March 2020 Features

• Timely New Research Provides Business Insights into Georgians’ Societal Mindset, Guides Decision-making About Corporate Citizenship

  March 31, 2020

  Today goBeyondProfit released its second annual Corporate Generosity Research Report which unveils the strong mindset present as Georgia entered COVID-19 upheaval and provides insights to guide business leaders’ decision-making.

• DCA Launches New Resources for Georgians to Access High-Speed Internet

  March 31, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) launched a new website to inform Georgians about ways to connect to high-speed internet throughout the state.

• Gov. Kemp Names Appointments to Supreme Court of Georgia, Georgia Court of Appeals

  March 30, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced his selection of Judge Carla Wong McMillian to serve on the Supreme Court of Georgia and Judges Verda M. Colvin and John A. "Trea" Pipkin III to serve on the Georgia Court of Appeals.

• All Georgia Voters will have the Chance to Vote by Absentee Ballot in May Primary

  March 30, 2020

  Georgia’s 6.9 million active voters can expect to receive mail from the Secretary of State’s office in the upcoming weeks. It will be an application for absentee voting in the upcoming May 19 Primary.

• Gov. Kemp, DCH, DBHDD, GHA Submit Emergency Waivers to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

  March 30, 2020

  Governor Kemp and the Department of Community Health (DCH) submitted a request to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for an 1135 Medicaid waiver. Concurrently, the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) submitted a request to CMS for a 1135 Medicare waiver.

• U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.5M to Establish New Business Incubator in Valdosta Opportunity Zone

  March 27, 2020

  U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.5 million grant to the Valdosta and Lowndes Chamber of Commerce in Valdosta, Georgia to fund the construction of a new business incubator.

• Georgia Dept. of Labor Extend Unemployment Benefits for Georgians

  March 27, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) addressed the unprecedented demand for economic relief for Georgians as witnessed in the recent unemployment claims numbers released this morning by the US Department of Labor. This morning, Governor Kemp signed an Executive Order allowing GDOL Commissioner Mark Butler to issue two new emergency rules.

• Georgia Chamber Provides Business Guidance During COVID-19

  March 26, 2020

  The Georgia Chamber is providing business guidance regarding state and local ordinances. Recommendations include up-to-date information based upon regulations as of March 25, 2020 at noon.

• Corsica Technologies: How Does A Rise in Remote Workers Effect Cyber Security?

  March 26, 2020

  Businesses around the world are proving their resilience during the current state of pandemic brought on by Coronavirus or COVID-19 by embracing remote work. Traditional commuters are now connecting remotely to their office networks and using video conferencing at an increasing rate. This sudden change is proving to be a challenge for broadband Internet providers worldwide by increasing traffic and straining their systems like never before.

• Gov. Kemp Calls on Georgia Businesses to Aid with Critical Health Care Needs

  March 25, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp called on all Georgia businesses who are able to help the state provide, produce, distribute, or store critical health care items needed to fight the spread of COVID-19.

• AG Chris Carr Partners with Business Community to Combat Price Gouging and Scams

  March 25, 2020

  Attorney General Chris Carr is stepping up the fight to rid the marketplace of price gougers and scammers by partnering with members of the Georgia and national business communities.

• Business Leaders Call for Infrastructure Investment to Jump Start the COVID-19 Economy

  March 25, 2020

  The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) calls for policymakers and businesses to work together to put an emphasis on infrastructure spending now in order to kick start the US economy in the face of the COVID-19 related downturn.

• Second Harvest of South Georgia Teams up with Local Schools to Feed Students

  March 24, 2020

  Second Harvest of South Georgia and Valdosta City Schools have teamed up to offer free meals to students during the school closure.

• Georgia Ports Authority: Port of Savannah up 17% in Volume in February

  March 24, 2020

  The Port of Savannah achieved its busiest February ever last month, handling 364,405 twenty-foot equivalent container units, an increase of 17 percent over the same month last year. Although March volumes are expected to dip due to the impact of COVID-19 compared to last March, all terminals remain open for business.

• Habitat for Humanity CEO: For Some, “Shelter in Place” is a Different Kind of Crisis

  March 24, 2020

  Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford discussed the economic ripple effects of COVID-19. "With each passing day, we all find ourselves trying to adapt to the measures required to combat the spread of COVID-19. In countries and cultures all around the world, “stay at home” is the message of the moment. “Shelter in place.”

• Gov. Kemp Names Coronavirus Task Force Committees

  March 23, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced the members of the Governor's four Coronavirus Task Force Committees: the Economic Impact Committee, Primary Care Provider Committee, Emergency Preparedness Committee, and Committee for the Homeless and Displaced.

• AT&T Creates $10M Fund to Support Parents, Teachers and Students Throughout COVID-19 School Closures

  March 23, 2020

  AT&T is creating a Distance Learning and Family Connections Fund to give parents, students and teachers tools they need for at-home learning. The fund also will provide resources to maintain meaningful connections and bonding opportunities for those isolated from family and friends.

• Tips for Working from Home with Kids

  March 20, 2020

  With the closure of schools and child care programs in addition to some employers encouraging workers to telecommute, parents across Georgia and the nation are coping with a new and odd day-to-day reality: working from home while trying to take care of their kids.

• Sentaors Perdue, Loeffler Urge Action To Support Small Businesses During Coronavirus Pandemic

  March 20, 2020

  As former business leaders, U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) are working to ensure small businesses have the flexibility and certainty they need to protect their employees and serve their customers during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Gov. Kemp, Georgia Dept. of Labor Focus on Assisting Workers Affected by COVID-19

  March 19, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) addressed an increase in the number of partial claims filed as a result of businesses reducing work hours or temporarily closing their doors in light of recent developments regarding COVID-19.

• Georgia Receives SBA Statewide Disaster Declaration, Applications for Small Business Emergency Loans Now Open

  March 19, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Georgia has received an official statewide disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This declaration will provide assistance in the form of SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans to impacted small businesses in all 159 counties in Georgia.

• Dublin Mayor Phil Best: Leadership in a Time of Crisis

  March 18, 2020

  The common good. Those three words have served as the guiding light for elected officials since the founding of our nation. The Covid-19 virus has caused us to take a hard look at what those three words mean for each of our communities. The fact is that hard, potentially contentious decision-making lies ahead for many of us.

• Special Report: Analysis of COVID-19’s Impact on Economy & Government

  March 18, 2020

  Anyone who is not taking the world’s battle against the COVID-19 virus seriously needs to start doing so immediately. Not only avoiding crowds and not shaking hands, but also attempting to avoid unnecessary exposure in places like restaurants, stores, gyms or other places that we normally visit.

• Census 2020: VSU Partners with South Georgia Communities to Help Shape the Future

  March 17, 2020

  With democracy and hundreds of billions of dollars at stake, Valdosta State University has partnered with the people of South Georgia to help shape the future by encouraging a successful and accurate Census 2020 count.

• Transportation Planning Agency Adopts Budget and Strategic Plan

  March 16, 2020

  The committees of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the transportation planning agency of the Southern Georgia Regional Commission (SGRC), met last week to approve the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Work Program and Budget and FY2021 Strategic Plan.