January 2019 Features

  • Rick Jackson Shares Why He Founded goBeyondProfit

    January 31, 2019

    Rick Jackson, the CEO and Chairman of Jackson Healthcare shares why he launched goBeyondProfit – a fully funded venture for his peers and their companies. He believes that goBeyondProfit offers a tremendous opportunity for business leaders to learn from each other and make an even bigger impact in the communities where they live, work and serve.

  • 2019 Kicks Off with a Slight Increase in Small Business Hiring and Wage Growth

    January 31, 2019

    The Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch started the new year with slight gains in small business job and hourly earnings growth. The Small Business Jobs Index increased 0.04 percent in January to 98.92, though it remains down 0.96 year-over-year.

  • Leadership Lowndes Class of 2019 Getting To Know Lowndes County and Beyond

    January 30, 2019

    The new Leadership Lowndes class is underway as a fresh group of existing and emerging leaders embark on a year of learning and serving. The class of 2019 kicked off the year with a retreat at the Jekyll Island Resort earlier this month.

  • Glassdoor Reveals The 50 Best Jobs In America For 2019

    January 30, 2019

    With millions of U.S. workers looking for new jobs in the new year, Glassdoor, one of the world's largest job and recruiting sites, announced its annual jobs report identifying the 50 Best Jobs in America for 2019.

  • Valdosta Main Street Kicks off Month Long ‘Love Downtown Valdosta’ Campaign

    January 29, 2019

    On Friday, February 1, Valdosta Main Street will kick off a month-long ‘Love Downtown Valdosta’ promotion. The promotion will start on Friday, February 1 during the ‘Downtown Getdown’ free community concert and end on February 28.

  • Georgia Public Service Commission Faces Busy and Challenging Case Load in 2019

    January 29, 2019

    The Georgia Public Service Commission will face an unprecedented number of major proceedings and rate cases in 2019, beginning with the filing of Georgia Power Company’s Integrated Resource Plan on January 31st.

  • Georgia Historical Society Set to Kickoff Free Public Events of the 2019 Georgia History Festival

    January 28, 2019

    With the Georgia Day Parade only one week away the Georgia Historical Society is set to kick off the 2019 Georgia History Festival with a full slate of free public events.

  • Flexing Georgia's Corporate "Do-Good" Muscles

    January 24, 2019

    Do Georgia businesses understand the great mutual value gained from corporate generosity? I wonder this frequently. It’s the reason I felt compelled to join with other Georgia business leaders in the goBeyondProfit initiative, banding together in virtual alignment around the value and importance of finding ways to give back beyond our daily business efforts.

  • goBeyondProfit and Georgia CEO Finalizing Corporate Philanthropy Research

    January 22, 2019

    goBeyondProfit, a not-for-profit initiative encouraging all Georgia businesses to prioritize community engagement, is conducting statewide corporate trend research in partnership with Georgia CEO. The survey will wrap up this week.

  • Outdoor Stewardship Fund to Protect Georgia’s Natural Assets

    January 21, 2019

    Passed with more than 82 percent of the vote, the Outdoor Stewardship Act is intended to “promote stewardship for state parks, state lands and wildlife management areas, support local parks and trails and protect critical conservation land.”

  • In 2019, CEOs are Most Concerned About Talent and a Recession

    January 21, 2019

    A new global survey reveals that CEOs view a recession as their biggest external concern for 2019. They cited attracting and retaining talent as their top internal concern.

  • Valdosta Police Department Sees a Decrease in Crime Rates in 2018

    January 18, 2019

    Statistics show that Valdosta’s overall crime rate has declined significantly as compared to previous years. According to the Valdosta Police Department, crime is down 14% for part one crimes, which includes violent and property crimes.

  • Top State Officials, Chamber Leaders Team Up to Champion Economic Priorities for All Georgians at “Eggs and Issues" Breakfast

    January 18, 2019

    Invoking references to the upcoming Super Bowl, the Atlanta United MLS Champions, the Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry, and some inside baseball lingo, speakers at the 2019 Georgia Chamber’s “Eggs and Issues Breakfast” emphasized the need for teamwork and partnerships as the General Assembly convenes.

  • Georgia Posts Record-Setting Year in 2018

    January 17, 2019

    State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that 2018 was another banner year for Georgia with increases in jobs, work force and employed residents. The unemployment rate, Butler noted, fell nearly a full point over the year. Month to month, communities all across the state routinely set records.

  • How to Build Credit with No Credit History

    January 16, 2019

    Whether you're brand new to managing personal finances on your own or you've simply shied away from using credit in the past, either way you don't have an established credit history. And having no credit history can present a few challenges.

  • YEA! Students Back To Business

    January 14, 2019

    Classes for the Valdosta Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) are back underway as of January 8th, as the class continues its weekly meetings scheduled for three hours after school, where they learn how to properly pitch their business ideas and launch a real business or social movement.

  • Georgia Oyster Industry Shucks Wild-Grown Strategy; Discovers Pearl of Great Price in Aquaculture

    January 14, 2019

    In a few years, Georgia oysters may earn a spot next to Georgia peaches, peanuts, Vidalia onions, and shrimp as one of the state’s official foods and crops.The science of aquaculture for cultivating and harvesting oysters adds another aspect to the term “farm-to-table,” as the state oyster farming industry foresees a significant revivification of what was once a thriving business during the early decades of the previous century.

  • Progress Toward Common Community Vision

    January 11, 2019

    In 2013, the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization completed the Greater Lowndes County Common Community Vision report. 2018 marks the fifth Annual Report of Accomplishments of the community’s progress toward a common vision. The annual report was released this week by the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization.

  • Saving for a Major Financial Purchase

    January 09, 2019

    You work hard to earn a living. You saved diligently for a down payment and bought a house. You're saving consistently for retirement, but that seems to be a long way off. Now, it's time to save for something fun.

  • Steeda Autosports Celebrates 10 Years in Valdosta-Lowndes County

    January 08, 2019

    Steeda Autosports has celebrated 10 years since opening their manufacturing facility in Valdosta-Lowndes County, Georgia on December 4th, 2008. To recognize this wonderful accomplishment, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority hosted an anniversary celebration for employees on Thursday, December 20th at their facility.

  • Young Gamechangers Start New Year with Project in Monroe on January 31st

    January 08, 2019

    Instead of starting a diet or taking up a new hobby, 48 of Georgia’s brightest young professionals will celebrate the beginning of 2019 by kicking off an ambitious new project in Monroe, GA. As part of the Young Gamechangers program they will research the area’s industries, explore natural resources, gather historical data, and meet with business and community leaders.