October 2026 Features

• Lowndes Longest Table Aims to Build Community Connections

  October 21, 2026

  Lowndes County residents are invited to pull up a chair, share a meal, and join meaningful conversations at the inaugural Lowndes Longest Table, Sunday, November 15th, at 4 p.m., under the James Beck Overpass in Valdosta’s Historic Southside District.

• Leadership Georgia Announces Class of 2027

  October 21, 2026

  The Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees is proud to announce the participants selected for the organization’s Class of 2027.

• Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark: Rural Georgia Must Lead Our Next Chapter

  October 21, 2026

  There is a tendency to talk about Georgia's success as though it simply happened. It didn't. Someone built the Georgia we love, generations who invested in roads and schools and ports, recruited factories to courthouse-square towns, opened businesses, and cared for land they hoped to hand down to their children.

• For Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and His Wife, Joan, This Mission Is Personal

  October 20, 2026

  For Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and his wife, Joan, the Fostering Success Act Tax Credit is more than a worthwhile cause. It’s personal.

• Majority of Small Business Owners Rely on Their Businesses to Fund Their Future, New Survey Finds

  October 20, 2026

  For many U.S. small business owners, their financial future depends heavily on the businesses they've built, yet new research reveals significant gaps in the planning and preparation needed to support a successful exit.

• Georgia Executives and Employees Agree on AI's Biggest Risk

  October 16, 2026

  The 2026 Business Generosity Report shows that executives and employees agree on surprisingly little about AI except for one crucial aspect. Both groups are equally concerned about the loss of human connection and damage to company culture.

• Georgia Marks Nine Consecutive Months of Record Labor Force and Employment Growth

  October 16, 2026

  The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Georgia’s labor force and employment smashed records for the ninth consecutive month in September, hitting historic highs of 5.5 million workers and 5.3 million jobs alongside a 50-year low in initial jobless claims.

• Georgians Shatter First Day Early Voting Record

  October 15, 2026

  Georgians came to the polls in droves on the first day of early voting, breaking the midterm election early voting record with more than 188,600 ballots cast, an increase of more than 53,000 voters over the 2022 midterm election.

• Georgia Restaurant Association Announces Finalists for the 2026 GRACE Awards

  October 15, 2026

  The Georgia Restaurant Association is proud to announce the finalists for the 2026 Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence Awards. Celebrating its 18th year, the GRACE Awards recognize the people and organizations whose leadership and talent continue to strengthen Georgia’s restaurant and hospitality industry.

• Greater Valdosta United Way Launches 2027 United for ALICE Campaign with $1.5 Million Goal

  October 14, 2026

  Greater Valdosta United Way officially launched its 2027 United for ALICE Campaign on October 6th, bringing community leaders, businesses, nonprofit partners, and supporters together to address the growing financial challenges facing hardworking families across South Georgia.

• UCB Dedicates Site for New U.S. Biologics Manufacturing Campus in Georgia

  October 14, 2026

  UCB marked the dedication of the future site of its new U.S. biologics manufacturing campus at Rowen in Gwinnett County. The ceremony brought together Georgia, U.S. Department of Commerce, and Gwinnett County officials, the Belgium Consulate, UCB leaders, community partners, and industry stakeholders to celebrate the future site of one of the largest life sciences manufacturing investments in Georgia history.

• Joe Brownlee Named Vice President of Region External Affairs for Georgia Power

  October 13, 2026

  Georgia Power has named Joe Brownlee as its new vice president of Region External Affairs, effective immediately. Brownlee is currently the region executive for the company’s South Region and based in Valdosta.

• President of AT&T Georgia Riley Blount: Building a More Connected, Resilient Georgia

  October 13, 2026

  When most of us dial 911, we rarely think about what happens after the call. We simply trust someone will answer, understand our emergency and send help as quickly as possible.

• Georgia Employees Are Turning Down Higher Pay to Work for Generous Companies

  October 09, 2026

  Employees are not just saying generosity matters to them. They are making financial decisions because of it. goBeyondProfit and Georgia CEO recently released the 2026 Business Generosity Report, a study of how generosity shapes the modern workplace. This week's findings detail the career and financial decisions employees are making in pursuit of a generous workplace.

• Tourism Growth Continues Across Lowndes County with Over $470 Million in Direct Visitor Spending

  October 08, 2026

  The newly released 2025 Economic Impact of Tourism in Georgia report highlights the continued economic impact of travel and tourism across Valdosta-Lowndes County, with visitors generating over $471 million in direct visitor spending in 2025, a 2.7% increase from the previous year and 11% increase since 2023.

• University System of Georgia Confers Record 86,660 Degrees in FY2026

  October 08, 2026

  The University System of Georgia set a new record in fiscal year 2026 by conferring 86,660 degrees — a 4.9% increase over the previous year.

• As Georgia Technical Education Reaches Record Highs, Wiregrass Connects South Georgia Students to Opportunity

  October 06, 2026

  As Georgia’s technical colleges reach record numbers of graduates and credential earners, the growing demand for career-focused education is highlighting the important role technical colleges play in preparing students for meaningful careers and strengthening communities across the state.

• The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Seeks Nominations for 2027 Preservation Awards

  October 06, 2026

  The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is seeking nominations for its 2027 Preservation Awards, an annual list of preservation projects and individuals in the state who have made significant contributions to the field of historic preservation. The submission deadline is Monday, Dec. 7, 2026; winners will be announced in April 2027.

• Recent Data Finds: Generosity Dramatically Impacts Employee Performance

  October 02, 2026

  Employees don’t just say generosity matters. They work harder for generous companies. Last week, goBeyondProfit and Georgia CEO released the 2026 Business Generosity Report, a look at how generosity shapes the modern workplace. The data confirms that investment in business generosity has measurable returns.

• Georgia Chamber Hosts 2026 State of Rural Prosperity & Announces Rural Award Recipients

  October 02, 2026

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted its 2026 State of Rural Prosperity on Wednesday, bringing together business and community leaders, economic developers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to discuss opportunities and challenges facing rural Georgia.

• Georgia Breaks Tourism Records Four Years Straight

  October 01, 2026

  Governor Brian Kemp joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development in announcing that the state broke tourism records for the fourth consecutive year and ranked No. 5 in the nation for domestic overnight visitation for the sixth year in a row.

• Top State for Talent Award Winners Announced at Governor’s Workforce Summit

  October 01, 2026

  Governor Kemp, in conjunction with the Technical College System of Georgia, the University System of Georgia, the Georgia Student Finance Commission, and the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy, held the fourth annual Governor’s Workforce Summit last week, celebrating excellence across Georgia’s education and workforce development system.