November 2023 Features

• Signature Choice Realty Hosting 2nd Annual Jacket Drive

  November 30, 2023

  Local beneficiaries include Moulton Branch Elementary School and The Children's Advocacy Center Valdosta - Janice MacMillan, owner of Signature Choice Realty is seeking youth jacket donations for their 2nd Annual Jacket Drive, now through December 18th.

• Georgia Ranks Second as the Most Entrepreneurial State in America

  November 30, 2023

  Research by project management experts at The Digital Project Manager analyzed eight indicators for how entrepreneurial a state is; these included the percentage of the population that started a new business, the percentage of start-ups still active after one year, number of small businesses per 100,000 of the population, growth rate of business applications as well as others.

• Valdosta Transforms into a Winter Wonderland This Christmas Season

  November 28, 2023

  The Capital of South Georgia will transform into a magical Christmas wonderland this holiday season. With millions of lights, decorations, sweet treats and jolly visits from Santa, Valdosta is the ultimate Christmas destination for festive family fun.

• Georgia Chamber Foundation Releases War for Talent Economic Report

  November 28, 2023

  Today, the Georgia Chamber Foundation, the state’s leading economic research organization, announced the release of its Fourth Quarter Economic Report highlighting the strength of Georgia’s position in the global War for Talent.

• City of Valdosta to be the Next Stop for Young GameChangers Program

  November 27, 2023

  If you are a local young leader seeking personal and professional growth while making a difference in the community, then Young Gamechangers is for you! Here is your chance to significantly impact the future of Valdosta. The 2024 Young Gamechangers is accepting applications.

• GEDA Hosts Annual Awards to Recognize Exceptional Individual Achievements & the Top Deals of the Year

  November 27, 2023

  At its Annual Awards luncheon, the Georgia Economic Developers Association recognized top deals of the year and excellence by individuals. Awards included the Deals of the Year, Committee Chair and Member of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Rip Wiley Award for Professional Excellence.

• Governor Kemp Issues Executive Orders for Rosalynn Carter Funeral Ceremonies

  November 27, 2023

  Gov. Brian Kemp is assigning Georgia National Guard troops and other state resources to help with the “logistical challenges” associated with ceremonies and services to honor the late former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

• Georgia’s Unemployment Remains Unchanged as Labor Force Reaches Record Highs

  November 17, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced that Georgia's October unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.4 percent in September. The unemployment rate was five-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.

• Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Announces Its 2024 List of State's 10 Places in Peril

  November 16, 2023

  The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released its 2024 list of 10 Places in Peril in the state.

• TCSG Celebrates Apprenticeship Week with Announcement of 2024 Apprenticeship Awards to Georgia Businesses

  November 16, 2023

  The Technical College System of Georgia today announced the awards of the second year of the High Demand Career Initiative Program supporting Georgia businesses with the creation and expansion of Registered Apprenticeships.

• 2023 GAgives on GivingTuesday Shines a Spotlight on Nonprofits' Value & Resilience in the Face of Heightened Need & Rising Challenges

  November 15, 2023

  As we move into the season of giving, it’s an ideal time to reflect on who and what we appreciate and how we can show our thankfulness. Everyone in Georgia benefits in some way from one or more of our state’s hard-working nonprofits – which are all coping with surges in demand for their services, increasing costs, and a reduction in resources, staff, and volunteers.

• State Rolling Out New Literacy Initiative

  November 14, 2023

  The Georgia Department of Education is launching a literacy initiative aimed at both improving literacy among students and training educators on the science of reading.

• US Corporate Boards Are More Diverse Than Ever, But the Pace of Growth is Slowing

  November 14, 2023

  Corporate boards have become significantly more diverse over the past five years, according to a new report from The Conference Board and ESGAUGE.

• Former Isakson Colleagues Praise His Brand of Political Civility

  November 13, 2023

  A U.S. senator and a former senator traveled to the University of Georgia Friday to tout the benefits of political civility at a time extreme partisanship in Congress threatens to shut down the federal government.

• State’s New Voter Registration System Passes First Test

  November 13, 2023

  A new statewide voter registration system has passed its first test with a successful run during this week’s municipal elections across Georgia.

• Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark: Get Georgia Moving

  November 10, 2023

  Georgia has boasted record economic growth for five consecutive years with over $134 billion in capital investment, $68 billion in real GDP growth, over two thousand new or expanded project locations, and 268,000 jobs created throughout every corner of the state.

• Corporate Donations Are Aiding the Greater Valdosta United Way’s Disaster Recovery Effort

  November 09, 2023

  On August 30th, Hurricane Idalia made landfall in Lowndes County with maximum sustained winds exceeding 100 miles per hour. The storm caused extensive damage to homes and businesses and widespread power outages.

• LG Burt Jones Announces ‘Red Tape Rollback’

  November 08, 2023

  Lt. Gov. Burt Jones unveiled a legislative push Tuesday aimed at reducing the size and scope of state government while making it easier for Georgians to get business licenses.

• United Ways of Georgia Creates Statewide Advisory Committee in Preparation of Groundbreaking ALICE Report

  November 07, 2023

  United Ways of Georgia, an association of the 31 United Way organizations operating across Georgia, have collectively invested to become the 29th state organization to participate in United for ALICE.

• UGA Institute of Government Offers New Certificate Program in Downtown Development

  November 06, 2023

  The University of Georgia Institute of Government has partnered with the Georgia Downtown Association and Georgia Power to launch the Certified Downtown Professional Certificate Program. This new training series helps downtown professionals gain the skills and knowledge to boost community and economic development in downtown districts.

• goBeyondProfit CEO Interviews: Kashi Sehgal, Founder of Retaaza

  November 03, 2023

  What problem is your business uniquely positioned to solve? Kashi Sehgal, founder of Retaaza, was exposed to the crisis of food insecurity and waste in Georgia. In turn, she seized the opportunity to connect hyper-local supply with state-wide demand. Today, their successful business model increases demand for Georgia’s number one industry while simultaneously caring for hungry Georgians.

• South Georgia Medical Center Rebrands as SGMC Health

  November 02, 2023

  South Georgia Medical Center and its campuses and affiliates will operate under a new health system name, SGMC Health, beginning Nov. 1.

• Valdosta-based Salvus Fuels Growth with New Hire

  November 02, 2023

  Salvus, LLC, a CJB Company, is staffing up to support its growth plans in 2024. Dr. Scott Witte was named senior scientist for assay and product development, and Justin Johnson joined the team as a lab technician.

• State Senate Kicks Off Deep Dive into Artificial Intelligence

  November 02, 2023

  Artificial intelligence can prove more beneficial to society than harmful but only with proper regulation, industry experts told Georgia lawmakers Wednesday.

• 15th Annual GRACE Awards Finalists and Honorees Announced

  November 01, 2023

  The Georgia Restaurant Association is thrilled to announce the finalists and honorees for the 2023 Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards.