September 2018 Features

  • PrimeTime Expo Provides Businesses With Networking Opportunities

    September 28, 2018

    Even with the growth of social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, face-to-face interaction is still the best way for business professionals to connect with potential customers. The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce is providing the chance for small to large businesses to network during its annual PrimeTime Business Expo on Oct 4, at the Rainwater Conference Center.

  • Valdosta Grows Jobs in August

    September 27, 2018

    Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta added jobs and drove down its unemployment rate in August. At the same time, the four-county metropolitan statistical area saw its unemployment claims shrink. All indicators still remain positive for the year.

  • Georgia Bio Appoints Maria Thacker Acting President and CEO

    September 27, 2018

    Georgia Bio announced that Maria Thacker Goethe has assumed the role of Acting President and CEO for the trade association and the Georgia BioEd Institute. She will also remain in her capacity as Executive Director for the Georgia Global Health Alliance.

  • Moody Air Force Ball Celebrates Heritage, History

    September 26, 2018

    Team Moody celebrated the Air Force’s 71st birthday during the annual Air Force Ball, Sept. 15th in Valdosta. The ball recognized the service’s inception on Sept. 18, 1947, when President Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, which established the USAF as a separate military service.

  • Georgia Production Partnership Announces South Georgia Regional Meeting Location

    September 24, 2018

    As Georgia’s booming film industry continues to break records; Georgia Production Partnership announces the South Georgia Regional Meeting, to showcase the opportunity the film industry brings to all of Georgia. The GPP Regional Meeting sponsored by the Georgia Film Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, is being presented in cooperation with the Valdosta State University Film and Video Society.

  • Former Commander of NSA Georgia to Lead Georgia Cyber Center

    September 24, 2018

    Col. Eric Toler, former commander of NSA Georgia, has been named executive director of the Georgia Cyber Center. He will begin his new position on Oct. 1st. In his new role, Col. Toler will work with Augusta University, Augusta Technical College and Georgia Technology Authority executive stakeholders to define and execute the overall strategy, vision, mission and goals for the center’s programs and partnerships.

  • Georgia Named Top State for Business for Fifth Consecutive Year

    September 21, 2018

    Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Georgia has been named the No. 1 state for business for the fifth year in a row by Area Development, a leading corporate site selection and facility planning publication. Deal was joined by Area Development publisher and president Dennis J. Shea to make the announcement at the 2018 State of the Ports Address in Savannah.

  • Georgia Ports Plan 8 Million TEU Capacity by 2028

    September 21, 2018

    At the Savannah State of the Port event, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch thanked Governor Deal for his leadership and detailed GPA's 10-year, $2.5 billion plan to expand the capacity of the nation's fastest growing and single largest container terminal from 5.5 million twenty-foot equivalent unit containers to 8 million.

  • Georgia's Graduation Rate Rises to All-Time High

    September 20, 2018

    Georgia’s high school graduation rate increased again in 2018, rising to 81.6 percent from 80.6 percent in 2017. This is an all-time high for Georgia’s graduation rate since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation now required by federal law. Seventy-four Georgia school districts recorded 2018 graduation rates at or above 90 percent.

  • Georgia Labor Market Sets Records in August

    September 20, 2018

    Georgia Labor Commissioner, Mark Butler, said Thursday that Georgia’s unemployment rate for August dipped below the national number for the first time in 11 years.

  • Easterseals Announces New CEO John McCain

    September 19, 2018

    The Board of Directors of Easterseals Southern Georgia, Inc. is proud to announce the selection of John McCain as its Chief Executive Officer. In this role, McCain will lead the local organization into the future as a continued leading provider of disability services in Southern Georgia and the Big Bend of Florida.

  • John Schuerholz and Frank Blake Named 2019 Georgia Trustees

    September 19, 2018

    The Georgia Historical Society announced that Frank Blake, retired Chairman and CEO of The Home Depot, and John Schuerholz, Vice-chairman emeritus of the Atlanta Braves, will be inducted as the newest Georgia Trustees on February 16th, 2019, at the Trustees Gala in Savannah. It is the highest honor the State of Georgia can confer.

  • John McNair Named President & CEO of Community Bankers Association of Georgia

    September 18, 2018

    The Community Bankers Association of Georgia announced that John McNair, executive vice president of member relations at the Independent Community Bankers of America in Washington, D.C., was named CBA president and CEO.

  • Amazon Storefronts: Over a Million Products From Nearly 20,000 U.S. Small Businesses From All 50 States

    September 18, 2018

    Amazon opens “Amazon Storefronts,” a new store for customers to shop exclusively from U.S. small and medium-sized businesses selling on Amazon.

  • Ron Zaccari’s Fine Art Works Fill Turner Center Galleries Today

    September 17, 2018

    The Turner Center for the Arts will host the fine arts collection of Ron Zaccari in a free Gallery Opening Reception on today, September 17th, from 5-7 p.m., marking the first time that a solo artist has been featured in all five rotating galleries at the Turner Center.

  • GeorgiaForward Forum Focuses on Engaging Georgia's Next Generation of Leaders

    September 17, 2018

    Are you ready for a different kind of leadership conference to help chart Georgia’s future? Make plans now to attend the 2018 GeorgiaForward Forum.

  • Governor Deal Announces New Supreme Court & Appeals Court Appointments

    September 17, 2018

    Gov. Nathan Deal announced the appointment of the Honorable Charlie Bethel as a justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Bethel will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice P. Harris Hines. Deal also announced the appointment of the Honorable Christian A. Coomer to the Court of Appeals of Georgia to fill the vacancy created by Bethel’s appointment.

  • YEA! Ignites Spirit of Entrepreneurship

    September 14, 2018

    The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce is pleased to offer the Young Entrepreneurs Academy for its second year to transform middle and high school students into business owners as part of a weekly entrepreneurship education class beginning this fall.

  • Georgia Chamber Named State Chamber of the Year

    September 14, 2018

    The Council of State Chambers, named the Georgia Chamber of Commerce the 2018 State Chamber of Year at its annual award ceremony held in New Orleans, Louisiana.

  • Rep. Austin Scott Presses Defense Appropriations Conference Committee to Prioritize A-10 Wing Replacement

    September 13, 2018

    Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, joined twelve of his colleagues in sending a bicameral letter to the Defense Appropriations Conference Committee urging funding for the replacement of A-10C Thunderbolt II “Warthog” wings to be included in the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) Defense Appropriations bill.

  • Georgia Chamber Announces the Launch of the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition

    September 13, 2018

    The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition, a statewide advocacy group focused on ensuring the long-term viability and success of Georgia’s screen entertainment industry.

  • Board of Regents Recommends $1.3M for Design of Performing Arts Center at VSU

    September 12, 2018

    Valdosta State University received initial support for a brand new, state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center designed to enhance the arts, tourism, and economic development in South Georgia when the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia recommended $1.3 million in design-phase funding on Tuesday.

  • University System of Georgia Announces Creation of Georgia FinTech Academy

    September 12, 2018

    Chancellor Steve Wrigley and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia announced the formation of the Georgia FinTech Academy. The academy is a statewide initiative to create a talent pipeline for Georgia’s fast-growing financial technology (fintech) business sector.

  • Attorney General Pledges to Work Toward Health Care Options That Protect Georgians’ Interests

    September 12, 2018

    As Attorney General, I am committed to upholding the rule of law with each decision I make in order to protect the basic principles upon which our nation is founded. It is in keeping with this commitment that I have joined a multi-state coalition challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, a terribly flawed law that has left Georgians with skyrocketing insurance premiums and dwindling access to health care.

  • Delta Flew a Record Number of Customers This Summer. Here's How.

    September 10, 2018

    Saying this summer was a busy one would be a significant understatement. No matter how you slice the data — number of customers carried, flights flown, destinations served, irregular operation days handled — there were records made and broken during the all-important period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.