February 2018 Features

• Georgia Banks Earn $3.4B During 2017

  February 28, 2018

  Georgia’s 177 state-based FDIC insured banks earned $3.4 billion in 2017, an increase of 13.7 percent over the previous year. Total deposits, loans and assets all increased during the year.

• Film Day at the Capitol Celebrates Georgia’s Film and Television Industry

  February 28, 2018

  The Georgia Film Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, celebrated Film Day at the Capitol to recognize the state’s past, present and future in the film industry. “No other film production center has seen more growth in infrastructure than Georgia has over the last eight years,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Governor Deal’s leadership and unwavering support has ensured Georgia’s place as a top destination for film and television activity.”

• Lenn Chandler Named Interim President & CEO of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce

  February 27, 2018

  The board of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce has appointed Lenn Chandler to serve as interim President and CEO while a national search is conducted to find the permanent replacement for Doc Eldridge, who is resigning March 1. Chandler, the retired Vice President of the Northeast Region for Georgia Power, has previously served on the Chamber Board.

• GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry Receives Award for Engineering Influence

  February 27, 2018

  Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. received ACEC Georgia’s Engineering Influence Award “in recognition of his exceptional leadership and management of the department’s response to the Interstate 85 fire and bridge collapse” last year.

• First American Resources & Flack Global Metals Announce Athens Facility

  February 26, 2018

  First American Resources and Flack Global Metals announce the development of a new state-of-the-art coil coating and metal processing facility to meet the growing customer demand for high-end, surface critical coated products.

• Senators Johnny Isakson & David Perdue: Tax Cuts Are Helping Georgians

  February 26, 2018

  The tax cuts passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump are already having a positive impact across the country. Businesses are investing in our economy again. More than 3 million Americans have received bonuses. Wages are rising at their highest rate in eight years. Here in Georgia, we are seeing this positive impact firsthand.

• Athens Area Chamber of Commerce Preparing for Executive Search

  February 23, 2018

  The leadership of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce has initiated an executive search process to fill the president and chief executive officer's position. Current president Doc Eldridge announced in December that he will be leaving the Chamber effective March 1st. A recent membership survey of Chamber members will be utilized as the base for the research. Additional local, regional and state leaders will also be contacted for input.

• Technology Association of Georgia Unveils the Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia

  February 23, 2018

  The Technology Association of Georgia announced the Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia. TAG’S Top 40 Awards recognize Georgia-based technology companies for their innovation, financial impact, and their efforts at spreading awareness of the state’s technology initiatives throughout the U.S. and globally.

• Hollywood South: Entertainment Industry Brings $9.5B to Georgia

  February 22, 2018

  Still thinking about which films to check off on the Oscar ballot before awards season wraps up March 4 with the 90th Academy Awards? Consider “Baby Driver,” “I, Tonya,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “DeKalb Elementary.” They all were filmed in Georgia and contributed to the $9.5 billion the film industry brought to the state last year.

• Athens-based Barberitos Celebrates 18th Birthday

  February 21, 2018

  Barberitos Southwestern Grille & Cantina is celebrating its 18th birthday. Founder and CEO Downing Barber opened the first Barberitos location on February 20, 2000, in Athens, Ga. Since then, the company has grown to include almost 50 locations throughout Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina.

• Georgia Power Continue Building the Future of Energy with Innovative Smart Neighborhood Projects

  February 21, 2018

  Southern Company and its Alabama Power and Georgia Power subsidiaries have officially announced Smart Neighborhood initiatives that will provide customers with state-of-the-art home construction, distributed energy resources – including solar and battery energy storage – and smart home appliances and technologies.

• Record-breaking Year for Georgia’s International Trade

  February 20, 2018

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development released Georgia’s 2017 international trade numbers, which indicate another record breaking year. In 2017, total trade between Georgia and the world reached 225 unique countries and territories, exceeding $128.6 billion.

• City Leaders Gain Critical Knowledge through UGA Partnership

  February 20, 2018

  More than 250 first-time mayors and city council members from Georgia cities gathered in Athens last week for the two-day Newly Elected Officials Institute, held every February to teach new leaders the basics of effective governance.

• UGA Students Raise More Than $1M for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

  February 19, 2018

  More than 3,000 students representing more than 50 student organizations gathered in the Tate Student Center Grand Hall Sunday morning to celebrate raising $1,261,077.18 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. This is the third year in a row that UGA Miracle, the University of Georgia’s largest student-run philanthropy, has achieved a seven-figure fundraising total.

• University System Saves Students More Than $18M a Year in Free Textbooks

  February 19, 2018

  The University System of Georgia is saving students more than $18 million a year with its free online textbook initiative called Affordable Learning Georgia.

• Whats Going on in Athens This Weekend

  February 16, 2018

  Still wanting to celebrate Valentine's Day with your special someone? It's not too late! Athens, GA has a wide selection of performances and events sure to rejuvenate and inspire.

• Chairman Jason Shaw Introduces Legislation to Create the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation

  February 16, 2018

  State Representative Jason Shaw (R-Lakeland) introduced legislation that would create the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation.

• Delta Pays Employees More Than $1B in Profit Sharing for Fourth Consecutive Year

  February 15, 2018

  Delta Air Lines will pay out more than $1 billion in profit sharing for the fourth year in a row and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments made possible by its more than 80,000 employees around the world.

• UGA Conference to Highlight Community Leadership Innovations, Best Practices

  February 14, 2018

  In 2013, the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce wanted to take its adult community leadership program, Leadership Dawson, to the next level.

• UGA Extension, Mercer University Partner to Recruit Future Doctors for Rural Georgia

  February 13, 2018

  Jean Sumner is a third-generation rural doctor. As a child, she watched her grandfather and father care for the residents of Washington County, Georgia. She followed in their footsteps and became a “small-town doctor,” the kind who knows your mother, sits behind you in church and roots for the local football team.

• Secretary of State Brian Kemp Announces Record-Breaking Month of Annual Business Registrations

  February 12, 2018

  Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced a record-breaking month of annual business registrations. In the month of January, the Corporations Division processed over 216,000 annual business registrations – more registrations in one month’s time than ever before.

• Georgia Quail Hunt Celebrates 30th Anniversary

  February 09, 2018

  Area leaders were on hand this week to welcome 27 site selection professionals to Southwest Georgia, not only for the world-class quail hunting but more importantly to learn about the potential for doing business in the region. It’s all part of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 30th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt in Albany.

• Exporting Provides Opportunity for Growth for Rural Companies in Georgia

  February 08, 2018

  Even the basics of international commerce felt foreign to Bruce Roberts. He knew how to ship something via UPS but didn’t have a clue how international ocean freight worked. He didn’t know how helpful a Skype account or making a website friendly to international customers could be in attracting overseas clients.

• UGA School of Law to Host Annual Public Interest Law Conference February 17th

  February 06, 2018

  The University of Georgia School of Law will host the 13th Annual Working in the Public Interest Law Conference February 17 in the Larry Walker Room of Dean Rusk Hall starting at 8:30 a.m. This year’s conference will focus on the intersection of poverty, criminal justice and community.

• The Georgia Ports Authority Wants to More Than Double Container Capacity by 2028

  February 06, 2018

  At the 50th annual Georgia Foreign Trade Conference Monday, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch reviewed the strategic plan for Georgia's ports that will allow for 10 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, 1 million rail lifts, and more than 1 million auto and machinery units per year.