A development authority east of Atlanta has voted to approve an "economic development agreement" for the planned $5 billion Rivian factory, outlining terms with the electric vehicle company, including environmental standards and taxpayer-backed incentives.
The agreement is a key milestone for the project planned near Social Circle and Rutledge and sets the stage for grading, permitting and other work to begin. But full details of the pact are not yet public and likely won't be until early next week after the documents have been signed by the state and Rivian, spokespeople for the state and the local authority said Tuesday.
The deal between the Joint Development Authority (JDA) of Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton counties, the state and Rivian comes just days after the state held the first of 16 community engagement meetings to address residents' concerns. Opponents of the Rivian plant have expressed fears about traffic, environmental issues, loss of farmland and over-development.
