February 2021 Features

• Isakson Gift Caps $4.5 Million Fundraising Effort for Parkinson’s Research Chair

  February 25, 2021

  The University of Georgia’s campaign to create the John H. “Johnny” Isakson Chair for Parkinson’s Research and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar position reached its goal of $4.5 million in private commitments, and the final contributor was the former U.S. Senator for whom the chair is named.

• Georgia Companies Should Prioritize International Opportunities for Growth in 2021

  February 25, 2021

  2020 posed unique challenges for business worldwide, particularly small businesses across Georgia. This is certainly true of Georgia exporters, who had to navigate unprecedented disruption in key markets around the world.

• Athens Business Leaders Invited to Local Event Solving Local Issues

  February 24, 2021

  Creature Comforts Brewing and goBeyondProfit will host a business collaboration event on Thursday, February 25 at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Attendees will gain a greater understanding of some of Athens’ burning community issues, an introduction to a replicable model for collective problem solving and opportunities to collaborate with other area businesses.

• Georgia’s Banks Post Gains in Loans, Deposits, Assets for 2020

  February 24, 2021

  Georgia’s 157 FDIC-insured banks closed out 2020 with increased loans, deposits and assets at year-end compared to 2019. According the latest FDIC data, loans were up 10%, deposits grew by 22%, and assets increased by 17% in 2020.

• UGA Honors Late Judge Horace Johnson at Annual Leadership Conference

  February 24, 2021

  The University of Georgia J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development presented its 2021 Innovations in Community Leadership Award posthumously to Superior Court Judge Horace J. Johnson Jr. in honor of his commitment to developing leaders and strengthening his hometown of Newton County and communities across Georgia.

• Providing Georgia with a 21st Century Transportation System

  February 23, 2021

  Accessibility and connectivity are critical factors in a region’s quality of life and economic competitiveness. Over the last decade, Georgia has experienced remarkable progress in developing its transportation and infrastructure network.

• Securing Connections in an Unsecured World: Georgia’s Europe Office Opens Transatlantic Dialogue on Cybersecurity

  February 22, 2021

  As a part of the Digital Business Association out of Berlin, SIBB’s “Berlin Meets the USA” event series, the Georgia Department of Economic Development hosted a cybersecurity-focused webinar in January.

• Georgia Film and Television Production off to Strong Start in 2021

  February 19, 2021

  Despite the worldwide pandemic bringing Georgia’s film and television industries to a complete halt in March of 2020, there are very positive signs for Georgia’s production world in 2021. More than 35 scripted film and television projects are already in the works, and stage space is quickly being snapped up for future projects.

• Following An Unexpected Rebound In M&A, Businesses Are Banking On A New Kind Of Dealmaking For Growth In A Post-Covid World

  February 19, 2021

  2020 was a volatile year for M&A, with an almost complete halt in deal activity in the early months of the Covid-19 crisis and a rebound in the second half of the year, when deal value rose by more than 30% in the third and fourth quarters. Bain & Company's new survey of nearly 300 M&A practitioners shows that appetite for M&A remains robust, with about half of respondents expecting higher M&A activity in their industries in 2021.

• UGA Launches Streamlined Tech Licensing for Startups

  February 18, 2021

  The University of Georgia’s Innovation District is offering a new tool to support university entrepreneurs pursuing commercialization of their research discoveries. Georgia Startup License is an express program that combines business and technical assistance with a streamlined technology licensing process to help UGA startups get off the ground.

• Georgia Research Alliance Marks 30 Years of Impact

  February 18, 2021

  Thirty years of investment in university research and entrepreneurship is paying big dividends for the State of Georgia, according to metrics released by the Georgia Research Alliance.

• National State of the Workforce Report Highlights Georgia’s Accomplishments

  February 18, 2021

  The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) released its bi-annual State of the Workforce Report yesterday outlining how the workforce agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands assisted American workers through one of the worst economic downturns our country has experienced.

• Georgia Made a Symbol of Community Pride, Quality

  February 17, 2021

  Nearly one year after celebrating Georgia Made Day at the State Capitol, the program has become a point of pride for manufacturing companies and Georgians in every corner of the state. Georgia Made also provides businesses with opportunities for additional support in logistics, manufacturing and marketing of goods produced in Georgia.

• Georgia Ranked Top 10 Exporting State in 2020 for First Time

  February 16, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that the State of Georgia ranked among the United States’ Top Ten exporting states in 2020 for the first time. Georgia merchandise exports reached 215 unique countries and territories and experienced the lowest rate of export contraction among all top ten states, despite headwinds from a global pandemic.

• In SK Plant, Trade Secret Thief Gives Georgia False Choice Between Jobs and Justice

  February 16, 2021

  The future is electric, and Georgia has spent a great deal of energy—and hundreds of millions in development incentives—to secure its position in the economy of tomorrow as a high-tech manufacturing corridor.

• Chief Justice Melton to Leave Supreme Court

  February 15, 2021

  Chief Justice Harold D. Melton announced that he will leave the Supreme Court of Georgia effective July 1st. In a statement to court staff and the Georgia Judicial Council – the policy-making body for the state’s judicial branch of government – he said he does not yet know what he will do next.

• Governor Brian Kemp & Georgia Historical Society President Dr. W. Todd Groce Appoint 2021 Georgia Trustees

  February 12, 2021

  On the eve of Georgia Day, celebrating the 288th anniversary of the founding of the Georgia colony, The Honorable Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia, and Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society, officially appointed David P. Abney and Juanita Powell Baranco as the 2021 Georgia Trustees in a signing ceremony at the Georgia State Capitol.

• Rebuilding with Resilience: Deloitte Report Reveals How Organizations Can Better Prepare for Future Disruption

  February 12, 2021

  Released today, Deloitte's 2021 Resilience Report explores how organizations have coped with the tumultuous events of 2020 and identifies the traits that characterize a resilient organization—traits business leaders can cultivate in order to build greater resilience into their own companies

• UGA Announces 2021 Alumni Awards Recipients

  February 11, 2021

  The University of Georgia Alumni Association has announced eight recipients of the 2021 Alumni Awards, an annual program dating back to 1936 that recognizes individuals and organizations who demonstrate a commitment to the university. The 2021 honorees are:

• Delta to Take Guesswork Out of Travel with Digital Concierge; Test-drives New Pilot with CLEAR

  February 11, 2021

  Delta is applying its vision to deliver a digital concierge for customers – first unveiled at CES 2020 – to anticipate and address the evolving travel needs brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• ESP Bravely Pivots to Create One of a Kind Online Event

  February 10, 2021

  Extra Special People presents its 14th annual Big Hearts fundraiser virtually this year, amidst COVID-19 pandemic. This event will be available for anyone to stream online. Guest appearances include Spider-Man himself, Tom Holland, and the rest of the Holland family. Jake Johnson, actor from New Girl, and Josh Murray and Aaron Murray will also make guest appearances by interviewing ESP performers.

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce Appoints Suzanne Clark Next CEO

  February 10, 2021

  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced Suzanne Clark will become the next chief executive officer of the world’s largest business organization, effective March 11th, the date of the organization’s next Board of Directors meeting.

• St. Mary's Good Samaritan Foundation Launches "Go RED for Good Sam" to Uplift Colleagues During February

  February 09, 2021

  St. Mary's Good Samaritan Foundation and Board of Directors have launched the "Go RED For Good Sam" campaign during the month of February, National Heart Month, to honor Good Samaritan Hospital's health care workers.

• Employee Well-being is Major Priority for Many CEOs of High Performing Companies

  February 09, 2021

  Focus on talent, technology and partnerships can be key to thrive post-COVID-19 pandemic, according to insights from 3,000 CEOs

• Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan Announces Application Process for Partnership for Inclusive Innovation Grants

  February 08, 2021

  Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan announced the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation is now accepting applications for pilot program grant funding.