Features

• GMA President: Reaching the ‘Zone of High Aspirations’ with Resiliency

  August 18, 2020

  The logo for GMA’s virtual Annual Convention held last month featured the words, “Cities United: Rising with Resilience.” Although the theme was developed in response to the COVID-19 it can certainly apply to the broad array of challenges cities face every day.

• Georgia Safety Promise Reaches More Than 1,000 Commitments

  August 18, 2020

  As billboards and a variety of grassroots promotions continue across the state, the Georgia Safety Promise public-private partnership, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), has announced that more than 1,000 Georgia businesses, local authorities and officials throughout the state have committed to the Georgia Safety Promise.

• DPH Provides Report on COVID-19 Trends in Georgia

  August 17, 2020

  The Georgia Department of Public Health released new information regarding the fight against COVID-19 in Georgia.

• USG Board of Regents Endorses More than $39M in UGA Capital Projects for FY22

  August 14, 2020

  The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on Tuesday endorsed more than $39 million in FY 2022 capital projects that will enhance research, outreach and teaching opportunities across the University of Georgia.

• Council for Quality Growth Announces Date and Time for Prestigious Four Pillar Award

  August 14, 2020

  The Council for Quality Growth will honor Doug Hertz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of United Distributors, with its 31st annual Four Pillar Award virtually on October 1, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. His embodiment of the Council’s ‘Four Pillars’ of leadership – Quality, Responsibility, Vision and Integrity – and exemplification of the Council’s mission of promoting balanced and responsible growth sets an example for everyone.

• State Election Board Gives Unanimous Green Light to Online Absentee Ballot Portal

  August 13, 2020

  Georgia’s State Election Board unanimously voted to approve a rule authorizing the Secretary of State’s upcoming online absentee ballot request form portal.

• Athens-based Creature Comforts Opening Brewery and Taproom in Los Angeles

  August 12, 2020

  Creature Comforts Brewing Co., one of the fastest growing, respected and recognized new breweries in the U.S., today announces its expansion to Los Angeles with the planned opening of a new brewery and taproom. Slated for Summer 2021, this represents the first time that Creature Comforts, founded by the entrepreneurial trio of David Stein, Adam Beauchamp and Chris Herron, is expanding beyond its beloved home state of Georgia.

• CEOs: Post-Covid Changes are Permanent and There are More to Come

  August 12, 2020

  The need for business leaders and policy makers to fundamentally rethink the way they plan, invest and operate in the future is underlined in a new survey of 699 global CEOs released by PwC.

• GDOT Awards Nearly $1.35B in FY 2020, Includes $33.2M in Construction Contracts in June

  August 11, 2020

  In Fiscal Year 2020, the Georgia Department of Transportation awarded a total of 330 projects, valued at approximately $1.349 billion. This includes 299 projects valued at approximately $1.18 billion, of which three were Design Build projects totaling $142.6 million. The remaining 31 projects, worth approximately $169 million, were locally let.

• Chris Clark: How Small Businesses Recover and Become More Resilient

  August 11, 2020

  Growing up in Fitzgerald, I witnessed the evolution of entrepreneurial spirit as small businesses would open, some close, and new small businesses would take their place. There is an economic cycle of 20-years that supply and demand generally drive.

• Athens-Clarke County Residents Urged to Get Counted in 2020 Census Before New Sept. 30 Deadline

  August 10, 2020

  The Complete County Committee (CCC) of Athens-Clarke County is urging the 43.2% of county residents who have not yet responded to the 2020 Census to do so by the new September 30, 2020 deadline. Athens-Clarke County’s Census participation rate (56.8%) lags state (58.7%) and national completion rates (62.9%), putting the county at risk of losing critical funding and political influence.

• Atlanta Business Leader Thomas M. Holder Elected Georgia Historical Society Board Chairman

  August 10, 2020

  In an unprecedented, first-of-its-kind virtual gathering in the 181-year history of the Georgia Historical Society (GHS), the GHS Board of Curators met on July 30th via Zoom and elected Thomas M. Holder (Atlanta), Chairman and CEO of Holder Construction Company, as the new Board Chairman. Holder succeeds Walter M. “Sonny” Deriso, Jr. (Atlanta/Albany) who served as GHS Chairman from 2018–2020.

• U.S. Senator Tim Scott to Join Senior U.S. Senator David Perdue at the Georgia Chamber Congressional Luncheon on August 11th

  August 07, 2020

  The Georgia Chamber and senior U.S. Senator David Perdue announce that U.S. Senator Tim Scott will join the lineup of speakers at next Tuesday’s all-virtual Congressional Luncheon. Guest speakers for the luncheon will engage in a wide-ranging discussion on resiliency and recovery of the economy at the federal level.

• Gov. Kemp: Strong Start to Fiscal Year with $574 Million in New Investments, 3,629 Jobs Created

  August 07, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, today announced a strong start to the first month of fiscal year 2021, as the state attracted new investment projects. In the month of July, Georgia announced roughly $574 million in new investments and 3,629 new jobs created in nearly every region of the state.

• Georgia Tech’s New Georgia Smart Communities Challenge Winners Empower Development Throughout the State

  August 07, 2020

  Georgia Tech’s Georgia Smart Communities Challenge empowers local governments to think outside of the box and use innovation to improve their communities. So, it was only fitting that program administrators used technology to announce this year’s new grant recipients in an interactive virtual ceremony on August 6.

• GACVB Executive Director: Travel and Tourism – Getting The Economy Rolling Again

  August 06, 2020

  The jobs of our families, friends, and neighbors are in danger. A busy summer travel season has typically employed tens of thousands in our state, but this year’s new reality has put many Georgians out of work. With restrictions in place and understandable traveler concerns, the summer travel season has not been at its usual levels, even while travel businesses and employees take safety precautions and implement new health and safety protocols.

• Kevin Kastner: Georgia Power Remains Committed to Working with Customers Amid COVID-19 Concerns

  August 06, 2020

  Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia Power has recognized the extraordinary burden our customers have faced due to impacts from the coronavirus, and we continue to work to help all customers maintain service. Our teams are ready to assist our customers and answer any questions they may have about their account.

• Padgett Business Services Names Jeff Phillips New CEO

  August 04, 2020

  Padgett Business Services, one of North America’s largest accounting and business consulting providers, has named Jeff Phillips as the company’s new CEO. Phillips, an accomplished accounting industry leader and entrepreneur, will focus on franchisee support and growth, as well as increasing investments in new technologies and software to empower the Padgett brand.

• Chris Clark: New Talent for the New Georgia Economy

  August 04, 2020

  Talent and workforce have long been key factors in the decision of businesses to locate or expand in a community. When I first started in economic development in the 1990s, I quickly learned that the mantra for site consultants was “location-location-location.” However, as the years went on, the factor of ‘location’ was surpassed by the community's availability of a skilled workforce.

• Delta’s Corporate Responsibility Report Pledges Continued Commitment to Social Impact and Sustainability in Face of Pandemic

  August 03, 2020

  Delta’s 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report, released this week, highlights the airline’s continued commitment to employees, customers, sustainability and social impact.

• Governor Kemp Extends Public Health State of Emergency, Renews COVID-19 Restrictions

  August 03, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp signed two executive orders extending the Public Health State of Emergency and existing COVID-19 safety measures.

• Georgia Pays Out Over $11 Billion in Unemployment Benefits

  July 31, 2020

  The Georgia Department of Labor announced today it has paid out more than $11 billion in state and federal unemployment benefits since the middle of March. These payments include regular state unemployment insurance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, and State Extended Benefits.

• The Kessler Collection Debuts $375 Million Redevelopment Creating Savannah's New Entertainment District

  July 31, 2020

  The Kessler Collection's Plant Riverside District – the largest redevelopment in the history of Savannah's National Historic Landmark District – has officially opened as "Savannah's Entertainment District," a $375 million project expanding the city's iconic riverfront to a 4.5-acre waterfront hospitality and entertainment destination, anchored by the 419-room JW Marriott Savannah hotel.

• Survey: CEOs See Less Globalization, More Flexible Workforces, Broadened Corporate Missions in COVID-19’s Aftermath

  July 31, 2020

  According to a new global survey, CEOs and C-Suite executives think COVID-19’s fallout will result in leaner and more agile companies. Businesses will likely emerge from this pandemic using more contract workers and fewer permanent staff, and business travel will be reduced in favor of more videoconferencing.

• Georgia Ranked No. 1 in Film Production by Business Facilities Magazine

  July 30, 2020

  On the heels of the news that multiple Georgia-lensed productions have received nearly 50 total 2020 Emmy Award nominations, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Georgia has been ranked the No. 1 Film Production Leader by Business Facilities Magazine and prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic, was on pace for another record-setting year.

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