June 2019 Features

• Brooks Family Donates Former Belk Building to Albany Museum of Art, Paving the Way for Downtown Move

  June 28, 2019

  After months of discussions and negotiations, the Albany Museum of Art is poised to relocate into the former Belk Department Store in downtown Albany. The Robert N. Brooks Sr. family has agreed to donate the properties at 128 and 146 W. Broad Ave. to the Albany Museum of Art. The Board of Trustees made the decision to accept the gift, which will more than double the amount of space the Albany Museum of Art has at its current location at 311 Meadowlark Drive.

• Shan Cooper and Frank Blake Elected to Georgia Historical Society Board of Curators

  June 28, 2019

  The Georgia Historical Society announced that Shan Cooper and Frank Blake have been elected to serve as the newest members of the GHS Board of Curators.

• Current Signs of the Times in Corporate Responsibility: A Conversation with Coxe Curry's Ann W. Cramer

  June 26, 2019

  The goBeyondProfit team had the privilege to sit with Ann and hear her perspective on trends in Corporate Responsibility. Ann has identified several signs of the time based on the Five Corporate Social Responsibility Trends to Watch in 2019, that are published annually by her friend and colleague Tim McClimon, president of the American Express Foundation.

• Allen, Hice Help Secure Ft. Gordon Cyber Instructional Facility Funding

  June 25, 2019

  The budget process has been out of regular order for several years now. Under normal rules, Congress would pass 12 appropriations measures that form the annual budget. These 12 separate spending bills offer a lot of chances for disagreement and possible partisan wrangling. It is much easier to pass much, much larger bills that combine spending into a package – thus, the “omnibus budget.”

• The Outlook for the U.S. Housing Market Hits its Highest Point in Three Years

  June 25, 2019

  Last year's sales slowdown, combined with the decidedly mixed data through the first half of 2019, certainly suggested that housing had passed its peak in this cycle. But the latest Health of Housing Markets Report (HoHM Report) from Nationwide Economics sees more positive, sustainable trends for the housing sector for at least the next year.

• Georgia's Largest Technology Showcase Scheduled for March 2020

  June 24, 2019

  The premier showcase event for Georgia's technology industry, The Summit, returns March 3rd & 4th, 2020 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta to shine a spotlight on the state's industry strengths and gather top leaders and innovative companies at the Technology Association of Georgia's (TAG) annual meeting.

• AT&T Invests Nearly $5.4B Over 3-Year Period to Boost Local Networks in Georgia

  June 21, 2019

  At AT&T, we’ve invested nearly $5.4 billion in our Georgia wireless and wired networks during 2016-2018. These investments boost reliability, coverage, speed and overall performance for residents and businesses.

• Congressman Tom Graves Introduces Active Cyber Defense Certainty Act

  June 20, 2019

  Congressman Tom Graves (R-GA-14) is concerned about criminal hackers in cyberspace. The Republican Congressman from Ranger, GA teamed with Democrat Congressman Josh Gottheimer (N.J.-05), to introduce a bipartisan bill that gives American businesses and consumers more tools to defend themselves online.

• Procter & Gamble Receives 4C Academy’s 1st Annual Industry Partner of the Year Award

  June 19, 2019

  It was an easy selection for the Commodore Conyer’s College and Career Academy Board when choosing their first annual Industry Partner of the Year, a new award that recognizes the industry/business partner that has made significant contributions to help the 4C Academy advance its mission.

• GMA Convention Guest Speakers Share Unique Roads to Success

  June 18, 2019

  The GMA 2019 Annual Convention themed: “Cities United: Lead to Succeed.” will take place this week at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center.

• Georgia Awarded Gold Shovel for Jobs and Investment

  June 18, 2019

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced Georgia was awarded a Gold Shovel by Area Development Magazine for generating the most jobs and investment in the United States for the eight to twelve million population category.

• Georgia Small Business Leaders Profit from Speakers' Expertise/Experience at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Event

  June 17, 2019

  This past Wednesday nearly two hundred small business leaders from across Georgia had the opportunity to benefit from attending the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Small Business Series” held in Atlanta: a notable list of fifteen, experienced peers and experts in the small business market segment shared practical advice, anecdotal narratives, and statistical information to help inspire owners, who might want to incorporate them in their business models and plans.

• Governor Kemp Makes Historic Appointment for Insurance Commissioner

  June 13, 2019

  Governor Brian P. Kemp made history by appointing Doraville Police Chief and Brigadier General John King to serve as Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner and Safety Fire Commissioner. King is the first Hispanic Insurance Commissioner and statewide constitutional officer.

• Freight and Logistics Commission will Look at All Options

  June 12, 2019

  Democrat and Republican lawmakers in Georgia agree that logistics and moving freight across the state will be a key issue when they meet under the Gold Dome again in January 2020. To prepare for those discussions, a Joint Commission of the state House and Senate has been appointed to study and consider different options.

• DCSS Awards More than $437k in Charter Innovation Grants to Schools

  June 07, 2019

  The Dougherty County School System awarded schools within the district more than $450,000 in Charter System Innovation Grants to support evidence-based, innovative programs to boost student achievement.

• Matt Arthur: Improve Horizons for Millions of Georgians Outside Metro Atlanta

  June 07, 2019

  Metro Atlanta continues to be the hub of economic activity in Georgia and the Southeast, with no sign of slowing down any time soon. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Atlanta has had a 43% growth in jobs since 1991, more than 20 percentage points higher than the national average. It has the fourth fastest population growth in the nation—nearly six million people live in the metro region.

• Small Business Hiring and Wage Growth Hold Steady in May

  June 06, 2019

  The Paychex | IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch for May shows job and wage growth were essentially unchanged from the previous month. The national jobs index stands at 98.76 and has been relatively stable throughout 2019. Hourly earnings have increased 2.53 percent ($0.67) over the past 12 months, remaining slightly ahead of the 2018 average growth rate (2.49 percent).

• Georgia Chamber Partners With U.S. Chamber To Host Small Business Series June 12th

  June 05, 2019

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will be partnering to host the Small Business Series on June 12, 2019 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mason Fine Art and Events in Atlanta.

• Georgia Power Customers to See Credit on June Bills

  June 05, 2019

  The second of three credits associated with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will be applied directly to Georgia Power customers’ bills in June. These credits are a result of the reduction in Georgia Power’s federal corporate tax rate from 35% down to 21%.

• The Southwest Georgia Society of Human Resource Management, Albany Chapter Awarded for Elevating Human Resources, Improving Workplaces

  June 04, 2019

  SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management) recently awarded SWGA SHRM Albany Chapter its prestigious EXCEL Platinum Award for the Chapter’s accomplishments in 2018.

• Congress Passes Disaster Relief Bill

  June 04, 2019

  Help is on the way. Nearly nine months after farmers in South Georgia were devastated by Hurricane Michael, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $19.1 billion disaster relief bill Monday, sending the measure to President Donald Trump. The legislation was approved 354-58 by Congress.

• 10 Most Expensive Places to Retire in the U.S.

  June 04, 2019

  Retirement might be a financial struggle for many retirees, but there is a segment for whom money is not a problem. To help those who like to dream big, Topretirements.com has developed a list of the 10 most luxurious places to retire. Communities where the hardest task is to choose whether it will be the beach club, marina, golf course, or take the plane out for a flight.

• A Midsummer Night’s Supper Features Three Chefs, Two Homes

  June 03, 2019

  The fourth season of the Albany Museum of Art’s popular Fine Art of Dining Culinary Series will conclude on Thursday, July 18, 2019 with A Midsummer Night’s Supper. Three talented chefs will team up to prepare a culinary masterpiece at two Albany homes designed by architect Frank McCall.

• UGA SBDC: Launch of New Small Business Accelerator Series for Rural Georgia June 18th

  June 03, 2019

  The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) will launch the first class in their new Small Business Accelerator Series, Accelerate Your Marketing: Grow Business and Build Loyal Customers, in Moultrie on June 18th.

• Conservative Writer Talks Free Speech at Georgia Public Policy Foundation

  June 03, 2019

  The Georgia Public Policy Foundation hosted longtime National Review writer and free speech expert David French last week. Besides being his writing duties, French is a veteran of the Iraq War and has spent much of his career as an attorney fighting for free speech rights.