December 2019 Features

• Georgia Congressional Delegation Introduces Bill to Establish Jimmy Carter National Historical Park

  December 20, 2019

  U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), and the entire Georgia congressional delegation introduced a bill re-designating the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Plains, Georgia, as the “Jimmy Carter National Historical Park.”

• Sen. David Perdue: Johnny Isakson Has Been a True Leader for Georgia

  December 20, 2019

  Johnny Isakson is, in my opinion, the Howard Baker of our era. When he talks, people listen. He doesn’t talk loudly, and doesn’t talk often, but when he does, people always pay attention. When Johnny retires from the United States Senate at the end of this month, he will leave behind a legacy of public service that will impact our state and country for years to come.

• The First Bancshares, Inc. & Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation Announce Merger Agreement

  December 19, 2019

  The First Bancshares, Inc., holding company for The First, A National Banking Association, and Southwest Georgia Financial Corporation, parent company of Southwest Georgia Bank, announced the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Merger pursuant to which The First Bancshares has agreed to acquire SGB.

• Gov. Kemp: Dozier Named TCSG Commissioner, Arthur Named PSC Executive Secretary

  December 18, 2019

  The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) State Board voted unanimously to hire Governor Kemp’s Chief Financial Officer Greg Dozier as its new Commissioner, effective January 1, 2020. A long-time advisor to the Governor and public servant with decades of leadership experience in state government, Greg Dozier will take on this role following former Commissioner Matt Arthur’s move to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC), the state’s certification agency for educators.

• Authentic Community Engagement: 5 Ways to Avoid Woke-Washing

  December 17, 2019

  A new term has emerged in our industry and has been getting more attention this year since Unilever’s CEO used it on stage at Cannes: “woke-washing.” Brands disguise advertising aimed at selling a product as a campaign for a social cause. Increasingly, people are calling brands out for trying to capitalize on consumers’ social awareness.

• UGA Economic Outlook: Georgia’s Economy Will Grow in 2020, but at a Slower Pace

  December 13, 2019

  Georgia’s economic growth is forecast to slow substantially in 2020, but not to a complete stop, according to the latest projections from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business.

• Delta and Wheels Up Partner to Make Private Aviation More Accessible to Individual and Corporate

  December 13, 2019

  Delta Air Lines and Wheels Up are partnering to create one of the world's largest owned and managed fleets of private aircraft. The partnership will make private aviation accessible to more consumers and provide unparalleled travel options.

• Council for Quality Growth Meeting Highlights Georgia’s Economic Engines

  December 12, 2019

  The Council for Quality Growth, whose members include key Georgia and metro Atlanta business leaders, hosted its 34th Annual Meeting Dec. 6 at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North.

• Valdosta Youth Council Honors Mayor with ‘John Gayle Leadership Award’

  December 09, 2019

  The Valdosta Youth Council honored Valdosta Mayor John Gayle with the John Gayle Leadership Award at the December 5 City Council Meeting.

• Thirty-six Georgia Companies Named GLOBE Award Winners for Entering New International Markets

  December 09, 2019

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) International Trade division and GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson joined Governor Brian P. Kemp to announce the winners of Georgia’s sixth annual GLOBE Awards at an event at the Capitol.

• Simple Year-end Action Allows Businesses to Improve Rural Healthcare without Cost

  December 05, 2019

  The goBeyondProfit initiative shares Georgia businesses’ interest in understanding the state’s social needs and finding clear and actionable solutions to them. Consequently, it is highlighting a year-end opportunity that allows businesses and individuals to address the crisis in rural healthcare with a simple tax credit contribution that costs them nothing.

• Small Business Wage Growth Hits New High, Job Growth Consistent in November

  December 05, 2019

  The tight labor market continues to positively impact wage growth, according to the latest Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch. Hourly earnings grew 3.11 percent among employees of small businesses, the highest level since reporting began in 2011.

• Secure Records Solutions Merges with ShredEZ

  December 04, 2019

  Secure Records Solutions recently announced its merger with ShredEZ out of Adel, Georgia. Secure Records Solutions (SRS) is a family owned and operated document management company headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia.

• Learning about Kelly Loeffler & a GOP Split

  December 04, 2019

  With Gov. Brian Kemp poised to name Atlanta businesswoman and lifelong Republican Kelly Loeffler as Georgia’s interim U.S. senator to replace Johnny Isakson, all eyes will be on the Loeffler introductory rollout.

• Georgia and Japan: A Valued Partnership

  December 03, 2019

  Recently, PSC Commissioner Tim Echols joined a bipartisan group of legislators and officials on a study tour to Japan sponsored by the Japan Foundation. Not only did the trip help to understand Japanese cultural distinctives, but being in Tokyo amidst 13 million Japanese gave us a first-hand look at three recurring traits of this great culture that is one of Georgia's primary trading partners.

• Georgia Council for the Arts Awards More than $570,000 in Grant Funding

  December 03, 2019

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development's Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA) today announced the recipients of the Vibrant Communities Grant and the new Cultural Facilities Grant. Seventy-nine entities in 58 counties received more than $570,000 in funding.

• Charlie Harper: On The Passing Of House Rules Chairman Jay Powell

  December 03, 2019

  Alfred Jackson “Jay” Powell passed away last week at the too young age of 67. He was perhaps one of the most powerful people in Georgia that you may never have heard of. Powell was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2008 representing his home county of Mitchell along with portions of Decatur and Colquitt counties. He served as Mayor of Camilla Georgia for the decade prior to his service in the House.

• Leadership Lowndes Class of 2019 Graduates with Successful Year

  December 02, 2019

  Twenty-eight Leadership Lowndes class members are now officially alumni and community ambassadors after graduating from this year’s Leadership Lowndes Class November 21st