Features
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Athens Breaks Jobs Records in April
May 29, 2018
Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Athens prospered even as the state saw generally down numbers in April for several cities. In April, the Athens unemployment rate fell sharply, the number of employed residents continued to grow and total jobs climbed to a record-setting number.
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Delta Offering More Trans-Atlantic Flying Than Ever
May 29, 2018
Memorial Day weekend marked the start of Delta's biggest ever summer on the trans-Atlantic. Some 11 routes – both new and old favorites – will begin over the next couple of days connecting the U.S. and nine countries in Europe.
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U.S. CEOs' Confidence Soars As Hunt For Sustained Growth Continues
May 29, 2018
U.S. chief executives are highly confident in the growth prospects for their companies over the next three years and will focus on M&A and collaborative efforts such as accelerator or incubator programs for startup firms to achieve sustained growth, according to a study released today by KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm.
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Georgia Banks & Industry Groups Applaud Dodd-Frank Rollback
May 24, 2018
Georgia-based community banks, regional banks, and industry groups are applauding the significant rollback of Dodd-Frank Act regulations. As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) helped craft the bipartisan rollback plan, which included three of his provisions. The rollback plan now heads to President Trump’s desk to become law.
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Georgia DOT Restricts Construction-Related Closures Statewide During Memorial Day Holiday Weekend
May 24, 2018
To ease Memorial Day weekend traffic congestion, the Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending construction-related lane closures from Friday, May 25th through Tuesday, May 29th on Interstate Highways, and limiting lane closures on state routes that directly serve major tourist and recreation centers.
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Barberitos Sets Sales Record on Cinco De Mayo
May 23, 2018
Barberitos, a fast-growing restaurant franchise specializing in burritos, tacos and quesadillas, had its two best sales days ever during this year's Cinco de Mayo celebration. Gross sales on Saturday, May 5, broke the previous storewide sales record that was set only the day before.
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Walk, Run or Ride the Firefly Trail on May 24th
May 22, 2018
Everyone is invited to explore the new Firefly Trail at a free event Thursday, May 24th, from 6:30-8 p.m. on the new trail in East Athens. All parts of the nearly 1-mile first segment of the trail are open and in use, from East Broad Street to Old Winterville Road. Participants in Thursday's event are invited to start at any point and go at their own pace for as much of the trail as they wish.
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Zillow: Federal Tax Cut Will Inject Nearly $40B into the Housing Market
May 21, 2018
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted at the end of last year could result in tens of billions of dollars being reinvested into the housing market, according to the Zillow Housing Aspirations Report. This is despite the fact that legislation expressly limited a number of longstanding tax benefits for homeowners.
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Financial Technology Report Shows Georgia Leads as Global FinTech Hub
May 17, 2018
The Technology Association of Georgia, the state's leading association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of Georgia's technology industry, has unveiled its 2018 State of Georgia's FinTech Ecosystem Report.
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GDOT Commissioner: Georgia Well-Positioned for Infrastructure Plan
May 15, 2018
This week is National Infrastructure Week. There will be events across the nation to bring awareness to the criticality of infrastructure conditions and the need for investment. The Georgia Department of Transportation is focused on improving both the state of good repair of our infrastructure and investing in mobility enhancements to our transportation network in order to facilitate growth and improve the quality of life for all Georgians.
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ACG Atlanta Announces 40 Fastest-Growing Companies in Georgia
May 14, 2018
The Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, a global professional organization with the mission of Driving Middle-Market Growth, announced the 2018 Georgia Fast 40, recognizing the top 40 fastest-growing middle-market companies in Georgia.
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Georgia’s 2017 Tourism Economic Impact Tops $63M, Breaks Records
May 08, 2018
Gov. Nathan Deal announced that the state’s tourism industry generated a record-breaking $63.1 billion in economic impact in 2017, for an increase of 3.8 percent over last year, according to the U.S. Travel Association and Tourism Economics.
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The Home Depot Co-founder: Profits are Not the Only Measure of Success
May 07, 2018
American businesses are giving and doing more than ever before, like the hundreds of companies that have pledged bonuses, raises, new or expanded benefits, or price reductions since December, when Congress retooled the federal tax code for the first time in 30 years. Those responses are tremendous—they could mean a family’s first vacation or provide hope of paying down medical expenses or debt—but understand that business need not rely on unexpected windfalls before realizing the benefits of giving back.
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Governor Signs $26 Billion State Budget
May 03, 2018
Gov. Nathan Deal held budget signing ceremonies in Atlanta, Acworth, Blue Ridge, Statesboro and Tifton for next year’s $26 billion state budget. HB 684, the FY 2019 budget, continues Deal’s efforts to invest in Georgia’s citizens and its economy through education and transportation initiatives.
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Georgia's Credit Unions Finish 2017 with Strong Loan Growth
May 02, 2018
Georgia credit unions finished 2017 with strong loan growth aided by near cyclical highs in U.S. consumer confidence. Lending at Georgia credit unions grew by 1.8 percent in the fourth quarter – eclipsing the third quarter’s 1.5 percent rate but landing short of the 3.2 percent rate in the fourth quarter of 2016, according to data collected by the Credit Union National Association.
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Billy Payne’s Olympian Triumph
May 01, 2018
The story of Atlanta’s emergence as an international city began, as unlikely triumphs often do, with one man’s improbable dream. And yet, William Porter “Billy” Payne was not known as a dreamer. In fact, before 1987—when he resolved to bring the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games to Atlanta, in defiance of all odds—the then-middle-aged real estate lawyer wasn’t widely known at all.
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Athens Posts Great March Job Numbers
April 27, 2018
Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Athens set more records in March as most of its critical job measures trended in the right direction again.
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Zaxby’s Announces New Chief Marketing Officer
April 26, 2018
Zaxby’s Franchising LLC is excited to announce that Joel Bulger has joined the company as the company’s first Chief Marketing Officer. In this new role, Joel will lead the marketing team to strengthen digital and social platforms and drive results through advertising and strategic partnerships.
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Georgia Employers Association Legal & Benefits Workshop Covers the Bases for Georgia Employers
April 26, 2018
Georgia's thriving economy is producing excellent opportunities for business and associated challenges for business leaders and human resource professionals. Competition for the best employees is intense and the regulatory and legal environment continues to change rapidly. The upcoming Georgia Employers' Association Legal and Benefits Workshop is intended to help Georgia businesses keep all of the bases covered.
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SOS Brian Kemp Announces Commission Members to Review Georgia's Next Voting System
April 25, 2018
Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced his list of appointees to the Secure, Accessible & Fair Elections Commission, which is tasked with studying options for Georgia’s next voting system. The SAFE Commission will conduct thorough discussions on all options – including the feasibility of using all hand-marked paper ballots to all electronic machines with a voter-verified paper trail – and travel the state to solicit feedback from stakeholders.
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Georgia Chamber Launches Scorecard Website for 2017-18 Session
April 24, 2018
The Georgia Chamber of Commerce launches its Scorecard website recapping the 2017-2018 Legislative Session and how each legislator voted on top-priority bills for the organization.
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Piedmont Athens Generates $375M for Local and State Economy
April 23, 2018
Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center generated more than $375 million in revenue for the local and state economy in 2016, according to a report by the Georgia Hospital Association.
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AG Chris Carr: We Must Continue Efforts to Strengthen State's Response to the Opioid Epidemic
April 23, 2018
As the former Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, I am very proud of the fact that our state is the top state in the nation in which to do business. The recognition highlights the collaborative mindset we apply to economic development in our state, and it highlights the many opportunities that our Georgia families enjoy as a result of having a thriving business environment.
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State Economic Competitiveness Rankings Reveal Upward Standings Tied to Federal Tax Reform
April 23, 2018
The American Legislative Exchange Council released the much anticipated 2018 edition of Rich States, Poor States. Utah again earns the top spot for states with the best economic outlook, followed by Idaho, Indiana, North Dakota and Arizona. Several states' success in increased rankings can be tied directly to the success of federal tax reform and the resources it gave to lawmakers to cut taxes at the state level.
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Second Annual Embark Georgia Leadership Conference Set for May
April 20, 2018
A statewide program that supports young people who have been homeless or in foster care pursue their educational goals will again hold its annual leadership conference at UGA.