April 2014 Features

• AT&T Commits to Georgia’s Future

  April 30, 2014

  AT&T made a significant investment in both serving Georgia customers and employing more Georgians in 2013 through the communication company’s Project Velocity IP. Georgia CEO spoke to AT&T Media Relations Manager Ann Elsas on the impact AT&T is having on the state.

• Southwest Georgia Bank Business Plan Competition Accepting Applications

  April 28, 2014

  The 2015 Southwest Georgia Bank Business Plan Competition will be accepting applications for the opportunity to win $10,000 in start-up capital until Friday, June 13.

• 5 Possible Outcomes in Franchise Ownership

  April 25, 2014

  It always helps to have a goal or two in mind when pursuing something big, like becoming the owner of a franchise business – any business. Do you have a specific goal in mind? Do you have your “end game” visualized? Have you thought about some of the possible outcomes? Or, are you thinking about becoming the owner of a franchise business just to escape a lousy career-related situation? We look at some possible long-term outcomes that can happen as the result of becoming the owner of a franchise business.

• Research Shows How Retirees Strengthen Georgia’s Economy

  April 24, 2014

  The State of Georgia can bolster its economy by attracting more retirees, according to new research from the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth.

• Batson-Cook Construction: Building Partnerships First

  April 23, 2014

  From its humble beginnings in the early 20th century in West Point, Ga., Batson-Cook Construction has always operated on the philosophy of building relationships with clients and partnerships with its owners, architects and subcontractors on every building project.

• Alarion Bank Agrees to Merge with HeritageBank of the South

  April 22, 2014

  HeritageBank of the South, the banking subsidiary of Heritage Financial Group, Inc., and Alarion Bank, the banking subsidiary of Alarion Financial Services, Inc. today jointly announced a merger in which Alarion Bank will merge with and into HeritageBank, and Heritage will acquire all of the common stock of Alarion in a stock transaction valued at approximately $22.1 million.

• U.S. Rep. Austin Scott Announces New Possibility for Moody

  April 21, 2014

  The South Georgia Military Affairs Council hosted U.S. Representative Austin Scott for a press conference at the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber on Thursday to discuss Moody Air Force Base.

• Strengthening Your Small Business With Subcontractors

  April 18, 2014

  Dealing with the ebb and flow of workloads can be challenging for small businesses. How do you address those extra busy times without adding regular employees? And what happens when things slow down again Subcontractors can often help provide a great solution. Below are some benefits of using subcontractors and considerations for bringing subcontractors on board.

• Q&A with Georgia DOL’s Business Service Unit Director

  April 17, 2014

  As the Georgia Department of Labor approaches the first anniversary of their Business Service Unit, we chatted with Director Linda Manis about their progress in year one and what lies ahead for the BSU.

• How Do You Optimize Your Facebook And Twitter Accounts?

  April 16, 2014

  Whether you need to promote your brand, share event pictures, connect with your clients or create a buzz, social media marketing is a necessity and not an option any more. An optimized social media profile shows your strong social media presence. But how do you elevate your social media profile to establish a strong connection with your fans? Let’s explore two of the most popular social media platforms and how you can optimize them.

• Curt Fowler: The #1, Best Exercise To Do With Your Team

  April 14, 2014

  One of the hardest things about building trust in work environments is that there can always be ulterior motives to any good deed we do. We need each other at work. So, how can we do good for someone at work without expecting anything in return?

• On the Job with Saft's Fred Hapiak – Manufacturing Appreciation Week

  April 14, 2014

  This week is Georgia’s 20th annual Manufacturing Appreciation Week. Developed by the Technical College System of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Economic Development to recognize nearly 9500 manufacturing facilities located in Georgia providing jobs for approximately 350,000 Georgians.

• How Do You Feel About Raising the Minimum Wage?

  April 11, 2014

  President Obama’s efforts to encourage Congress to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 have received a lot of press. The Small Business Majority polled (PDF) small business owners to see how they feel about this controversial issue and found that—well, actually, they found that there’s a lot less controversy than the news media might lead you to expect.

• Mercer University Beats Duke; Prepares for Continued Growth

  April 10, 2014

  The past few years have been all about growth for Mercer University—especially in the medical sector--with a continued effort to double the number of medical students by adding more programs for aspiring medical professionals, such as their Ph.D. in Clinical Medical Psychology degree and a four-year program added at the Savannah campus. The Mercer Health Sciences Center, which opened in 2012, is another piece to help "address the shortage of healthcare access in our region," President Underwood says.

• Valdosta Celebrates Georgia Cities Week, April 13-19

  April 10, 2014

  The City of Valdosta will join other cities across Georgia in celebrating Georgia Cities Week, April 13-19, to recognize the many services city governments provide and their contribution to a better quality of life in Georgia. The theme this year is “Georgia Cities: People, Place, Purpose.”

• Savannah Author & Social Media Professional Debuts at #1 on Amazon in Category

  April 10, 2014

  Savannah writer and social media professional Shawndra Russell released a new ebook yesterday filled with tips for how business owners can step up their social media game.

• Is 100% Customer Satisfaction Achievable? For This Company, Yes

  April 09, 2014

  Simplicity Sofas is a furniture manufacturer in High Point, NC. and an eCommerce retailer specializing in furniture for small spaces. After more than six years in business and $4 million in sales, the company has never received a negative review on their website – not one. We share 10 Tips For Achieving 100% Customer Satisfaction.

• Businesses and Professionals Honored at Chamber Choice Awards

  April 07, 2014

  Business professionals and community members gathered Thursday evening at the Rainwater Conference Center for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber’s 5th annual Chamber Choice Award presented by Citizens Community Bank, to recognize outstanding businesses and professionals from 2013.

• Finding Manufacturing, Logistics Sites in Georgia Just Got Easier

  April 04, 2014

  The Georgia Ports Authority has updated its search engine for manufacturing and logistics sites to make it more comprehensive and easier to access. The GPA’s web-based Commercial Corridors Tool now works on all platforms, including mobile devices.

• 2WR+Partners • Architects & Designers • Projects with Purpose

  April 03, 2014

  In 2001, Sam Andras, Scott Allen and Michael Starr opened a Georgia office as a branch of a Montgomery, Ala.-based architectural firm, 2WR Architects, Inc. In 2010, Andras, Allen, and Starr bought the Georgia office and restructured to a Georgia based corporation as 2WR of Georgia Inc.

• Georgia Manufacturing Activity Records Strong Increase, Outpaces National Activity

  April 03, 2014

  Georgia manufacturing activity continued to improve in March as the lingering effects of a harsh winter dissipated and new orders and production experienced significant jumps, according to the Purchasing Managers Index released Tuesday by Kennesaw State University’s Econometric Center in the Michael J. Coles College of Business.

• Why the IRS and BLS Disagree on Self-Employment Trends

  April 02, 2014

  Are more or fewer Americans engaged in self-employment than a decade ago? While you might think that this is a simple factual question, its answer depends on which federal government agency’s numbers you look at.

• How the New Overtime Law Changes Will Affect Small Businesses

  April 01, 2014

  President Obama recently signed an executive order calling for new rules on overtime pay. Currently, salaried workers in executive, administrative and professional positions aren’t eligible for overtime pay if they make over $455 per week. The President suggested $600 or $640 as the new threshold – the current standards for New York and California.