February 2018 Features

  • Georgia Banks Earn $3.4B During 2017

    February 28, 2018

    Georgia’s 177 state-based FDIC insured banks earned $3.4 billion in 2017, an increase of 13.7 percent over the previous year. Total deposits, loans and assets all increased during the year.

  • Film Day at the Capitol Celebrates Georgia’s Film and Television Industry

    February 28, 2018

    The Georgia Film Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, celebrated Film Day at the Capitol to recognize the state’s past, present and future in the film industry. “No other film production center has seen more growth in infrastructure than Georgia has over the last eight years,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Governor Deal’s leadership and unwavering support has ensured Georgia’s place as a top destination for film and television activity.”

  • GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry Receives Award for Engineering Influence

    February 27, 2018

    Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. received ACEC Georgia’s Engineering Influence Award “in recognition of his exceptional leadership and management of the department’s response to the Interstate 85 fire and bridge collapse” last year.

  • Senators Johnny Isakson & David Perdue: Tax Cuts Are Helping Georgians

    February 26, 2018

    The tax cuts passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump are already having a positive impact across the country. Businesses are investing in our economy again. More than 3 million Americans have received bonuses. Wages are rising at their highest rate in eight years. Here in Georgia, we are seeing this positive impact firsthand.

  • Local Leaders Tour Food Processing Facilities in Lowndes County

    February 23, 2018

    Local leaders from the City of Valdosta City Council and Lowndes County Board of Commissioners joined the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority Board of Directors and staff on a recent tour of Nature Nate’s and Sunset Farm Foods in Valdosta-Lowndes County.

  • Technology Association of Georgia Unveils the Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia

    February 23, 2018

    The Technology Association of Georgia announced the Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia. TAG’S Top 40 Awards recognize Georgia-based technology companies for their innovation, financial impact, and their efforts at spreading awareness of the state’s technology initiatives throughout the U.S. and globally.

  • Cynthia George Joins Horizons Community Solutions as CEO

    February 22, 2018

    The Board of Directors of Horizons Community Solutions, formerly the Cancer Coalition of South Georgia, has named Cynthia George as the new Chief Executive Officer, effective February 26th.

  • Hollywood South: Entertainment Industry Brings $9.5B to Georgia

    February 22, 2018

    Still thinking about which films to check off on the Oscar ballot before awards season wraps up March 4 with the 90th Academy Awards? Consider “Baby Driver,” “I, Tonya,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “DeKalb Elementary.” They all were filmed in Georgia and contributed to the $9.5 billion the film industry brought to the state last year.

  • Georgia Power Continue Building the Future of Energy with Innovative Smart Neighborhood Projects

    February 21, 2018

    Southern Company and its Alabama Power and Georgia Power subsidiaries have officially announced Smart Neighborhood initiatives that will provide customers with state-of-the-art home construction, distributed energy resources – including solar and battery energy storage – and smart home appliances and technologies.

  • Record-breaking Year for Georgia’s International Trade

    February 20, 2018

    The Georgia Department of Economic Development released Georgia’s 2017 international trade numbers, which indicate another record breaking year. In 2017, total trade between Georgia and the world reached 225 unique countries and territories, exceeding $128.6 billion.

  • City Leaders Gain Critical Knowledge through UGA Partnership

    February 20, 2018

    More than 250 first-time mayors and city council members from Georgia cities gathered in Athens last week for the two-day Newly Elected Officials Institute, held every February to teach new leaders the basics of effective governance.

  • Valdosta Community Observes National Engineers Week

    February 19, 2018

    The City of Valdosta and the Engineering Department will observe National Engineers Week, Feb. 18-24, to highlight the various engineers in the community, encourage local students to pursue prospective careers, and recognize how city engineers impact community life.

  • University System Saves Students More Than $18M a Year in Free Textbooks

    February 19, 2018

    The University System of Georgia is saving students more than $18 million a year with its free online textbook initiative called Affordable Learning Georgia.

  • South Georgia PRSA Shares Best Practices for Moody Support, February 20th

    February 16, 2018

    The South Georgia Public Relations Society of America Chapter will host, “Team South Georgia: How to Embrace Moody AFB for the Benefit of our Businesses, Community and Region” on Tuesday, Feb. 20, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce, located at 416 N. Ashley Street.

  • Chairman Jason Shaw Introduces Legislation to Create the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation

    February 16, 2018

    State Representative Jason Shaw (R-Lakeland) introduced legislation that would create the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation.

  • UGA Small Business Development Center Offers #CyberStrength Course March 1st

    February 15, 2018

    The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University will present #CyberStrength from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 1. Registration is $69 per person between now and Sunday, Feb. 25, and $99 per person thereafter. This includes all course materials.

  • Delta Pays Employees More Than $1B in Profit Sharing for Fourth Consecutive Year

    February 15, 2018

    Delta Air Lines will pay out more than $1 billion in profit sharing for the fourth year in a row and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments made possible by its more than 80,000 employees around the world.

  • VSU to Host South Georgia Film Festival March 2nd-4th

    February 14, 2018

    Valdosta State University will host the South Georgia Film Festival Friday, March 2, through Sunday, March 4. The event will showcase the beauty of the South Georgia region and its people with film screenings, panels, and networking events.

  • UGA Extension, Mercer University Partner to Recruit Future Doctors for Rural Georgia

    February 13, 2018

    Jean Sumner is a third-generation rural doctor. As a child, she watched her grandfather and father care for the residents of Washington County, Georgia. She followed in their footsteps and became a “small-town doctor,” the kind who knows your mother, sits behind you in church and roots for the local football team.

  • Secretary of State Brian Kemp Announces Record-Breaking Month of Annual Business Registrations

    February 12, 2018

    Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced a record-breaking month of annual business registrations. In the month of January, the Corporations Division processed over 216,000 annual business registrations – more registrations in one month’s time than ever before.

  • Georgia Quail Hunt Celebrates 30 Years in Southwest Georgia

    February 09, 2018

    Area leaders were on hand this week to welcome 27 site selection professionals to Southwest Georgia, not only for the world-class quail hunting but more importantly to learn about the potential for doing business in the region. It’s all part of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 30th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt in Albany.

  • Exporting Provides Opportunity for Growth for Rural Companies in Georgia

    February 08, 2018

    Even the basics of international commerce felt foreign to Bruce Roberts. He knew how to ship something via UPS but didn’t have a clue how international ocean freight worked. He didn’t know how helpful a Skype account or making a website friendly to international customers could be in attracting overseas clients.

  • Valdosta-Lowndes Region Announces Selection of VisionFirst Advisors to Develop Community, Economic Development Strategy

    February 07, 2018

    A team of community, education, and business leaders from the Valdosta-Lowndes County region announced plans to develop a Community and Economic Development Strategy for the area to be known as One Valdosta-Lowndes.

  • The Georgia Ports Authority Wants to More Than Double Container Capacity by 2028

    February 06, 2018

    At the 50th annual Georgia Foreign Trade Conference Monday, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch reviewed the strategic plan for Georgia's ports that will allow for 10 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, 1 million rail lifts, and more than 1 million auto and machinery units per year.

  • Senator Tyler Harper Guest Speaker for 11th Annual LEAD February 15th

    February 01, 2018

    The Rotary Club of Valdosta will host the 11th Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 15th at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center. The event begins with a reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m., followed by recognition of Officers of the Year representing Valdosta Police Department, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, and Georgia State Patrol.