AC repair in Midway, GA

MIDWAY, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), a leading games, IP and toy company, today celebrated the opening of its new 600,000-square-foot distribution center in Midway, Georgia in partnership with GXO. The state-of-the-art facility represents a significant milestone as Hasbro's first U.S. warehouse fully developed, leased, and branded by the company, strengthening the company's omni-channel distribution capabilities and supply chain efficiency across North America.

“By opening our first company-leased U.S. distribution center, we’re expanding our supply chain capabilities to deliver magical play experiences faster and more efficiently than ever before,” said Stephanie Beal, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Hasbro. “This facility underscores our commitment to our operational excellence program and marks another milestone in our transformation into a modern play and entertainment company. Investing in our flagship U.S. distribution center strengthens our ability to deliver the speed, quality, and efficiency our retail partners and fans expect, ensuring the right products reach the right places at the right time.”

Located in Liberty County, less than an hour from Savannah, the site – developed by Flint, which was recently acquired by Peachtree – will serve as a key distribution hub and a critical node in Hasbro’s U.S. logistics network, supporting both brick-and-mortar retail partners and direct-to-consumer operations through Hasbro Pulse. The facility accounts for approximately 25% of Hasbro's U.S. distribution footprint, joining existing warehouses in Chino, California and Joliet, Illinois.

The facility is expected to create between 60 and 70 jobs during standard operations, with seasonal employment reaching up to 125 during peak periods. Additionally, the center is projected to generate approximately $8 million in annual productivity savings, which will be reinvested into Hasbro's ongoing efficiency initiatives.

“We’re proud to partner with Hasbro on this next-generation flagship facility, bringing GXO’s decades of logistics experience to deliver iconic Hasbro games to retailers and consumers with greater speed, accuracy, and reliability,” said Michael Jacobs, President, Americas & Asia Pacific, GXO.

“Hasbro’s choice to build its first fully developed and branded U.S. distribution center in Liberty County is a tremendous win for our community,” said Al Williams, State Representative and LCDA Board Chairman. “This investment means quality jobs and new opportunities for our military families. We’re proud to welcome a company whose brands bring joy to a billion people around the world and opportunity here at home.”

“This project shows what’s possible when strategy, real estate, and operations are brought together under one program,” said Marcus Carmont, Chief Customer Officer at TMX Transform. “Working with Hasbro, we delivered a right?sized distribution center that strengthens their East Coast network. It’s a great example of how the right partnership can turn complex supply chain change into a fast, successful outcome.”

About Hasbro

Hasbro is a leading games, IP and toy company whose mission is to create joy and community through the magic of play. Hasbro delivers groundbreaking play experiences for fans of all ages around the world, through physical and digital games, video games, toys, licensed consumer products, location-based entertainment, film, TV and more.

Through its franchise-first approach, Hasbro unlocks value from both new and legacy IP, including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, MONOPOLY, HASBRO GAMES, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands. Powered by its portfolio of thousands of iconic marks and a diversified network of partners and subsidiary studios, Hasbro brings fans together wherever they are, from tabletop to screen.

For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media.

Homes and businesses that get their water from the City of Midway can expect a rate increase of approximately 44%, likely by March. That’s according to Bill Powell, a consultant from the Georgia Rural Water Association, which helps cities set water and sewer rates.

Powell presented the recommended rate increase during a workshop at City Hall on Feb. 6. Mayor Malcolm Williams emphasizes these figures are preliminary estimates only and that the council has not yet voted to approve these specific numbers.

Existing rates for customers inside the city using an average of 4,000 gallons per month shows current rates of $43 for water and $41 for sewer, totaling $84.

But the study is recommending an increase of $51 for water and $71 for sewer, totaling $122 — a 45% increase for that same 4,000 gallons of water.

Midway has two classes of rates: inside and outside the city limits. Each of those classes is broken into water and sewer rates.

Customers inside the City of Midway can expect bills to jump roughly about 40 to 48 percent by spring, depending on how much water they use. Outside the city, that increase would be about 41% to 47%.

Rates rise every 1,000 gallons. Customers in the city who use zero to just under 1,000 gallons pay about $52 for water and sewer. The recommended new rate is about $73 — another $21 each month.

Additional costs may include things like “tap-in fees,” which developers pay for each new home or business connection to the system.

The mayor and council clearly weren’t thrilled by the prospect of customers paying higher bills. But the city needs to pay off existing debt, is installing a new water tower and water lines, and owes the General Fund for money borrowed for the Water Fund over time.

Powell said Midway’s current operating budget for water is about $490,000 but needs to be at $562,450 in order to cover money borrowed from the General Fund: “We’re going to have to start paying that back at $57,450 a year,” Powell said. The city water fund also has only a $15,000 cushion, which Powell said a single fire hydrant replacement could wipe out. Midway’s sewer operating budget is $605,000 right now.

What the city needs, according to Powell, is a total annual operating budget for sewer and water of almost $2.2 million: “You gotta generate that every year,” he said. “Operate your water and sewer system and pay your debt service.”

The city is paying off about $35,000 annually for an “old bond,” according to Powell, plus another $12,000 per year for a well and about $156,000 for “the meter project that y’all got just about completed.”

Councilwoman Rhonda Thomas and Mayor Pro Tem Annie Foskey expressed concern for how higher rates would impact residents and how soon those rates might take effect.

“I mean, me personally, I don’t want a 40% increase next month,” Thomas said.

The next rate workshop is set for 5 p.m. Feb. 23 at Midway City Hall, 41 Charlie Butler Road.

Williams said the city encourages customers to take water-saving measures, such as checking to make sure toilet tank flaps, faucets, and other water fixtures aren’t leaking.