March 2026 Features

• Google Announces Initiative to Scale Energy Affordability Programs for Georgia Communities Statewide

  March 23, 2026

  Google announced an Energy Impact Fund in partnership with Georgia Power to support programs that expand access for families to energy-saving technologies that will lead to lower electric bills and stronger local energy systems across Georgia.

• Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper Announces March 23–29 as Georgia Ag Week

  March 23, 2026

  Today, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced that Georgia Ag Week will be celebrated March 23–29, 2026. The annual statewide celebration recognizes Georgia’s No. 1 industry and honors the farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers who drive the state’s economy and sustain communities in every corner of Georgia.

• Governor Kemp & Commissioner Wilson Featured at Georgia Chamber’s First State of Economic Development

  March 20, 2026

  Yesterday, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Georgia Economic Developers Association, hosted the State of Economic Development. The inaugural event was met with over 400 attendees and is part of the Chamber’s “State of” series,

• New Proposal Keeps Georgia's Voting System in Place till '28, Despite QR Codes

  March 19, 2026

  Georgia representatives abandoned a deadline to change the state’s voting technology before this November’s election, advancing a bill Tuesday that delays a switch to hand-marked paper ballots until the 2028 election year.

• Middle Market Business Optimism Surges to Near-Historic Levels as Companies See Big Boost in Productivity from Improvements in Tech, Ops, & AI

  March 18, 2026

  Middle market businesses are entering 2026 with surging confidence, with 77% expressing positive outlooks for company performance over the next 12 months—approaching historic highs—even as only half view the broader U.S. economy positively, according to a Sentiment Survey of 750 financial decision-makers at companies with $10M-$1B in revenue.

• Georgia Film Week Connects Industry, Lawmakers, and Student

  March 17, 2026

  Georgia Film Week this week to unify policymakers, industry professionals, educators, and students for a dynamic, statewide celebration of Georgia’s film and television industry.  On Wednesday, Film Day will kick off at the State Capitol, where industry leaders and public officials will gather under the Gold Dome to recognize the economic and cultural impact of film and television across the state.

• TCSG Secures $5M to Power Workforce Training in High-Demand Industries

  March 16, 2026

  The Technical College System of Georgia and its Office of Workforce Development/WorkSource Georgia are expanding efforts to strengthen the state’s talent pipeline through a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

• Tullis Beasley Named Inaugural Recipient of OVL Synergy 2030 Impact Award

  March 13, 2026

  One Valdosta-Lowndes presented its inaugural Synergy 2030 Impact Award to Tullis Beasley at the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce 2026 Annual Awards Banquet.

• GeorgiaForward Announces New Young Gamechangers Cohort

  March 13, 2026

  GeorgiaForward has announced the newest class of participants for its nationally recognized Young Gamechangers program, continuing a tradition of cultivating Georgia’s next generation of civic and community leaders.

• Phoebe Putney Health System CEO Scott Steiner: Next Generation 911 is Critical to Rural Communities

  March 13, 2026

  Phoebe Putney Health System CEO Scott Steiner outlines why modernizing Georgia’s emergency communication system through Next Generation 911 is essential to ensuring every Georgian can receive lifesaving care when every second counts.

• Moody Welcomes New Honorary Commanders

  March 12, 2026

  The 23d Wing inducted nine honorary commanders and nine deputy commanders during the 2026 Honorary Commander Induction Ceremony March 6,, in the Captain Mark Weber Memorial Event Center at Moody Air Force Base.

• TCSG Announces 2026 Adult Education Student & Teacher of the Year Award Winners

  March 12, 2026

  The Technical College System of Georgia has announced the recipients of its 2026 statewide adult education honors, recognizing a student and instructor whose dedication reflects the life-changing impact of adult learning programs across Georgia.

• Taxes, Electricity Cost, & Elections Emerge as Top Topics for Final Weeks of Georgia General Assembly

  March 11, 2026

  Georgia legislators are preparing for fierce debates on tax cuts, data centers, and voting during the final sprint of lawmaking this year. After last week’s deadline for bills to pass either the House or Senate, the General Assembly’s priorities have come into focus.

• GeorgiaForward Announces 2026 Youth Forum to Empower Youth and Tomorrow’s Civic Leaders

  March 11, 2026

  GeorgiaForward, in partnership with the Georgia Municipal Association, is pleased to announce the 2026 Youth Forum, a transformative leadership and civic engagement event designed for youth councils and young leaders from across the state.

• One Valdosta Lowndes Sponsors Site Visit to 4C Academy to Advance WIN Regional College & Career Academy

  March 10, 2026

  One Valdosta Lowndes recently sponsored a regional site visit to the Commodore Conyers College & Career Academy in Albany to gather best practices and strategic insight for the development of the WIN Regional College & Career Academy.

• Construction Ready’s 2026 CareerExpo Connected 8,500 Georgia Students with Careers

  March 10, 2026

  Construction Ready held its 20th annual CareerExpo in February at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. More than 8,500 students from across Georgia attended the CareerExpo, the state’s largest youth workforce development event for the construction industry.

• Georgia’s ’26 Elections Draw Big Fields of Candidates Running for State’s Top Offices

  March 09, 2026

  The slate of candidates for this year’s Georgia elections is now set, sparking a fierce competition before primaries in two months and general elections in November.

• Georgia CVB's Celebrates Billions in Tourism Impact During Annual Tourism Day at the Capitol

  March 09, 2026

  At the Annual Tourism Day at the Capitol, the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus presented a ceremonial $5.1 billion check to Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp, underscoring the powerful economic impact of Georgia’s tourism industry. GACVB President & CEO Amanda Dyson-Thornton joined state tourism leaders to highlight how tourism continues to drive jobs, support communities, and fuel economic growth across Georgia.

• Georgia Breaks Trade Records, Becomes Top 10 Exporting State

  March 06, 2026

  Governor Brian Kemp joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development in announcing the state has again made history by surpassing $60.2 billion in exports in calendar year 2025.

• 30 Finalists Advance in 2026 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest

  March 06, 2026

  The Savor the State: A Flavor of Georgia Tasting Experience is once again taking place in Athens, where judges will taste their way through an array of Georgia delicacies.

• Ray & Son Heating & Air Conditioning Announces New Leadership as Seth Ray Purchases Family Business

  March 05, 2026

  Ray & Son Heating & Air Conditioning proudly announces a new chapter in its long-standing history of serving South Georgia homeowners. Seth Ray has officially purchased the company from his parents, continuing the family legacy in Valdosta, Adel, Tifton, and Moultrie.

• Scaling Up: Large-format Industrial Demand Rebounds in the Southeast

  March 05, 2026

  Large-format industrial leasing is back, with the Southeast U.S. leading the way and playing an outsized role in this resurgence, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s The Southeast Scales Up report.

• Georgia Launches Historic Expansion of Need-Based Aid

  March 04, 2026

  The University System of Georgia celebrated Gov. Brian P. Kemp’s signing of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which includes funding for the DREAMS Scholarship program. This unprecedented state investment creates Georgia’s first statewide need-based aid endowment.

• Georgia Chamber Releases Report on Latest Tariff Updates

  March 03, 2026

  Following the recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump — which held that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the executive branch to impose tariffs — the Georgia Chamber of Commerce has released an updated tariff report outlining the potential implications for Georgia’s business community.

• Georgia Chamber Hosts First State of Higher Education

  March 02, 2026

  Yesterday, the Georgia Chamber, in conjunction with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, hosted the 2026 State of Higher Education at Georgia Institute of Technology.