January 2021 Features

• a2b Fulfillment Celebrates 20 Years

  January 29, 2021

  a2b Fulfillment, an award-winning provider of order fulfillment, value-adding services and customer care, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month.

• Nearly $530 Million in PPP Loans Approved by SBA in Georgia in Current Round of Funding

  January 29, 2021

  As part of ongoing transparency of economic aid programs, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently released data summarizing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan approvals made through Jan. 24th.

• COVID-19 Update: Dr. Anthony Fauci Talks with Georgia’s Cities

  January 26, 2021

  In an interview with GMA’s Larry Hanson (Executive Director), Rusi Patel (General Counsel) and Kelli Bennett (Director of Communications) Dr. Anthony Fauci shared an inside look into the COVID-19 vaccines, his professional opinion on a return to normal and what local leaders can do to engage with and protect their communities.

• Savannah Moves More than 4.6M TEUs in 2020

  January 26, 2021

  The Georgia Ports Authority moved more than 4.68 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in 2020, up 1.8 percent over its 2019 total of 4.59 million. Total cargo crossing all docks in 2020 reached 38.4 million tons.

• a2b Fulfillment Named Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL for Six Straight Years

  January 25, 2021

  a2b Fulfillment has been named as a Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL for 2021, joining dozens of other leading third-party logistics providers selected by Multichannel Merchant. This is the sixth straight year a2b has been named Top 3PL by MCM.

• Governor Brian Kemp: Here's How We Kept Georgia Open for Business

  January 25, 2021

  One year ago, none of us could have imagined the challenges we would face as a nation. Here in Georgia — similar to the rest of the country — our economy was growing at a rapid pace, unemployment was at its lowest in state history, and more Georgians were finding high-quality, sustainable jobs.

• Chris Clark & Teresa White: The Reimagined New Georgia Economy

  January 22, 2021

  As 2021 unfolds, the Georgia Chamber remains true to our purpose of supporting job creation, economic mobility, growth, equality and free enterprise statewide. Most importantly, we continue to listen to Georgia businesses as we focus on recovery and resiliency for a reimagined new Georgia economy.

• goBeyondProfit: Action Steps to a Diverse Workplace

  January 22, 2021

  Replay this conversation over and over to discover tried and true programs and processes to implement as well as guidance to create a customizable check list of incremental steps forward.

• Athens Business Leaders Selected for UGA Alumni Association Bulldog 100

  January 21, 2021

  The Athens area is home to more than 10 percent of the top 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by University of Georgia alumni. In the UGA Alumni Association’s annual Bulldog 100 ranking, the Class of 2021 included the following Athens-area businesses:

• goBeyondProfit: Beyond Bias & Blind Spots

  January 21, 2021

  In this conversation, experts help you discover hidden obstacles to realizing the ideal workplace and share actionable steps to remove the barriers to success.

• W&A Engineering Hosting Socially Distanced Sculpture Unveiling Ceremony

  January 20, 2021

  In commemoration of W&A Engineering’s 20th Anniversary, and the relocation of their company headquarters into the historical Southern Mill Complex, W&A Engineering will be hosting a special outdoor sculpture unveiling ceremony on January 28th.

• Gov. Kemp Reports 16,000+ Jobs Created During First Half of Fiscal Year

  January 20, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), today announced that more than 16,000 jobs were created across all regions of the state by economic development projects in Georgia during the first half of fiscal year 2021, generating nearly $6 billion in new investments.

• goBeyondProfit: Impact of Racial Inequity at Work

  January 20, 2021

  A bit of history frames the discussion that leads to practical understanding of why conversations on race are vitally important in the optimal workplace.

• goBeyondProfit Releases Video Series Identifying Common Dynamics that Hurt Company Cultures & Hinder Success of Black & Other Diverse Employees

  January 19, 2021

  As follow up to their recent research report on Empathetic Leadership, goBeyondProfit has released a three-part video series offering business executive insights on common workplace practices and perspectives that hinder all employees, but in particular Black employees, from peak performance.

• Survey: America's CEOs Start 2021 Concerned About Taxes, Optimistic About Trade, & Eager to Return to the Office

  January 19, 2021

  As 2021 begins, a new survey from The Conference Board reveals the biggest issues that will keep business leaders up at night in the new year. CEOs in the United States are more worried about higher corporate taxes and increased regulation, but less worried about global political instability and disruptions to global trade.

• Despite Challenges, Georgia Ports Achieved Milestones in 2020

  January 15, 2021

  Despite unprecedented challenges in 2020, the Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) and its partners achieved many milestones.

• Georgia Plans to Provide Bonus Payment to Every Public School Teacher, School Staff Member

  January 15, 2021

  Governor Brian Kemp and State School Superintendent Richard Woods plan to provide a one-time, $1,000 bonus payment to every K-12 public-school teacher and school-level staff member in the state.

• SBA Re-Opening Paycheck Protection Program to Small Lenders & All Lenders on Tuesday

  January 15, 2021

  The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday. The portal will fully open on Tuesday, to all participating PPP lenders to submit First and Second Draw loan applications to SBA.

• Georgia Chamber Eggs and Issues Event Attracts over 3,000 Participants

  January 14, 2021

  The Georgia Chamber all-virtual Eggs and Issues event, presented by AT&T, Atlanta Gas Light, Chick-fil-A, Delta Air Lines, Inc., and Georgia Power aired virtually Wednesday to more than 3,000 business and community leaders across the state.

• Dr. Steve Wrigley Announces Plan to Retire as Chancellor of the University System of Georgia

  January 13, 2021

  University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Steve Wrigley announced plans to retire July 1st, after 36 years in public service.

• St. Mary’s Honors Three Colleagues with System’s Highest Awards

  January 07, 2021

  St. Mary’s Health Care System recently presented its highest honors to three colleagues and leaders for their outstanding commitment to the system’s Mission and Core Values and for their dedication to patients, colleagues and the community.

• Georgia Farm Bureau Honors Sen. Isakson with Commodity Award

  January 07, 2021

  On Dec. 17th, former U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson received the 2020 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Commodity Award in a private presentation at his Atlanta office. The GFB Commodity Award, one of the organization’s highest honors, is given to individuals who have supported and promoted Georgia agriculture.

• Oconee State Bank Establishes Foundation to Commemorate 60th Anniversary

  January 06, 2021

  In a demonstration of commitment to the local community and to commemorate 60 years of service, Oconee State Bank announced the establishment of The Remarkable Foundation.