May 2019 Features

• Small Businesses Gain Big Wins from Community Involvement

  May 31, 2019

  Strapped and under-resourced small businesses might have the very most to gain from community involvement. Authentic outreach can be a powerful way to expand the company’s relationship network, raise business awareness and build loyalty among customers and employees. goBeyondProfit’s Corporate Generosity Research Report cites that 71 percent of Georgia’s employed adults prefer to buy products from companies who are generous to the community.

• 2021 MLB All-Star Game Awarded to Atlanta & SunTrust Park

  May 31, 2019

  Major League Baseball announced Atlanta as host to the 2021 MLB All-Star Game. The annual matchup between the American League and National League’s top athletes will be played at SunTrust Park. This marks the third time Atlanta welcomes the Midsummer Classic, the first since 2000.

• Invesco to Expand Atlanta Global HQ with 500 Jobs and $70M Investment

  May 31, 2019

  Governor Brian Kemp announced that Invesco, one of the world’s leading investment managers, plans to significantly expand its global headquarters in Atlanta, adding 500 jobs and investing $70 million as part of a major expansion of its business.

• VSU Investment Club Gives Students Real Stock Market Experience

  May 30, 2019

  When it comes to learning about financial investments, games and virtual simulations are helpful, but nothing comes close to the learning experience of investing with real money, said Dr. Elvan Aktas, professor of finance and director of graduate programs at Valdosta State University’s Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration.

• Georgia Public Policy Foundation Releases Study on Healthcare Waivers for Georgia

  May 30, 2019

  The Georgia Public Policy Foundation has long advocated for market-oriented solutions to Georgia’s healthcare challenges. As one way of accomplishing this goal, the Foundation supports the use of a Section 1332 State Innovation Waiver under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Georgia General Assembly has authorized Gov. Brian Kemp to use this tool to pursue more flexibility in how Georgia administers certain aspects of the ACA.

• Reynolds Lake Oconee to Host Second Annual Reynolds Cup, October 1st-3rd

  May 30, 2019

  The second annual Reynolds Cup presented by National Car Rental, a golf tournament for leaders in business who thrive on the competition and camaraderie that are the spirit of the game, is set for Oct. 1-3 at Reynolds Lake Oconee, the award-winning golf community and destination resort between Atlanta and Augusta.

• Proposed Legislation Designed to Help Americans Prepare for Retirement

  May 29, 2019

  U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) joined Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut Tuesday and re-introduced bipartisan legislation that he says will help Americans ensure they do not outlive their retirement savings.

• 11th Annual Historic Preservation Award Winners Announced

  May 28, 2019

  May of each year is National Historic Preservation Month and this year’s theme is “This Place Matters,” a campaign for showcasing one’s favorite historic building. The city of Valdosta is celebrating with the 11th annual Historic Preservation Awards. These awards are given to a select few who have gone above and beyond to rehabilitate and preserve a particular contributing historic building or construct a new building which blends well with the historic character of the District.

• Global Payments and TSYS Combine to Form Leading Pure Play Payments Technology Company

  May 28, 2019

  Global Payments, a leading worldwide provider of payment technology and software solutions, and TSYS, a leading global payments provider offering innovative solutions across the issuing, merchant and consumer segments, announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine in an all-stock merger of equals.

• Senators Isakson, Perdue Secure Long-Awaited Disaster Aid Funding for Georgia

  May 24, 2019

  U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and David Perdue, R-Ga., praised Senate approval of critical disaster relief funding for Georgia and other states impacted by hurricanes, wildfires, floods and other natural disasters. Isakson and Perdue have fought for months to secure disaster funding for Georgia, which was devastated by Hurricane Michael in October 2018.

• Beer Industry Contributes $8.1B Annually to Georgia's Economy

  May 23, 2019

  Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $8.1 billion annually to Georgia's economy and supports 54,084 jobs in the state.

• Georgia Credit Union Affiliates Awards Volunteer of Year to Southeastern Credit Union Board Chair

  May 22, 2019

  Georgia Credit Union Affiliates, the state trade association for credit unions, recently awarded a 2018 Volunteer of the Year distinction to Anthony Payton, Board member for Southeastern Credit Union.

• SGRC Receives 2019 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award

  May 22, 2019

  The Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC) in Valdosta has been awarded a 2019 Excellence in Regional Transportation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) for the Southern Georgia Regional Transportation Sales Tax Initiative.

• Sen. Isakson Talks Middle East, Trade, National Security, Disaster Aid, Veterans

  May 21, 2019

  U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., outlined top pressing national and state priorities in an episode of the “Inside the Box” podcast on Thursday. During the interview, Isakson shared his views on his recent trip to Iraq, the increased tensions with Iran, his leadership on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, U.S. trade relationships, national security and his work to secure federal disaster aid for Georgia.

• Coleman Talley LLP Wins 8th Consecutive Georgia Legal Food Frenzy with Record Breaking Point Total

  May 20, 2019

  Attorney General Chris Carr announced that Valdosta-based law firm Coleman Talley LLP won the Grand Prize in the 2019 Georgia Legal Food Frenzy Competition, a statewide effort among legal organizations to raise money for Georgia’s food banks. Coleman Talley received the Bar President’s Award for the third year in a row, having raised $34,250.

• AG Chris Carr: Georgia Legal Food Frenzy Generates 1.7 Million Meals for Children in Need

  May 20, 2019

  Attorney General Chris Carr announced that law firms and legal organizations across Georgia raised a record breaking 419,321 dollars and 17,617 pounds of food during the 8th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy. This is the equivalent of 1.7 million meals for Georgia’s food banks and a 9.5 percent increase from last year.

• Valdosta Youth Council Completes Productive Fourth Year

  May 17, 2019

  The 15-member Valdosta Youth Council (VYC), initiated by Mayor John Gayle in 2015, successfully completed the 2018-2019 academic year with a variety of accomplishments. The VYC, now in its fourth program year, was created for youth to build leadership skills and learn about civic responsibility, to gain a better understanding of municipal government, and to prepare youth for a lifetime of public and community service.

• Isakson, Perdue Help Secure $35M in Disaster Relief

  May 16, 2019

  Last week we wrote about the work U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA) are doing to secure much needed disaster relief funds for Georgia farmers impacted by Hurricane Michael.

• Gulfstream Reinforces Reliability And Capabilities With World Speed Record

  May 16, 2019

  Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the high-performing Gulfstream G550 recently established a new city-pair speed record, connecting Shanghai with Seattle in 10 hours and 29 minutes, bringing the number of records the jet has earned to 55.

• ACG Atlanta Announces 40 Fastest-Growing Companies In Georgia

  May 14, 2019

  The Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, announced the 2019 Georgia Fast 40, recognizing the top 40 fastest-growing middle-market companies in Georgia.

• Governor Kemp Signs Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

  May 13, 2019

  Governor Brian P. Kemp signed the fiscal year 2020 budget. Joined by lawmakers, law enforcement officials, educators, and local leaders in Camilla, Georgia, Governor Kemp's signature of the balanced budget caps a historic first legislative session.

• SGMC Provides Economic Stability & Growth

  May 09, 2019

  In 2017, South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta generated $790,166,384 in revenue for the local and state economy, according to a recently-released report by the Georgia Hospital Association, the state’s largest hospital trade association.

• General Assembly launches Georgia-Japan Legislative Caucus

  May 09, 2019

  James Magazine’s May-June issue includes a feature which highlights Georgia’s important economic relationship with Japan, and how the state has benefited significantly from the relationship with various industries, including the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

• Speaker Ralston Announces Members of the House Rural Development Council for 2019-2020 Term

  May 08, 2019

  Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) today announced the members of the House Rural Development Council for the 2019-2020 legislative term. This Council, which was reauthorized by House Resolution 214, will continue working with rural communities to find ways to encourage economic growth.

• UGA SBDC at VSU Offers Workshops in Federal, State, Local Government Contracts

  May 07, 2019

  The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University will present Doing Business with GDOT for Routine Maintenance Service Contracts-Procurement and Intro to Government Contracting and Small Business Certifications-Procurement on Tuesday, May 14th.