The city’s economy is strong despite the current economic conditions the state and nation are experiencing, Griffin Mayor Doug Hollberg said.
Hollberg gave an update about the city during Thursday’s meeting of the Griffin-Spalding Chamber of Commerce’s Legislative Affairs Committee.
Griffin’s sales tax revenues have increased 44% in five years, Hollberg said.
“Our economy is strong even though we are battling inflation like everybody else,” Hollberg said.
One cause for the rise in sale tax funds could be the issuance of COVID-19 recovery funds issued through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Paycheck Protection Program.
“I think we are reaping the windfalls from that,” Hollberg said.
One challenge Griffin is facing is the city’s employment turnover rate, Hollberg said, adding that the city is advertising an average of 50 job vacancies a month.
“It’s a continuing challenge for us,” he said.
Griffin continues to work on the construction and opening of the new Griffin-Spalding County Airport, Hollberg said, with the plan for the airport to eventually feature a 6,000-foot runway.
The city is also pursuing relocating Georgia Highway 155 out of the downtown area.
Ridding the city of substandard housing is one of the city’s ongoing goals. Hollberg said 900 substandard structures were demolished last year in the city.
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