April 2018 Features

• Curt Fowler: The Return on Strategy

  April 30, 2018

  “In real life strategy is straightforward. You pick the direction and execute like heck.” – Jack Welch. I rarely quote Jack Welch, but I thought his statement on strategy was excellent even though I had to edit his language.

• Valdosta Posts Great March Job Numbers

  April 27, 2018

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Valdosta posted an excellent March as critical job measures trended in the right direction again.

• UGA Small Business Development Center Offers Strategic Planning Workshop at VSU May 8th

  April 27, 2018

  The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University will present a Strategic Planning Workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8.

• Georgia Employers Association Legal & Benefits Workshop Covers the Bases for Georgia Employers

  April 26, 2018

  Georgia's thriving economy is producing excellent opportunities for business and associated challenges for business leaders and human resource professionals. Competition for the best employees is intense and the regulatory and legal environment continues to change rapidly. The upcoming Georgia Employers' Association Legal and Benefits Workshop is intended to help Georgia businesses keep all of the bases covered.

• SOS Brian Kemp Announces Commission Members to Review Georgia's Next Voting System

  April 25, 2018

  Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced his list of appointees to the Secure, Accessible & Fair Elections Commission, which is tasked with studying options for Georgia’s next voting system. The SAFE Commission will conduct thorough discussions on all options – including the feasibility of using all hand-marked paper ballots to all electronic machines with a voter-verified paper trail – and travel the state to solicit feedback from stakeholders.

• Amy Carter to Speak at VSU’s 225th Commencement Ceremony

  April 24, 2018

  Amy Carter, deputy commissioner for rural Georgia at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, will deliver the keynote address during Valdosta State University’s Spring 2018 commencement ceremony at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 5th, on the Front Lawn.

• Georgia Chamber Launches Scorecard Website for 2017-18 Session

  April 24, 2018

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce launches its Scorecard website recapping the 2017-2018 Legislative Session and how each legislator voted on top-priority bills for the organization.

• PCOM South Georgia Is a Regional Endeavor

  April 23, 2018

  On Thursday April 26th at 11 a.m., individuals and organizations from across the South Georgia region will take part in an event to mark the beginning of construction for Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s newest location—PCOM South Georgia.

• AG Chris Carr: We Must Continue Efforts to Strengthen State's Response to the Opioid Epidemic

  April 23, 2018

  As the former Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, I am very proud of the fact that our state is the top state in the nation in which to do business. The recognition highlights the collaborative mindset we apply to economic development in our state, and it highlights the many opportunities that our Georgia families enjoy as a result of having a thriving business environment.

• State Economic Competitiveness Rankings Reveal Upward Standings Tied to Federal Tax Reform

  April 23, 2018

  The American Legislative Exchange Council released the much anticipated 2018 edition of Rich States, Poor States. Utah again earns the top spot for states with the best economic outlook, followed by Idaho, Indiana, North Dakota and Arizona. Several states' success in increased rankings can be tied directly to the success of federal tax reform and the resources it gave to lawmakers to cut taxes at the state level.

• Senator David Perdue: Trump’s North Korea Policy Is Succeeding

  April 20, 2018

  CIA Director and Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo’s recent meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was an important step to lay the groundwork for the upcoming meeting planned between President Trump and Kim.

• VSU Surpasses Campaign Goal Ahead of Schedule, Continues Fundraising Efforts

  April 19, 2018

  Valdosta State University President Richard A. Carvajal announced that VSU’s first comprehensive capital campaign, Invest. Ignite. Inspire: The Campaign for Valdosta State University, has surpassed its goal of $53,250,000 more than 14 months ahead of schedule.

• Georgia Sets Employment Records in March

  April 19, 2018

  State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that Georgia continued to set records in March even as the number of jobs dipped slightly.

• Delta Offsets Carbon Emissions for 170,000+ Customers Today

  April 19, 2018

  Delta is helping customers travel a little cleaner today by offsetting carbon emissions on all domestic travel into and out of seven major airports with high corporate travel demand. The investment comes in honor of Earth Month and the airline's commitment to carbon-neutral growth.

• AG Chris Carr and Legal Community Commence 7th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy

  April 18, 2018

  April 16th marked the first day of the 7th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy, a two-week food and fund drive led by Georgia’s legal community. The 2018 competition is presented by the Office of the Attorney General and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia to benefit the Georgia Food Bank Association.

• Three Companies Named Georgia’s 2018 Manufacturers of the Year

  April 17, 2018

  At a luncheon held Thursday, Gov. Nathan Deal named three of Georgia’s leading companies as the 2018 Manufacturers of the Year. Pratt & Whitney in Columbus, Ga., won in the category of 500 or more employees; NIBCO in Greensboro, Ga., won in the category of 150-500 employees; and, Alpharetta-based Metcam won in the category of 150 or fewer employees.

• How Georgia is Improving Affordable Housing as a Platform for Health

  April 12, 2018

  Access to quality, affordable housing is critical for supporting good health. For individuals and families with tight budgets, high housing costs can lead to tough choices between making rent and going to the doctor, between keeping the lights on and buying healthy food, or even between being part of a community or becoming socially isolated.

• Georgia’s Legacies, Past And Future

  April 11, 2018

  The last week of Georgia’s 2018 meeting of the General Assembly featured even more symbolism and ceremony than usual. There were the customary farewell speeches by members who won’t be returning after this year’s election. On Tuesday and Wednesday, there was also a casket in the middle of the rotunda.

• Treasury, IRS Announce First Round of Opportunity Zones Designations for 18 States Including Georgia

  April 11, 2018

  The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service designated Opportunity Zones in 18 States. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Opportunity Zones to spur investment in distressed communities throughout the country. New investments in Opportunity Zones can receive preferential tax treatment.

• Hartsfield-Jackson Still World’s Busiest in Global Ranking

  April 10, 2018

  Demand has continued its robust year-on-year growth across the world’s major airports both in terms of passenger numbers and air cargo. Passenger traffic at the world’s 20 busiest airports grew by 5.2% in 2017. With almost 1.5 billion passengers passing through their terminals in 2017, this group of 20 represents 17% of global passenger traffic.

• Georgia’s 2018 International Representatives Visit the State

  April 09, 2018

  Georgia’s competitiveness in the global marketplace is continuously strengthened by the work of its international representatives across the globe. The state of Georgia has representation in 12 strategic markets including Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Peru, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The state’s international representation directly contributes to the state’s success as a global business hub.

• Advanced Technology Development Center Attracting More Out-of-State Entrepreneurs to Georgia

  April 06, 2018

  Portland, Maine is a long way from Atlanta — exactly 1,177.7 miles by way of I-85. But when Stacy Taylor and her business partner, Richard Kehne, looked for a place to build and grow their logistics and technology startup, Taylor Kehne Industries, they left New England and bypassed other startup hubs including Boston and New York to plant stakes in Atlanta. The key draw: Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center.

• Georgia Power, Employees & Foundation Invest $21M to Improve Georgia Communities in 2017

  April 05, 2018

  Georgia Power released its total charitable giving impact for 2017, including more than $21 million total invested by the company, The Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. and employees in Georgia communities and non-profit organizations throughout the year. Last year alone, 6,000 Georgia Power employees and retirees donated their time to help their neighbors and improve the quality of life in their communities by completing more than 147,000 volunteer hours.

• First State Bank and Trust Begins Transition to Synovus Branding

  April 04, 2018

  First State Bank and Trust begins transitioning to the Synovus name. Signage and other legacy branding at all First State Bank and Trust branches will be updated with Synovus branding by the middle of April. First State Bank and Trust is one of 26 non-Synovus branded bank divisions to complete the footprint-wide brand transition, which will conclude in June 2018.

• Commercial Vehicle-Only Lanes Coming to Georgia

  April 04, 2018

  We all experience the frustrations of traffic congestion. And if you’ve driven I-75 north from Macon you’ve no doubt experienced some of the worst gridlock in Georgia. The corridor, dominated by truck traffic, is home to almost daily traffic snarls due to crashes, stalls, overturned trucks and spills. These incidents can be deadly, tie up traffic for hours, make trip times unpredictable, and result in huge costs in terms of time, wages, jobs, health, property damage – and lives lost.