around the state and the ACCG team at work. Email your photos to bbrown@accg.org.

Pierce County Chairman K. Neal Bennett and County Manager Jason Rubenbauer had the opportunity to meet with Senator Tyler Harper, Representative Steven Meeks and Governor Brian Kemp this week at the State Capitol to discuss issues of importance to the county.

The Gwinnett County Department of Community Services has partnered with Gwinnett County Schools and the Building Babies' Brains initiative to launch an early learning and literacy program called Building Brains (B²) Anywhere: A Shirley Carver Miller Initiative. The program provides mobile early learning programs at sites across the county and focuses on literacy, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and nature play.

The Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission anti-litter campaign kicked off on March 6. Volunteers picked up 17,000 pounds of litter from throughout the community. Municipal Court Clerk Reginald Thompson, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the Kappa League, Evolve with Nia, Studio 54, Prince Hall Lodge #4, Revelation MBC, American Legion Post 333 and One Columbus United, Inc. helped with the cleanup project alongside Councilwoman Toyia Tucker. Volunteers received a free meal from Chester's BBQ, an event sponsor.

Oconee County Water Resources recently placed the tank atop its new 141-foot-tall, 750,000-gallon water tower. The tower, located at Highway 441 and South Main Street, will improve water pressure in the surrounding area and has a greater capacity and costs less to maintain than traditional towers.

Fulton County has launched an Emergency Rental Assistance Program, using $18 million in federal funding allocated through the U.S. Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The program will provide up to $1,300 in rental assistance and/or $200 in utility assistance for up to six months for eligible Fulton County residents. The county plans to direct more money towards this high demand program using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act that was approved by Congress this week. For more information on the program, click here.

Name: Kale Hodges

Program: ACCG Retirement Services

Position: Director

Joined ACCG: 2013

About Kale: Kale lives in a house divided - his wife is a UGA grad, and he received a BS degree in Management with a specialization in Operations Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. While attending Georgia Tech, Kale worked the Clerk’s Office of the Georgia House of Representatives all 4 years. Prior to joining ACCG, he worked for the State of Georgia for 25 years with the Georgia Department of Insurance and the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. 

Hobbies: Outside the office, Kale enjoys playing golf, coaching his kids in sports, going to Hilton Head with his family and cheering on his alma mater.

Family: Kale and his family reside in Loganville, Georgia (Walton County), with his wife Debbie, along with their 4 children – Annabelle (18), Cole (16), Brant (13) and Bo (11).  

ACCG wants to share positive news about events and projects from your county with your peers from across the state. Photos and story ideas submitted to ACCG for Georgia's Local Lens or the Georgia County Spotlight may be used in this e-newsletter or on ACCG's website or social media. Photos and other information used are provided courtesy of our county constituents and ACCG staff. For questions or information, please contact Beth Brown at bbrown@accg.org.