January 2021 Features

• Valdosta Main Street Kicks Off Annual ‘Love Downtown Valdosta’ Campaign

  January 29, 2021

  Valdosta Main Street is gearing up to kick off a month-long ‘Love Downtown Valdosta’ marketing campaign.

• Nearly $530 Million in PPP Loans Approved by SBA in Georgia in Current Round of Funding

  January 29, 2021

  As part of ongoing transparency of economic aid programs, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently released data summarizing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan approvals made through Jan. 24th.

• Guardian Bank Entrepreneurship Spring Virtual Academy Dates Set at Wiregrass

  January 27, 2021

  Wiregrass Georgia Technical College announces the Virtual Spring Guardian Bank Entrepreneurship Academy starting in February, free for current Wiregrass students and alumni.

• COVID-19 Update: Dr. Anthony Fauci Talks with Georgia’s Cities

  January 26, 2021

  In an interview with GMA’s Larry Hanson (Executive Director), Rusi Patel (General Counsel) and Kelli Bennett (Director of Communications) Dr. Anthony Fauci shared an inside look into the COVID-19 vaccines, his professional opinion on a return to normal and what local leaders can do to engage with and protect their communities.

• Savannah Moves More than 4.6M TEUs in 2020

  January 26, 2021

  The Georgia Ports Authority moved more than 4.68 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in 2020, up 1.8 percent over its 2019 total of 4.59 million. Total cargo crossing all docks in 2020 reached 38.4 million tons.

• Governor Brian Kemp: Here's How We Kept Georgia Open for Business

  January 25, 2021

  One year ago, none of us could have imagined the challenges we would face as a nation. Here in Georgia — similar to the rest of the country — our economy was growing at a rapid pace, unemployment was at its lowest in state history, and more Georgians were finding high-quality, sustainable jobs.

• Chris Clark & Teresa White: The Reimagined New Georgia Economy

  January 22, 2021

  As 2021 unfolds, the Georgia Chamber remains true to our purpose of supporting job creation, economic mobility, growth, equality and free enterprise statewide. Most importantly, we continue to listen to Georgia businesses as we focus on recovery and resiliency for a reimagined new Georgia economy.

• goBeyondProfit: Action Steps to a Diverse Workplace

  January 22, 2021

  Replay this conversation over and over to discover tried and true programs and processes to implement as well as guidance to create a customizable check list of incremental steps forward.

• goBeyondProfit: Beyond Bias & Blind Spots

  January 21, 2021

  In this conversation, experts help you discover hidden obstacles to realizing the ideal workplace and share actionable steps to remove the barriers to success.

• Gov. Kemp Reports 16,000+ Jobs Created During First Half of Fiscal Year

  January 20, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), today announced that more than 16,000 jobs were created across all regions of the state by economic development projects in Georgia during the first half of fiscal year 2021, generating nearly $6 billion in new investments.

• goBeyondProfit: Impact of Racial Inequity at Work

  January 20, 2021

  A bit of history frames the discussion that leads to practical understanding of why conversations on race are vitally important in the optimal workplace.

• goBeyondProfit Releases Video Series Identifying Common Dynamics that Hurt Company Cultures & Hinder Success of Black & Other Diverse Employees

  January 19, 2021

  As follow up to their recent research report on Empathetic Leadership, goBeyondProfit has released a three-part video series offering business executive insights on common workplace practices and perspectives that hinder all employees, but in particular Black employees, from peak performance.

• South Health District Officials Update City Councilmembers on COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts

  January 19, 2021

  On Wednesday, January 13t, City Officials met with the South Health District representatives to present the latest COVID-19 information and answer questions from Councilmembers.

• Survey: America's CEOs Start 2021 Concerned About Taxes, Optimistic About Trade, & Eager to Return to the Office

  January 19, 2021

  As 2021 begins, a new survey from The Conference Board reveals the biggest issues that will keep business leaders up at night in the new year. CEOs in the United States are more worried about higher corporate taxes and increased regulation, but less worried about global political instability and disruptions to global trade.

• Despite Challenges, Georgia Ports Achieved Milestones in 2020

  January 15, 2021

  Despite unprecedented challenges in 2020, the Georgia Ports Authority’s (GPA) and its partners achieved many milestones.

• Georgia Plans to Provide Bonus Payment to Every Public School Teacher, School Staff Member

  January 15, 2021

  Governor Brian Kemp and State School Superintendent Richard Woods plan to provide a one-time, $1,000 bonus payment to every K-12 public-school teacher and school-level staff member in the state.

• SBA Re-Opening Paycheck Protection Program to Small Lenders & All Lenders on Tuesday

  January 15, 2021

  The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S. Treasury Department, will re-open the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan portal to PPP-eligible lenders with $1 billion or less in assets for First and Second Draw applications on Friday. The portal will fully open on Tuesday, to all participating PPP lenders to submit First and Second Draw loan applications to SBA.

• Correct Craft to Open Supreme Boats Manufacturing Facility in Valdosta, Create 90 Jobs

  January 14, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Correct Craft, a leader in building tournament inboard, freshwater fishing, utility and recreational boats, will invest more than $1.7 million in opening a manufacturing facility in Valdosta, delivering 90 jobs to Lowndes County.

• Georgia Chamber Eggs and Issues Event Attracts over 3,000 Participants

  January 14, 2021

  The Georgia Chamber all-virtual Eggs and Issues event, presented by AT&T, Atlanta Gas Light, Chick-fil-A, Delta Air Lines, Inc., and Georgia Power aired virtually Wednesday to more than 3,000 business and community leaders across the state.

• Dr. Steve Wrigley Announces Plan to Retire as Chancellor of the University System of Georgia

  January 13, 2021

  University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Steve Wrigley announced plans to retire July 1st, after 36 years in public service.

• Valdosta-Lowndes Conference Center & Tourism Authority is Honored with ConventionSouth’s Annual Readers’ Choice Award

  January 08, 2021

  Publishers and editors of ConventionSouth, the national multimedia resource for planning events in the South, have honored the Valdosta-Lowndes Conference Center & Tourism Authority with a 2020 Readers’ Choice Award.

• Georgia Farm Bureau Honors Sen. Isakson with Commodity Award

  January 07, 2021

  On Dec. 17th, former U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson received the 2020 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Commodity Award in a private presentation at his Atlanta office. The GFB Commodity Award, one of the organization’s highest honors, is given to individuals who have supported and promoted Georgia agriculture.