Each week ACCG shares snapshots of counties, highlighting activities from around the state and the ACCG team at work. Email your photos to locallens@accg.org.

Note: Local Lens submissions submitted prior to 12:00 p.m. on each Friday will be included in that week's edition. Submissions received after that will be included in the following week’s newsletter.

October 24, 2026

Bryan County Awarded CBDG Grant for Water Infrastructure Project

Bryan County was awarded $1 million in Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) funds from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for a water infrastructure project. The project will install approximately 8,000 linear feet of an 8-inch water main, along with the valves, fittings and fire hydrants, to improve fire protections throughout the community.

Barrow County Earns Triple A Bond Rating for Years of Fiscal Discipline

Barrow County recently earned a AAA bond rating, which makes them the seventh county in Georgia to earn Fitch Rating's highest credit rating. The rating recognized the county for more than a decade of fiscal discipline, responsible financial management, and strong leadership by the former and current Board of Commissioners under Chairman Pat Graham's leadership.

The Ware County Recreation Department was named Agency of the Year for District 2 of the Georgia Recreation and Park Association. The award recognized the department for its outstanding contributions to community parks and recreation services.

Columbus-Muscogee County Councilwoman and Community Leaders Tour Muscogee County Jail

ACCG Third Vice President and Columbus-Muscogee Councilwoman Toyia Tucker led a tour of the Muscogee County Jail to provide community leaders with firsthand insight into daily operations, facility challenges, and the needs of deputies and inmates. The visit also provided a valuable perspective on how a proposed new jail could improve working conditions, enhance safety, and better serve deputies, inmates, and the community.

The Habersham County Elections Office received the Georgia Election Administration Golden Leader in Excellence (EAGLE) Award from Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The award honored the team for their outstanding work in election security and accuracy, as well as their continued commitment to maintaining a trustworthy and reliable election process.

Clayton County Elections and Registration Opens New Election Center



Clayton County Elections and Registration opened a new $1.1 million elections center, which was funded by Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). The new facility will be open for election-related events and offer citizens the opportunity to observe the important work involved in the voting and election process.

Rockdale County recently held an event to debut its new administration building and community magazine. The building will house the Board of Commissioners and multiple departments under one roof, while the magazine will highlight the people of Rockdale County and their stories.

Emanuel County launched a new alert system titled Emanuel County Mass Notifications, a two-part system to replace CodeRED, its previous alert system. The new system will not only push serious life-safety alerts through the national alerting network, but it will duplicate emergency messaging to ensure residents receive the information they need.

ACCG in Focus

ACCG in Focus highlights the work of various ACCG departments and the dedicated staff behind them, showcasing the initiatives and collaborations that enable the association to advance Georgia’s counties.

The ACCG Civic Affairs Foundation held its 10th annual golf tournament fundraiser at the Georgia Club in Barrow County. Twenty-one teams spent the day in friendly competition as they raised funds to support the Foundation's Georgia County Internship Program (GCIP), as well as programs that foster youth leadership and public service-oriented internships.

(From left to right) Randy Oglesbee, Alex Oglesbee, Justin Gilbert, Jim Gilbert, and ACCG Director of Leadership Development Jeff Christie.

Conference Photos Now Available! 

Thank you to everyone who attended the Legislative Leadership Conference in Athens-Clarke County. Conference photos are now available! Relive the highlights and download some of your favorite moments by browsing the photo album. 

Click here to access the pictures.

ACCG and Georgia Trend magazine, the state's leading business publication, will once again host the Georgia County Excellence Awards. The Georgia County Excellence Awards honor counties that have taken innovative and cost-effective approaches to solving local issues. The application period is now open until Friday, Dec. 11, 2026. 

Click here to learn more.

Georgia County Marketplace

Have you checked out the Georgia County Marketplace? Powered by ACCG, the Georgia County Marketplace is a dedicated platform for counties to post job listings and requests for proposals, bids, and contract projects.

Click here to learn more.

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