Mold Remediation in Gainesville, GA

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday that Gainesville recorded an unemployment rate of 2.8 percent in January, a three-tenths increase over-the-previous month. A year ago, the rate was 2.7 percent.

GDOL Interim Commissioner Louis DeBroux, says in their monthly report, "While job growth has faced challenges this month, key industries across the state continue to offer opportunities for hardworking Georgians. Even with the rise in unemployment, our mission remains clear—helping Georgia’s workers find and keep meaningful employment in every corner of our state.”

The labor force increased in Gainesville by 245 and ended the month with 108,872. That number went up by 573 when compared to January of 2024.

Gainesville finished the month with 105,819 employed residents. That number decreased by 42 over-the-month and rose by 413 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Gainesville ended January with 107,600 jobs. That number decreased by 1,700 from December to January and rose by 1,400 when compared to this time last year.

In January, initial unemployment claims increased by 28 in Gainesville. When you compare January 2024 claims to January 2025, claims were up by one, totaling 338.

Gainesville's area rate in January, however, was significantly lower than the statewide average for Georgia in January, which reached 3.6 percent, according to the GDOL's latest numbers.

For personalized assistance, employers can reach Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) staff at https://dol.georgia.gov/employeremail. For more information on unemployment benefits, claimants should call 877.709.8185 or visit their MyUI Claimant Portal. GDOL's Career Centers also provide in-person unemployment insurance benefit services for customers statewide.

For more information on jobs and current labor force data, visit Georgia LaborMarket Explorer to view a comprehensive report.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Gainesville's Hudson Justus captured the 11th Drive, Chip and Putt championship at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday.

After holing both putts on the 18th green, Hudson Justus of Gainesville, Ga., claimed first place overall in the Boys 12-13 division. It was his second appearance at Augusta National, having also competed in the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.

“It was a long road to get here,” Justus said in the release. “After making it two years ago, I knew I wanted to come back and win – and now I have.”

The National Finals partnered with the Masters Tournament, USGA and the PGA of America. It's a free youth golf development initiative for junior golfers of all skill and ability levels.

The competition is open to boys and girls, ages 7-15, in four age categories and tests the skills "essential to golf: accuracy, chipping and putting."

According to the event press release, tens of thousands of participants seized the opportunity to qualify for the event, which began with hundreds of local qualifiers at courses across the country in the summer of 2024. From there, the top finishers advanced through subregional qualifying events to one of 10 regional qualifiers at some of the nation’s most acclaimed venues and championship sites.

The 80 regional winners across the four age divisions (40 boys and 40 girls) earned a trip to Augusta National Golf Club to participate in the 11th Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals.

The four girl champions were: Ellie Kim of Danville, Calif. (7-9); Bella Simoes of Lake Worth, Fla. (10-11); Alexandra Phung of Forest Hills, N.Y. (12-13); and Abigail Henriksen of DeForest, Wis. (14-15).

The four boy champions were: Joshua Hooper of Wildwood, Mo. (7-9); Dawson Dial of Cedar Park, Texas (10-11); Hudson Justus of Gainesville, Ga. (12-13); and Anthony Wu of Mission Viejo, Calif. (14-15).

Points were awarded in three individual skill categories (driving, chipping, and putting), with the winner in each skill receiving 10 points, second place receiving 9 points, and so on, down to 1 point. The player with the most points following all three competitions was declared the overall winner of the age group.

For the drive portion, the better of two distances was used to determine the score. Each golfer then took two chips; the closest cumulative distance to the hole determined the winner. Players then moved to Augusta National’s No. 18 green, where they attempted two putts—from 15 and 30 feet—and used the cumulative distance from the hole to determine the score.

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Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to tremendously rise in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, affordability plays a huge role for buyers.

The typical home value in the United States was $357,377 in February, 2.1% higher than the year before.

High mortgage rates are also making monthly payments more expensive; as of March 20, the

30-year fixed mortgage rate

sits at 6.67%.

Although home prices have inflated all across the U.S., there are some cities that command a higher price tag than others. Location, size, age, and condition are all contributing factors to home value.

Stacker compiled a list of cities with the most expensive homes in the Gainesville, Georgia metro area using data from Zillow. Charts show the monthly typical home value since January 2018. All 7 cities and towns with data available were included in the list.

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Stacker

#7. Gillsville, GA

- Typical home value: $313,243- 1-year price change: +3.8%- 5-year price change: +79.6%

Stacker

#6. Oakwood, GA

- Typical home value: $313,471- 1-year price change: +2.0%- 5-year price change: +64.6%

Stacker

#5. Lula, GA

- Typical home value: $316,143- 1-year price change: +3.0%- 5-year price change: +74.9%

Stacker

#4. Gainesville, GA

- Typical home value: $365,351- 1-year price change: +2.6%- 5-year price change: +63.2%

Stacker

#3. Murrayville, GA

- Typical home value: $373,512- 1-year price change: +4.9%- 5-year price change: +63.7%

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Stacker

#2. Clermont, GA

- Typical home value: $403,709- 1-year price change: +5.6%- 5-year price change: +75.6%

Stacker

#1. Flowery Branch, GA

- Typical home value: $424,225- 1-year price change: +2.1%- 5-year price change: +60.7%

Gasoline prices have increased by just a few cents compared to this time last month, but the cost to fill up the tank has declined by nearly 40 cents per gallon since last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.16, with Lubbock, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.62 and Lihue, Hawaii, with the most expensive at $5.12.

After a monthlong pause on tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the Trump administration proceeded at the beginning of March to impose 25% tariffs on the two neighboring nations, including a limited 10% tariff on Canadian energy. However, on March 6, the president announced a pause on tariffs until April 2.

GasBuddy projects states in the Northeast could see the most significant spike in fuel prices as a result of potential tariffs, possibly by 20 to 40 cents per gallon, as this region relies heavily on Canada's New Brunswick refinery.

Meanwhile, by April, gas prices may decrease as a result of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' plans to boost crude production. This increased output, however, is just one of several factors influencing prices in the month ahead.

"While OPEC has signaled its intent to stabilize the market, policy decisions from the White House could introduce further uncertainty, making it difficult to predict where prices will head next," GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said in a statement this month. "However, nearly every year sees a seasonal spring increase, which could eventually push prices higher ahead of summer."

Stacker compiled statistics on gas prices in Gainesville, GA metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of March 27.

Gainesville, Georgia by the numbers- Gas current price: $2.96--- Georgia average: $2.95- Week change: +$0.05 (+1.9%)- Year change: -$0.35 (-10.7%)- Historical expensive gas price: $4.50 (6/14/22)

- Diesel current price: $3.56- Week change: +$0.02 (+0.5%)- Year change: -$0.40 (-10.0%)- Historical expensive diesel price: $5.51 (6/11/22)

Metros with the most expensive gas#1. Lihue (Kauai), HI: $5.12#2. Santa Rosa, CA: $4.92#3. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: $4.90

Metros with the least expensive gas#1. Lubbock, TX: $2.62#2. Laredo, TX: $2.64#3. Gadsden, AL: $2.65

This story features writing by Tim Bruns and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 371 metros.

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Photo via Hall County Government

AccessWDUN.com · Hall County District 2 Commissioner Billy Powell talks Sardis Connector project

After more than 20 years of discussions, utility work and right-of-way acquisition, the Sardis Connector road project in northwest Hall County is now nearing the start of construction.

The Sardis Connector will be a four-lane divided highway that will span just over three and a half miles connecting Dawsonville Highway (Ga. 53) at Sardis Road to Thompson Bridge Road (Ga. 60) at Mount Vernon Road. Hall County District 2 Commissioner Billy Powell said the project is a long time coming.

"We first talked about this in 2004. That's when it was an idea that was generated. It was before I was a commissioner, I remember going to a meeting at the (Gainesville) Civic Center," Powell said. "Here we are, over 20 years later, we are finally getting started in construction."

Powell also said the project is an expensive one.

"The total cost, this is astronomical, is $84.3 million," Powell said. "That math is almost $22.8 million per mile. $28.3 million of that is what Hall County spent using SPLOST VI, VII and VIII...The (Georgia) DOT is actually going to pay $56 million for construction costs this time."

Powell said those figures include pre-construction, right-of-way acquisition costs and construction costs.

He said county officials recently participated in a pre-construction meeting with GDOT on January 31, and land clearing is set to begin later in March with a ribbon-cutting expected in mid-April. The current timeline from GDOT expects the project to be fully finished in September of 2028, but Powell said county officials expect to be able to open the roadway to the public in the fall of 2027.

The Sardis Connector was, at one point, included in preliminary discussions about a "Northern Arc" that would span from where the project ends at Thompson Bridge Road eastward to also connect with Cleveland Highway (U.S. 129) and possibly further. Powell said, as of the start of this project, there are no active plans to move forward with the Northern Arc.

"I think that when it was floated a few years ago, it was just overwhelmingly controversial," Powell said. "I think we need to really look at the feasibility of doing that. You know, if this one right here is not going across (Lake Lanier) and it's costing $22.8 million a mile, imagine what (the Northern Arc) would cost, and how could you ever generate enough money to pay for that?"

Powell said the cost issue could affect other road projects in Hall County in the immediate future because of the recent failure of a Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax vote in November 2024.

"If that had passed, it would have paid for a lot of transformational projects like (the Sardis Connector) all across Hall County," Powell said.