A sign off U.S. Highway 278 near East Hightower Trail in the edge of Social Circle heralds the beginning of work on the Rivian manufacturing plant. The plant is expected to begin rising from the ground by the end of this year, with vehicle production set for 2028. Photo by Jim Thompson | The Walton Tribune SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. — Vertical construction is expected to begin shortly before the end of the year at the Rivian electric vehicle manufacturing plant at Stanton Springs in the edge of Social Circle, according to information from Tuesday’s meeting of the Joint Development Authority of Jasper, Morgan, Newton and Walton Counties (JDA). While vertical construction has yet to begin at the Rivian site, signs at both entrances to the acreage off U.S. Highway 278 north of Interstate 20 announce the coming manufacturing plant, announcing “Rivian/Building the future together./Right here in Georgia.” A short distance beyond the gravel road marking the facility entrance just east of East Hightower Trail, a set of construction trailers can be seen, and large trucks move regularly into and out of the site. Work on needed utilities is well underway on the acreage. According to discussion at Tue
