House Rural Development Council Co-Chair Gerald Greene Leads Americus Meeting Highlighting Agriculture, Natural Resources in Rural Georgia

ATLANTA - State Representative Gerald Greene (R-Cuthbert), co-chair of the House Rural Development Council, recently led the council's third meeting of the year at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus. The meeting focused on recovery efforts following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as discussions on Georgia's agriculture industry and the role of natural gas in supporting agribusiness recruitment and retention across the state.

"In the light of the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helen and Milton, our recent meeting in Americus was an essential step in addressing the challenges rural Georgians are now facing as our rural communities that were some of the hardest hit by the storms," said Rep. Greene. "Agriculture represents Georgia's leading industry, and we must focus on supporting the recovery efforts and protecting the long-term growth of our rural farming communities. The discussions we held on the farming industry, the pivotal role of natural gas and how these resources can strengthen agribusiness recruitment and retention were vital to our council's efforts to gather insights for proposing meaningful legislation in the upcoming session that not only aids in immediate recovery but also lays the groundwork for sustainable growth."

The two-day council meeting began by focusing on the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton on rural Georgia's natural resources and agriculture sector. Discussions highlighted the need for prioritizing relief and recovery efforts for those affected by the storms, with Georgia's Agricultural Commissioner Tyler Harper addressing many other issues facing Georgia farmers such as labor shortages, national security and mental health challenges. Commissioner Harper noted that Georgia's agriculture and forestry industries sustained $3.2 billion in damage from Hurricane Helene. Further, the Georgia Forestry Association discussed reforestation efforts due to hurricane loses.

In addition to recovery efforts, the council engaged with agribusiness experts to talk about tort reform and its financial implications for farmers in rural Georgia. The members of the council were also given legislative recommendations for reducing the accounting and audit burdens on municipalities and authorities. Updates from Georgia's banking association on local government financial reporting, along with insights on the United States Farm Bill and the status of workforce development and Georgia's forestry industry, were among topics also shared during the meetings.

Established in 2017, the House Rural Development Council was created to work with rural communities on strategies aimed at fostering economic growth and job creation. In the 2023 legislative session, the council was reauthorized for the current term following the unanimous adoption of House Resolution 488.

More information about the House Rural Development Council may be found here: https://www.legis.ga.gov/other-committees/house/2024/rural-development-council-2024

Representative Gerald Greene represents the citizens of District 154, which includes Baker, Calhoun, Clay, Early, Miller, Quitman, Randolph and Seminole counties, as well as portions of Dougherty County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982 and currently serves as Chairman of the State Properties Committee and Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Economic Development. He also serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Public Safety and Homeland Security, Retirement, Rules, Special Rules and Urban Affairs committees.

###