Features
-
CSU’s Leadership Institute to Bring 2019 Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum to Columbus August 26-27
August 23, 2019
For the 14th year, the Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum, hosted by the Leadership Institute at Columbus State University, will bring a lineup of the best and brightest minds in the world to Columbus. This year’s event, themed “Science of Leadership” bring speakers from all realms of science and technology and features a futurist, revolutionist, entrepreneur and astronaut.
-
‘Sustainable Highway’ The Ray Announces New Partnership
August 23, 2019
Having already been called the world’s “first sustainable highway,” that 18 mile stretch of I-85 near Columbus called “The Ray” is setting its sights even higher as it formalizes a partnership with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The new agreement seeks to increase opportunity for the living transportation innovation laboratory.
-
South GeorgiaLEADS Kicks Off 4th Class of Regional Leadership Program
August 22, 2019
The fourth class of South GeorgiaLEADS, presented by Electric Cities of Georgia, will kick off Thursday, at Southern Woods in Sylvester-Worth County. The class includes 41 participants representing 19 counties throughout the region.
-
University System of Georgia Increases Statewide Economic Impact to $17.7B
August 21, 2019
The University System of Georgia (USG) in fiscal year 2018 had a $17.7 billion impact on communities across Georgia, an increase of almost 5 percent over the previous fiscal year. It also created 168,284 direct and indirect jobs, a nearly 3 percent increase over last fiscal year.
-
Greater Valdosta United Way Expects 300 Volunteers Will Help 12 Nonprofits In One Day August 23rd
August 19, 2019
Over 300 community members from local businesses and organizations are expected to volunteer their time for the annual Greater Valdosta United Way’s Day of Caring to be held on Friday, August 23rd.
-
Chao Tells Georgia Leaders Rural Areas Key Focus of New Transportation and Infrastructure Funding
August 15, 2019
More than 2,000 Georgia business leaders, state and federal officials, and policy advocates broke into applause Tuesday at the Georgia Chamber’s annual Congressional Luncheon in Macon when U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced that Georgia will receive more than $189 million in transportation grants to expand infrastructure.
-
Georgia Sets Another Jobs Record in July
August 15, 2019
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that Georgia added jobs again in July as the state’s unemployment rate approached an all-time low. The commissioner also noted that preliminary figures showed Georgia’s number of employed residents continued to climb. Meanwhile, Georgia’s workforce dipped slightly again.
-
Georgia Restaurant Association Honors Grace Award Winners
August 13, 2019
The winners of the 2019 Georgia Restaurant Association Crystal of Excellence (GRACE) Awards were announced Sunday, August 11th at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta. The GRACE Awards Gala is the Georgia Restaurant Association’s (GRA) annual black tie event honoring Georgia’s restaurant industry.
-
Creating a Skilled Workforce is Ongoing Challenge for Georgia Industries
August 12, 2019
Communities and business districts looking to grow know that economic development and the availability of a skilled workforce go hand in hand. In Georgia’s tight labor market, new ways to attract employees are as important as ever.
-
Arglass Yamamura to Build First U.S. Glass Plant in Lowndes County, Creating Over 150 Jobs
August 09, 2019
Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Arglass Yamamura, LLC, a glass container manufacturing company, will create more than 150 jobs and invest $123 million to build its first U.S. glass container manufacturing plant in Valdosta, Lowndes County.
-
Ronshekua Sims and Brooke Jaramillo Named Wiregrass Employees of the Year
August 08, 2019
Recently two Wiregrass employees were honored for their dedication, hard work, and leadership skills by the faculty and staff of the college. Wiregrass employees annually nominate a staff member and a supervisor for their exemplary performance on the job. The nominations are narrowed down by a committee and the finalists are interviewed by a panel of judges to decide who will be honored.
-
Governor Kemp: Back to School, Not the Status Quo
August 08, 2019
In the coming weeks, thousands of Georgia students will return to school and officially begin the 2019-2020 academic year.
-
Georgia Awarded A+ for Small Business Friendliness
August 07, 2019
Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Thumbtack, a website and app that finds local professionals for projects, announced its 2019 Small Business Friendliness Survey, ranking forty-nine (49) states and forty-four (44) cities based on licensing requirements, tax regulations, and labor and hiring regulations.
-
Highlights from the goBeyondProfit CEO Forum
August 06, 2019
In Case You Missed It: goBeyondProfit hosted their first ever CEO Forum on April 23rd. Take a moment to watch the highlights of the event which featured a panel with Delta CEO Ed Bastain, AT&T Georgia President Vennesa Harrison, and retired Home Depot CEO Frank Blake.
-
AG Carr: Consumer Protection Division Yields More than $109M for Georgia Consumers and State Treasury in FY19
August 06, 2019
Attorney General Chris Carr announced that the Georgia Department of Law’s Consumer Protection Division generated more than $109 million for consumers and the State Treasury in fiscal year 2019 (FY19).
-
Georgia Among the Most Military Friendly States in the Nation
August 05, 2019
Three years ago Georgia set out on a mission — to become the most military friendly state in the nation. And at least one state lawmaker believes Georgia has accomplished that goal, thanks in part to the creation of the Georgia House Military Affairs Working Group by Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge).
-
What are The Fastest Growing Jobs in Georgia?
August 01, 2019
COMMERCIALCafé has released its most recent analysis on the fastest growing jobs, both nationwide and by state. The most compelling facts of the study are the top seven fastest growing jobs in the last decade nationwide and the jobs that are growing fastest by individual state.
-
U.S. Workers See Undeniable Value in STEM Education and Skills
July 31, 2019
Randstad US released the U.S. data from the global quarterly Randstad Workmonitor survey for Q2 2019. According to the survey, if U.S. employees could go back in time to age 18, 68 percent say they would focus on a field of study within science, technology, engineering or math (STEM). This sentiment is indicative of the perceived high value of a STEM education and career path over other educational tracks.
-
Joe Brownlee Assumes Role as Georgia Power’s Southwest Regional Director
July 30, 2019
Effective Monday, July 29, Joe Brownlee will assume the role of Georgia Power’s Southwest Regional Director in Valdosta. He succeeds Audrey King who assumed the role of Georgia Power’s Regional Director for Metro South – Atlanta earlier this month.
-
Georgia Chooses Dominion Voting Systems to Install New Statewide Voting System
July 30, 2019
After a competitive selection process, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger selects Dominion Voting Systems to implement its new verified paper ballot system. Implementation of the new secure voting system will start immediately and be in place and fully operational for the March 24th, 2020 Presidential Preference Primary.
-
Military a Dominant Force in Georgia’s Economy
July 29, 2019
Georgia is known for many things — peaches, peanuts, The Masters… but what about the military? Many people are unaware of the impact the military plays on Georgia and its economy. Georgia has the fifth largest military population in America with an economic impact of over $28 billion yearly. The top five are California, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina and Georgia.
-
Georgia Power, PulteGroup Celebrate Opening of Atlanta's First Smart Neighborhood
July 26, 2019
Georgia Power and PulteGroup are celebrating the opening of Atlanta's first Smart Neighborhood. Leaders from Georgia Power, PulteGroup, the Georgia Public Service Commission, U.S. Department of Energy, City of Atlanta and the project's technology partners joined together to officially open the neighborhood today at PulteGroup's development in Atlanta's Upper West Side, one of the city's most vibrant and popular areas.
-
Senoia, Summerville Ranked as Safest Cities in Georgia
July 24, 2019
Senoia, in Coweta County, has jumped into the top spot for the safest cities in Georgia, according to the latest survey performed by Safewise.com. Eleven new cities were added to Georgia’s safest list this year — meaning 78% of last year’s top cities made the cut again.
-
goBeyondProfit Launches Precedent-setting Award for Corporate Generosity that Demonstrates Both Community and Company Impacts
July 23, 2019
goBeyondProfit initiative, a no-cost resource for business leaders interested in evolving their corporate generosity as a business strategy, has announced a first of its kind award for Georgia business leaders and their Georgia’s companies -- the goBeyondProfit Champion.
-
SGMC Awarded Hospital Accreditation from The Joint Commission
July 19, 2019
South Georgia Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.