July 2020 Features

  • Georgia Pays Out Over $11 Billion in Unemployment Benefits

    July 31, 2020

    The Georgia Department of Labor announced today it has paid out more than $11 billion in state and federal unemployment benefits since the middle of March. These payments include regular state unemployment insurance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, and State Extended Benefits.

  • The Kessler Collection Debuts $375 Million Redevelopment Creating Savannah's New Entertainment District

    July 31, 2020

    The Kessler Collection's Plant Riverside District – the largest redevelopment in the history of Savannah's National Historic Landmark District – has officially opened as "Savannah's Entertainment District," a $375 million project expanding the city's iconic riverfront to a 4.5-acre waterfront hospitality and entertainment destination, anchored by the 419-room JW Marriott Savannah hotel.

  • Survey: CEOs See Less Globalization, More Flexible Workforces, Broadened Corporate Missions in COVID-19’s Aftermath

    July 31, 2020

    According to a new global survey, CEOs and C-Suite executives think COVID-19’s fallout will result in leaner and more agile companies. Businesses will likely emerge from this pandemic using more contract workers and fewer permanent staff, and business travel will be reduced in favor of more videoconferencing.

  • Georgia Ranked No. 1 in Film Production by Business Facilities Magazine

    July 30, 2020

    On the heels of the news that multiple Georgia-lensed productions have received nearly 50 total 2020 Emmy Award nominations, Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Georgia has been ranked the No. 1 Film Production Leader by Business Facilities Magazine and prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic, was on pace for another record-setting year.

  • Georgia Power Smart Neighborhood Recognized by SEPA for Innovation, Research and Collaboration

    July 29, 2020

    Georgia Power’s Smart Neighborhood Initiative has been recognized by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) as part of its annual awards that celebrate innovation and collaboration of utilities, industry players and individuals shaping the future of energy.

  • Corsica Technologies: What Is Digital Transformation?

    July 29, 2020

    Digital transformation refers to the process of transforming business operations using digital technology. Digital Transformation is about changing the way a business interacts internally and with its customers and creating a process that ensures a consistent experience in a more efficient way. Digitizing business isn’t the same as digitally transforming a business. Moving a process or an activity from paper to a computer only changes the means of doing the task.

  • Georgia Ports Sets Tonnage Record for FY2020

    July 28, 2020

    The Port of Savannah handled 4.44 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in Fiscal Year 2020, down less than 1 percent compared to the previous year. Despite COVID-19 disruptions, total tons crossing all GPA docks reached a record 37.77 million.

  • Institute Helps Develop Key Tools for Georgia’s Broadband Mapping Project

    July 28, 2020

    Georgia’s new interactive maps of broadband internet availability utilize online tools the Institute of Government developed with state agencies and private service providers.

  • City Honors Winners of 2020 Historic Preservation Awards

    July 27, 2020

    The City of Valdosta honored the 2020 Preservation Award winners at the July 23rd City Council Meeting. May of each year is National Historic Preservation Month, however, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic the awards were postponed to July. The 12th annual awards program recognized property owners who go above and beyond the regulations set forth by the City to protect and preserve buildings within our local Historic District.

  • Chris Clark: The Call for Rural Resiliency

    July 27, 2020

    My Fitzgerald roots ground me and millions of other small-town Americans to a strong work ethic, value of family, and a deep-rooted faith. We believe in community and helping each other through the tough times. And we celebrate in parades and on back porches when things are good. Of course, those occasions often come from long battles and commitment.

  • Corsica Technologies - Business Continuity: More than Back Ups

    July 27, 2020

    Business Continuity for many organizations ends with the implementation of one solution – a system backup. There are many types of system backups including file-based or imaged based, onsite, or offsite, daily or hourly. And system backups are a major factor in the success of a business’s recovery, but it is not the only component.

  • Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger Hosts Small Business Recovery Tele-town Hall

    July 27, 2020

    Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is pleased to announce his office’s fourth financial recovery tele-town hall titled, Rebuilding & Recovering Financially: A Path to Financial Recovery. The tele-town hall, will provide insight and advice for Georgia small business owners and entrepreneurs who are struggling during the current economic turmoil.

  • Valdosta’s Unemployment Rate Drops in June

    July 24, 2020

    Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta’s unemployment rate decreased in June. Due to the effects of COVID-19, all MSAs continue to see stinted yearly growth, yet monthly gains in nearly all major sectors are beginning to spike.

  • Film Productions Queuing Up in Georgia

    July 24, 2020

    Since our update earlier this year when the COVID-19 pandemic brought film and television to a virtual standstill, the Georgia Film Office and our partners have been hard at work on countless initiatives to keep our strong film industry in shape and supporting industry professionals and thousands of small businesses that fuel the TV and movie business in Georgia.

  • Registration Open for goBeyondProfit Forum: Creating a New Playbook for Leadership Communications

    July 23, 2020

    Georgia’s goBeyondProfit alliance will host a CEO-level Expert Forum, “Creating a New Playbook for Leadership Communications” via Zoom at 1 p.m. on July 28th.

  • Orion Boatworks to Create 120 Jobs in Valdosta-Lowndes County

    July 22, 2020

    The Valdosta-Lowndes County Development Authority (VLCDA) Board of Directors announced Tuesday that an established boat manufacturer, Orion Boatworks, LLC will create 120 new jobs and invest more than $3.5 million in Valdosta-Lowndes County, Georgia.

  • Governor Kemp Calls on Georgians to Do "Four Things for Four Weeks" to Stop COVID-19

    July 22, 2020

    Governor Brian P. Kemp and Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey are calling on all Georgians to implement "Four Things for Four Weeks" into their daily routines to flatten the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19.

  • Dynamic Quest Acquires Nexxtep Technology Services

    July 21, 2020

    Dynamic Quest, a managed service provider offering IT and cloud services to enterprises and businesses, completed the acquisition of Valdosta-based Nexxtep Technology Services.

  • Closed, but Not “Closed”: SBDC Helps St. Marys Business Thrive during COVID Shutdown

    July 21, 2020

    Cottle & Gunn in St. Marys, Georgia, closed its doors in April when the state’s shelter-in-place directives took effect. But the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop owner Deborah Cottle from doubling — then tripling — her sales from the previous spring, thanks to a creative outlook, a new online store, and some help from the UGA Small Business Development Center.

  • Chris Clark: Reclaiming A Stronger, More Resilient Economy

    July 20, 2020

    The COVID-19 pandemic and the recession it has caused have been described as unprecedented. It has introduced new terms into our common language such as “social distancing” and “elbow bumping”. Simply put, it’s made us rethink how we shop, worship, educate and interact.

  • Mayor Launches ‘Mask Up Valdosta’ Campaign

    July 17, 2020

    Valdosta Mayor Scott James Matheson launched a ‘Mask Up Valdosta’ campaign on Thursday encouraging Valdosta residents to wear a face covering in public as a safeguard to slow the spread of COVID-19. This voluntary mask campaign is done in full support of Governor Kemp’s "Wear a Mask" Flyaround Tour of Georgia held earlier this month.

  • Trio of Trustees to Chair 2021 Georgia History Festival

    July 17, 2020

    The Georgia Historical Society announced today that Frank Blake, retired Chairman and CEO of The Home Depot, Robert S. Jepson, Jr., Founder and CEO of Jepson Associates, Inc., and John Schuerholz, Vice-chairman emeritus of the Atlanta Braves will serve as the statewide Co-Chairs for the Georgia Historical Society’s 2021 Georgia History Festival.

  • Corsica Technologies: Improving Business Efficiency Post COVID-19

    July 17, 2020

    While businesses are relieved knowing they may be able to open soon, they are challenged with how to do so safely and efficiently. Since many companies were forced to shut down operations for six+ weeks, they are looking to create efficiencies to help them thrive post quarantine. While we do not have all of the answers, we do have some suggestions on ways to improve business efficiencies in your organization and gain a competitive edge in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Registration Open for goBeyondProfit Forum: Creating a New Playbook for Leadership Communications

    July 16, 2020

    Georgia’s goBeyondProfit alliance will host a CEO-level Expert Forum, “Creating a New Playbook for Leadership Communications” via Zoom at 1 p.m. on July 28, 2020.

  • AT&T Invests Nearly $5.5 Billion Over Three-Year Period to Keep Georgia Connected

    July 16, 2020

    AT&T* is proud to have the nation’s best and also fastest wireless 12 network, as well as the largest network in North America. From 2017-2019, we invested nearly $5.5 billion in our wireless and wireline networks in Georgia to expand coverage and improve connectivity in more communities.