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The Commerce Downtown Development Authority is going to do something new this summer.

It will hold its Independence Day fireworks display on — Independence Day.

For the last 15 years at least, the city fireworks show was part of the City Lights Festival held at least a week before July 4. Last year it was on June 25. [Full Story »] 

Jackson County just landed its biggest economic development project in county history.

Gov. Nathan Deal announced Tuesday that Toyota Industries Corp. will establish Toyota Industries Compressor Parts America (TICA) in a 600,000-square foot building it will erect on the 152-acre tract in Valentine Farms Industrial Park next to its TD Automotive Compressor Georgia (TACG).

The new plant, which will provide an estimated 320 new manufacturing jobs and represents a $350 million investment, will manufacture parts for the compressors assembled at TACG. TACG currently imports those parts from Japan. Toyota Industries Corp. supplies automotive compressors for Toyota Motor Corporation, as well as Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and others. [Full Story »] 

Former Commerce Mayor Charles L. “Buzzie” Hardy Jr. got a retirement sendoff last week that included people most likely to appreciate his service — his fellow mayors.

Seven mayors — many of them longtime friends — came to the city-hosted reception last Thursday at the Commerce Civic Center to help local residents show appreciation for Hardy’s 22 years of service.
[Full Story »] 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) must still give its blessing, but it appears that the residents of Oconee Pointe Subdivision and Northeast Georgia Bank have resolved a dispute over 10 lots supposedly designated as greenspace.

With the consent of both parties, the Commerce Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday night to recommend to the Commerce City Council a proposal that:

•retains five lots for greenspace and rezones the other five as R1-E lots suitable for development [Full Story »] 

Former Commerce Mayor Charles L. "Buzzie" Hardy was honored last Thursday with a reception in recognition of his 22 years of service as mayor. Video courtesy of Joel Logan, Jackson County GIS director.

http://youtu.be/PhHduQR2RAM

Negotiations are under way this week between residents of Oconee Pointe Subdivision and Northeast Georgia Bank over 10 lots of “greenspace” that could be rezoned into R-1E lots for development.

The Commerce Planning Commission is due to make a decision on the bank’s rezoning request Monday night. It meets at 7:00 in the Commerce Room of the Commerce Civic Center.

[Full Story »] 

The Commerce City Council will hold a reception Thursday, Jan. 19, to honor Charles L. “Buzzie” Hardy Jr. for his 22 years of service as mayor.

The reception will be from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Commerce Civic Center, with a presentation planned for 6 p.m.

Hardy, who left office Dec. 31 after deciding not to seek re-election, is the longest-serving mayor in Commerce history.

In a widely anticipated move, the Commerce Public Library announces that e-books will soon be offered as part of its collection.

Soon patrons will be able to access popular titles for the Kindles, Nooks and other e-readers, made possible by a grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation to the Piedmont Regional Library System. The library hopes to have the service in place as early as the middle of February.

The grant will provide the same opportunity through all of the other public libraries in Banks, Jackson and Barrow counties.

The long-vacant Louisiana Pacific building in Center has been sold – apparently to a company that plans to manufacture wood pellets as fuel for wood-burning stoves.

“What we know is, yes, it’s been sold,” said Courtney Bernardi, the director of economic development for the Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce. “We have no details, none.” [Full Story »]