Griffin-Spalding Schools Approve Budget, Another Major Industrial Project in Griffin, and New Principal of Moore Elementary.
Griffin Grapevine
June 01, 2026
Good morning, Spalding County!
Have you ever traveled somewhere far away, turned on the local news, and expected it to feel different? Then after a few minutes, you realize it sounds almost exactly the same as it does back home. Same tone. Same pacing. Same kind of stories. Same polished seriousness. Don’t get me wrong. The news is useful. People need to know what is happening.
But somewhere along the way, a lot of places started getting treated like they were interchangeable. Same restaurants. Same stores. Same headlines. Same way of talking about everything.
It is not fine for a town. Every place has its own character, and Griffin certainly does. The old buildings. The people who know three generations of your family. The roads everyone complains about. The old businesses that have been here forever. The new new businesses trying to make a go of it. The little events that do not look like much until you realize they are part of what keeps a community alive.
That is what the Griffin Grapevine is here for. Not to make Griffin sound like everywhere else, but to pay attention to what makes Griffin, Griffin.
- Chad Robert
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Griffin-Spalding County Schools has approved a $127.9 million operating budget for the 2026–27 school year, with the new spending plan set to take effect July 1. The Board of Education approved the budget in a 5-0 vote on May 26 after public hearings in April. The budget includes pay step increases for eligible employees, retention payments, longevity supplements, and added investments in school safety, student behavior support, instructional resources, and literacy. Safety upgrades include personnel at every elementary school, along with a new unified platform for cameras, access control, and related security tools. About 86 percent of the general fund budget will go toward salaries and benefits, while 14 percent will cover supplies and support services. The plan also accounts for a $1 million increase in state health benefit costs for school employees.
PNK Group has started work on PNK Griffin 200, a 1 million-square-foot speculative industrial facility at 35 S. McDonough Road, about 38 miles south of Atlanta. The project will be built inside the same industrial park where PNK recently completed a 306,000-square-foot build-to-suit facility for Rinnai America. The new building is being developed with PNK Group’s prefabricated Building Assembly Set technology, a construction method designed to speed up the building process. Plans call for 40-foot clear heights, 194 dock doors, four drive-in doors, a 185-foot truck court, 245 trailer parking spaces, and 480 car parking spaces. Once complete, the project will add another large-scale industrial site to Griffin’s growing logistics and manufacturing corridor.
The Griffin-Spalding County School System Board of Education recently approved the appointment of Dr. Chad Chisolm as the school’s next principal. Chisolm brings nearly 20 years of experience in education, including work in school administration, curriculum development, instructional coaching, and teacher support. He most recently served as a GSCS School Improvement Coordinator, where he worked with schools on instructional leadership and student achievement. His career has also included roles with Atlanta Public Schools, Henry County Schools, Clayton County Schools, and Butts County Schools. Chisolm holds degrees from Clayton State University, Georgia State University, and Northcentral University. His priorities at Moore include academic growth, teacher development, stronger family engagement, and consistent schoolwide systems.
Jade - Female - 5 months old
Spalding County Animal Care & Control
Monday belongs to the Spalding County Board of Commissioners, which first convenes at 3:00 PM for a in Room 108 of the Spalding County Annex Building. That work session is set to cover county business including out-of-state motor coach trip approvals, a Parks and Leisure Services recommendation for a Memorandum of Understanding with Birds Georgia, and discussion of the 2026 SPLOST referendum intergovernmental agreement.
The Board of Commissioners returns at 6:00 PM for its in Room 108 of the Annex Building at 119 E. Solomon Street, where the agenda includes the first reading of the FY 2027 budget ordinance, the Veterans Services lease agreement, the SPLOST referendum IGA, and a discussion of a moratorium on residential properties.
Monday & Thursday: Carver (610 Carver Rd) and Woodroof (4245 Old Atlanta Rd) 11am-7pm
Tuesday & Friday: Blalock (5756 Newnan Rd) and Cabin (3865 Jackson Rd)
11am-7pm
Saturday: All centers open 7am-1pm (plus Akin for bulky items only)
Sunday & Wednesday: Closed
Got big stuff? The Akin Collection Center (841 S McDonough Rd) is for bulky items only—no regular household garbage. Open Saturdays 7am-1pm.
All centers closed on county holidays.
Chess Club for Kids and Adults
When: Monday, June 1, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
What: The Griffin-Spalding County Library is hosting its weekly chess club for kids and adults. A relaxed evening option for families, students, or anyone who wants to learn, play, or sharpen their game. Registration is not listed as required.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223
“Dr. Dinosaur” Puppet Show – Summer Reading Program
When: Tuesday, June 2, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
What: The library’s Summer Reading Program continues with a dinosaur-themed puppet show for children. The event is part of the 2026 Summer Reading season, which runs through July 18. Registration is not listed as required.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223
Tie Dye Event for Teens and Adults
When: Tuesday, June 2, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
What: Teens and adults can stop by the Griffin-Spalding County Library for a hands-on tie dye activity. The calendar lists the event as open with no registration required. A simple summer craft option for older kids, teens, and adults.
Where: Griffin-Spalding County Library, 800 Memorial Drive, Griffin, GA 30223
South Atlanta Business Association June Meeting
When: Wednesday, June 3, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
What: The South Atlanta Business Association meets for its monthly lunch gathering, with networking, a sponsored lunch, and a guest speaker or topic aimed at local business and community leaders.
Where: Conner Westbury Family Life Building, 1891 W. McIntosh Road, Griffin, GA 30223
1776 Steps Challenge Kickoff
When: Wednesday, June 3, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
What: Spalding County is kicking off the 1776 Steps Challenge at Airport Road Park. The event is tied to a walking and wellness challenge running from June 3 through August 7, with the kickoff taking place at the Airport Road walking track.
Where: Airport Road Park, 128 Airport Road, Griffin, GA 30224
Karaoke at Nic McKay’s
When: Wednesday, June 3, 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM
What: Nic McKay’s Irish Pub hosts Wednesday night karaoke. Guests can take the stage for solo songs, duets, country, rock, pop, throwbacks, and guilty pleasures, or just enjoy the music, drinks, and Irish pub atmosphere.
Where: Nic McKay’s Irish Pub, 133 S. Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30223
Spalding County Mobile Market
When: Thursday, June 4, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
What: Wellstar and Goodr are bringing a Mobile Pop-Up Grocery Market to Griffin, offering access to fresh groceries for local families. Registration is limited to one Mobile Market per month per household, and registration opened May 28.
Where: The Gathering International, 545 North Expressway, Griffin, GA 30223
DEPARTURE: The Journey Tribute Band
When: Friday, June 5, 8:00 PM
What: The Griffin Opera House welcomes DEPARTURE, a Journey tribute band known for performing the classic hits fans know and love. The show features live, no pre-recorded tracks, with a high-energy performance built around the music of one of rock’s most recognizable bands. Tickets are available through .
Where: Griffin Opera House, 102 N. Hill Street #200, Griffin, GA 30223
Houses of the Holy Led Zeppelin Tribute
When: Saturday, June 6, 8:30 PM – 11:30 PM
What: The Garden Beer Garden & Venue is hosting Houses of the Holy, a Led Zeppelin tribute band bringing classic rock favorites to downtown Griffin. The evening includes live music, food, drinks, and a $10 gate admission.
Where: The Garden Beer Garden & Venue, 314 E. Solomon Street, Griffin, GA 30223
Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.
85° 🌡️ 67° | ⛈️ | 50% | NW 7 mph
82° 🌡️ 57° | 🌦️ | 80% | NE 8 mph
80° 🌡️ 53° | ☀️ | 5% | ENE 8 mph
80° 🌡️ 58° | ☀️ | 5% | ENE 2 mph
Thanks for reading the Griffin Grapevine.
This only works if it feels useful to the people who live here. That’s the whole point: to make it a little easier to know what’s happening around Griffin and Spalding County without having to chase it down yourself.
If today’s issue helped you keep up, send it to one person who likes knowing what’s going on close to home. A neighbor, friend, coworker, parent, or anyone who still says, “I wish I had heard about that earlier.”
And as always, if you see something around town worth knowing about, just reply. New businesses, school updates, community events, road work, odd little local changes, and anything else that makes Griffin feel like Griffin are all fair game.
Have a great week, and thanks for being part of the Grapevine.
P.S. A few sponsorship spots are opening for local businesses that want to reach Griffin Grapevine readers. Interested? Reply to this email or reach me at griffin@welldiem.com.
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