Features
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State Unemployment Rate Drops to Pre-Pandemic Level in July
August 20, 2021
The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced that Georgia's unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a percentage point to 3.7 percent in July, mirroring rates seen prior to the pandemic. In March 2020, Georgia’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent
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City Partners with Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce to Host Seeds Business University Pop Up Shop Session
August 19, 2021
On Tuesday, September 14, 2021, the City of Valdosta in partnership with the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, will host a one-day small business Pop-Up Shop start-up session as part of the Seeds Business University. It is designed specifically for anyone interested in turning their business idea into a reality.
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Atlanta Fed President and CEO Raphael Bostic to Speak at 2021 American Rural Prosperity Summit
August 19, 2021
The Georgia Chamber has announced that Raphael Bostic, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, will be a featured speaker at this year’s American Rural Prosperity Summit being held in Athens, Georgia, October 4th-6th.
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Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: How Georgia’s Cities are Leveraging Partnerships to Achieve New Heights
August 16, 2021
There’s no shame in asking for help, especially when something as important as a city’s future is at stake. Several of Georgia’s cities are setting a new standard for how to utilize partnerships to truly thrive. Here are their stories.
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State Record-Breaking Jobs & Investment in FY2021
August 13, 2021
Governor Brian P. Kemp joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) to announce record-setting jobs and investments from economic development projects across the state during fiscal year 2021. Investments increased by 46%, while job creation increased 5% above prior state economic development records.
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University System of Georgia Reports Another Record in Degrees Awarded
August 11, 2021
The University System of Georgia awarded an all-time high of 72,929 degrees in fiscal year 2021, which ended June 30. The 3% annual increase over fiscal year 2020 represented 2,050 more degrees awarded than the previous year, and sets another record for the most degrees awarded in the system’s 90-year history.
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GeorgiaForward Announces Dalton as Host of 2022 Young Gamechangers Program
August 10, 2021
GeorgiaForward is proud to announce the return of its Young Gamechangers program in 2022, with Dalton serving as the Host Community.
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City of Valdosta Internship Program Offers Hands on Experience for Local Students
August 05, 2021
College internships are essential to successful outcomes after graduation. The City of Valdosta offers local students the opportunity to gain valuable skills in their specified areas of study while interning under the guidance of established city employees.
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Valdosta Regional Airport Utilizes Grant Funding for Facility Improvements
August 03, 2021
In March 2020, U.S. lawmakers passed a $2 trillion stimulus bill called the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act to alleviate the impact of an economic downturn set in motion by the global coronavirus pandemic. The Valdosta Regional Airport has utilized funds from the CARES Act and other grants to make necessary updates to their facilities.
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Small & Midsize Business CEOs' Confidence Continues to Rise Despite Labor Challenges
August 03, 2021
Confidence among CEOs in the second quarter of 2021 has risen to its highest level in three years, according to the Vistage CEO Confidence Index, which measures sentiment on various economic and business topics among small and mid-sized business leaders.
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U.S. SBA Southeast Regional Administrator: The Summer to Recover with SBA
August 02, 2021
We all recognize a feeling of comfort and familiarity as the nation opens back up for business. Recovery from the pandemic is underway; but there are many small business owners that are still struggling. During these very hot Summer months, it is a great time to take advantage of recovery programs.
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Georgia Earns Back-to-Back No. 1 Tech Hub Rankings
July 30, 2021
For the second consecutive year, Business Facilities magazine has named Georgia’s capital city of Atlanta the No. 1 Tech Hub spot. The momentum the state is experiencing, particularly in tech, is no accident and can be attributed to several factors.
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Georgia Power Announces Revised Schedule, Cost Forecast for Vogtle Units 3 & 4
July 30, 2021
Georgia Power announced a revised schedule and cost forecast for the Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear expansion project, resulting from productivity challenges and additional time for testing and quality assurance. The company currently projects a Unit 3 in-service date in the second quarter of 2022 and a Unit 4 in-service date in the first quarter of 2023.
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‘How Do We Welcome Our Team Back?’ Georgia-Based Companies Solidify Return-To-Work Plans
July 29, 2021
Do you want to keep working from home, or are you the type who thrives in the office setting? And how should companies accommodate workers after the pandemic upended everything we once knew about the workplace?
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Port of Savannah Moves 5M TEUs in FY2021
July 28, 2021
For the first time in its history, the Port of Savannah has moved 5.3 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, growing cargo volumes by 20 percent in FY2021, or nearly 900,000 TEUs compared to the previous year.
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Delta Fuels Georgia's Post-Pandemic Economic Growth
July 27, 2021
With travel on the rebound, Delta has announced the hiring of 2,216 Georgians since January 1 to join the ranks of the now nearly 30,000 who work for Delta in the state of Georgia. These talented professionals have been hired to work in career jobs across Delta's business in Reservations and Customer Care, Airport Customer Service and Cargo, Flight Operations and Tech Ops.
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Coleman Talley Named Corporation of the Quarter
July 26, 2021
The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce, with the support of Renasant Bank, is excited to announce Coleman Talley LLP as the second esteemed winner of the Corporation of the Quarter Award.
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Georgia's Medical Cannabis Commission Closer to Helping Patients in Need
July 26, 2021
The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission announced during their public hearing on Saturday, the Notice of Intent to Award six Class 1 and Class 2 Production Licenses to manufacture low-THC cannabis oil for medical use in Georgia. Sixty-nine applicants submitted competitive proposals and have undergone a fair and rigorous selection process.
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Nearly Half of Employers Plan to Increase Corporate Gifting Frequency Post Pandemic
July 26, 2021
Corporate gifting is on the rise as nearly fifty percent of businesses say they intend to increase the frequency of their gift giving post COVID-19, according to a new corporate gifting survey from Coresight Research commissioned by GiftNow, a Synchrony solution.
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AAA Survey: Traveler Confidence Soars; 75% Of Georgians Are More Comfortable Traveling Now
July 23, 2021
Traveler confidence is soaring, according to a new AAA Travel survey, fielded in late June. According to the data, three-quarters of Georgians (75%) feel more comfortable traveling now than they did three months ago.
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VSU Celebrates $368.8 Million Impact on Area Economy
July 22, 2021
How much does Lowndes County and the surrounding areas benefit economically from hosting Valdosta State University?
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Georgia Film Records Blockbuster Year
July 22, 2021
The Georgia Department of Economic Development announced today that the film industry recorded a blockbuster year in Georgia. During fiscal year 2021, the film and television industry set a new record with $4 billion in direct spending on productions in the state.
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University System of Georgia State Economic Impact Grows to $18.6 Billion
July 21, 2021
In fiscal year 2020, the University System of Georgia (USG) served as a significant source of stability and played a critical role in the state’s recovery with an $18.6 billion statewide economic impact. USG’s impact grew 0.6 percent over fiscal year 2019. The system directly and indirectly generated 155,010 jobs.
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Georgia Lottery Annual Profits for HOPE, Pre-K Soar to a Record $1.54B
July 20, 2021
The Georgia Lottery Corp. today announced its most successful year ever with historic profits generated for Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K programs. The Georgia Lottery raised a record $1,544,954,000 in profits for fiscal year 2021, bringing the total transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account since inception to more than $23.8 billion.
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Moody Air Force Base First to Renew 10-year IGSA
July 16, 2021
In October of 2016, Moody Air Force Base introduced its first Intergovernmental Support Agreement (IGSA) for water treatment to the installation. This five-year contract will expire this September and promptly be renewed on the first of October for the next 10 years.