided a detailed analysis of this legislation.