Features
-
Charlie Harper: Transit Moves Beyond Atlanta
June 26, 2018
Last week Governor Nathan Deal assembled state leaders at Georgia’s Capitol for an announcement. The State would be contributing $100 Million toward building Bus Rapid Transit on Georgia 400 through North Fulton County. The money will leverage $184 Million in Federal Funds granted to build express lanes from I-285 to McFarland Road, bringing traffic relief to one of Georgia’s fastest growing and most congested corridors.
-
Georgia Power Named Utility Communicator of the Year by UCI
June 25, 2018
Georgia Power has been recognized by Utility Communicators International as Communicator of the Year and took home the Best in Show award among 17 others in the annual Better Communications Competition held June 21st, in Louisville, Kentucky.
-
Georgia Lottery Corp. Celebrates 25th Anniversary
June 21, 2018
The Georgia Lottery Corp. marked its 25th anniversary during a ceremony Wednesday at the Georgia State Capitol. Georgia Lottery President and CEO Gretchen Corbin was joined by Gov. Nathan Deal to commemorate the occasion, which was a celebration of the Georgia Lottery, Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship Program and Georgia’s Pre-K Program.
-
Georgia Retains AAA Ratings for 21st Consecutive Year
June 21, 2018
Gov. Nathan Deal announced Georgia again earned a rating of AAA, with a stable outlook, from each of the three main credit rating agencies — Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s. Of the states that issue general obligation bonds, only nine currently meet this standard. These ratings resulted in low interest rates during the sale of state general obligation bonds to fund $1.32 billion for new projects.
-
Moody Airmen ‘Ignite’ Innovation During Spark Tank
June 19, 2018
Seven Moody Airmen pitched business ideas before a panel of 23d Wing and community leaders during the base’s first installment of the Air Force’s Spark Tank competition, June 15th.
-
Study Indicates Pet Friendly Companies Are More Likely to Attract, Engage and Retain Employees
June 19, 2018
A recent study conducted by Nationwide, in partnership with the Human Animal Bond Research Institute, reveals that 90 percent of employees in pet friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company's mission; fully engaged with their work; and willing to recommend their employer to others. In contrast, less than 65 percent of employees in non-pet friendly workplaces made the same claims.
-
Georgia Economy Achieves Record Job Creation & Employment in May
June 15, 2018
Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Georgia once again set records for employed residents, labor force and jobs for May, continuing a trend from previous months. The state is approaching the 5-million mark for employed residents. At the same time, Georgia posted more than 4.5 million jobs and a labor force of more than 5.1 million.
-
5 Secrets to Building Great Company Culture You May Not Have Realized
June 15, 2018
One thing I’ve learned across all the companies I’ve created is just how vital company culture is. This is especially true when you’re starting a new company and can’t afford to hire experienced veterans who command high salaries. So, how can you put great people in place without spending the fortune you haven’t earned yet? You create such an amazing culture that people want to work for you.
-
SBDC, Chamber of Commerce, Entrepreneur David Peterson Present Innovate! 2018 Conference
June 12, 2018
The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center at Valdosta State University, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce SEEDS Business Resource Center, and South Georgia entrepreneur David Peterson are teaming up to present Innovate! 2018.
-
4 Ways to Master Risk in Your Small Business Without Breaking a Sweat
June 08, 2018
Risk is something that few people enjoy. Sure, there are always daredevils who push things too far, but the majority of people are relatively cautious. And while there’s something to be said for protecting yourself, successful entrepreneurs don’t shy away from risk altogether.
-
AG Chris Carr: Frequently Asked Questions When It Comes to Open Records and Open Meetings
June 07, 2018
-
To Find Your Happy Place, Try Spending That Well-Earned Time Off on Jekyll Island
June 06, 2018
If you're hesitant about slipping away from the office for a couple weeks to take your family on that long-awaited summer vacation, relax. Research shows that vacation travel is the one type of travel that has virtually everyone's approval. Nestled on the Atlantic coast between Savannah and Jacksonville, Jekyll Island boasts a rare combination of activities, attractions and natural wonders that capture the imagination, regardless of age or interests.
-
GDEcD Trade Mission to South America Opens New Markets
June 05, 2018
Recently, GDEcD International Trade Manager, Alice Carson, has been traveling across South America connecting Georgia businesses with new opportunities in Latin American markets. The mission involved stops in three countries: Colombia, Peru and Chile.
-
Aron Levine, Head of Consumer Banking & Merrill Edge, Offers Insight into Making a Difference in the Community this Year
June 04, 2018
Now that we’ve settled into 2018, if you’re anything like me, you’re re-thinking your progress on New Year’s resolutions. For some, this might mean evaluating your philanthropic or community involvement goals for the year. Or, you may be in the research stages of finding the specific causes or organizations you’ll support—either with your time or financial contribution.
-
Project Renaissance Seeks to Revitalize VSU’s Spirit of Collaboration
June 01, 2018
Project Renaissance, a new student organization at Valdosta State University, is on a mission to unite students and enhance their college experience by providing them with the resources and connections they need to succeed.
-
Connecting Georgia’s Communities to Spur Economic Development: RuralWorks
May 31, 2018
The newest division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Rural Georgia Initiatives, has one primary focus in mind: to help rural Georgia communities become more competitive for economic development projects and identify new strategies for attracting jobs and investment.
-
Georgia Department of Transportation Heads into 2018 Summer Construction Season
May 30, 2018
With Memorial Day in the rear view mirror, the unofficial start of summer has begun. For Georgia Department of Transportation, summer road construction is gearing up across Georgia. The Department announced plans for an active 2018 summer construction season, with hundreds of construction and maintenance projects along interstates and state routes across Georgia.
-
Valdosta Has Mostly Positive Jobs Numbers in April
May 29, 2018
Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta mostly prospered even as the state saw generally down numbers in April for several cities. In Valdosta, the April unemployment rate and initial unemployment claims fell while the number of employed residents and the number of jobs climbed. On the other hand, the labor force slightly declined for the month.
-
Delta Offering More Trans-Atlantic Flying Than Ever
May 29, 2018
Memorial Day weekend marked the start of Delta's biggest ever summer on the trans-Atlantic. Some 11 routes – both new and old favorites – will begin over the next couple of days connecting the U.S. and nine countries in Europe.
-
U.S. CEOs' Confidence Soars As Hunt For Sustained Growth Continues
May 29, 2018
U.S. chief executives are highly confident in the growth prospects for their companies over the next three years and will focus on M&A and collaborative efforts such as accelerator or incubator programs for startup firms to achieve sustained growth, according to a study released today by KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm.
-
Georgia Banks & Industry Groups Applaud Dodd-Frank Rollback
May 24, 2018
Georgia-based community banks, regional banks, and industry groups are applauding the significant rollback of Dodd-Frank Act regulations. As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) helped craft the bipartisan rollback plan, which included three of his provisions. The rollback plan now heads to President Trump’s desk to become law.
-
Georgia DOT Restricts Construction-Related Closures Statewide During Memorial Day Holiday Weekend
May 24, 2018
To ease Memorial Day weekend traffic congestion, the Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending construction-related lane closures from Friday, May 25th through Tuesday, May 29th on Interstate Highways, and limiting lane closures on state routes that directly serve major tourist and recreation centers.
-
Southern Company Announces Sale of Certain Florida Assets to NextEra Energy
May 22, 2018
Southern Company today announced that it has entered into agreements to sell Gulf Power Company, Florida City Gas and the entities holding Southern Power's interests in Plant Oleander and Plant Stanton to NextEra Energy for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $6.475 billion. Net of debt, this reflects an equity value of approximately $5.075 billion.
-
Zillow: Federal Tax Cut Will Inject Nearly $40B into the Housing Market
May 21, 2018
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted at the end of last year could result in tens of billions of dollars being reinvested into the housing market, according to the Zillow Housing Aspirations Report. This is despite the fact that legislation expressly limited a number of longstanding tax benefits for homeowners.
-
Coleman Talley LLP Wins 7th Consecutive Georgia Legal Food Frenzy with 160,305 Pounds of Food
May 17, 2018
Attorney General Chris Carr announced this week that the state’s legal community raised a record breaking $400,325 and 18,809 pounds of food during the 7th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy, an annual competition sponsored by the Georgia Food Bank Association, the Young Lawyers Division, and the Attorney General's office. The two-week event raised the equivalent of 1.61 million meals for Georgia’s food banks.