May 2021 Features

• Georgia Secures AAA Bond Rating in 2021

  May 28, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced Georgia again secured the highest ratings of AAA with a stable outlook from each of the three main credit rating agencies: FitchRatings, Moody’s Investors Service, and S&P Global Ratings.

• AB&T Welcomes New Directors to Expanded Board

  May 28, 2021

  Reflecting the bank’s history of developing strong ties throughout the Albany area, the shareholders of Community Capital Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary AB&T, elected five new directors this week, at the company’s annual meeting.

• As Country Rebuilds from Pandemic, Beer Industry Releases New Study on its Economic Impact in Georgia

  May 27, 2021

  Today, the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association released their biennial Beer Serves America report on the economic importance of the nation's beer industry. Bars, restaurants, sporting events and concerts are critical to Georgia’s economy and the U.S. economy at large, particularly as the country looks to recover and safely reopen.

• State Purchases Economic Development Mega-Site in Bryan County

  May 26, 2021

  Governor Kemp announced the authorization to purchase a 2,284-acre economic development site in partnership between the State of Georgia and the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority (JDA). The strategic purchase of the Bryan County Mega-Site is the largest in state history.

• SBA Launches ‘Community Navigator Pilot’ Program Application

  May 26, 2021

  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is accepting applications for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program. This new initiative, established by the American Rescue Plan, will leverage a community navigator approach to reach our nation’s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans.

• Georgia Power Announces $75 Million Investment in Racial Equity & Social Justice Efforts

  May 25, 2021

  Georgia Power today announced the company and the Georgia Power Foundation are committing to invest $15 million annually from 2021-2025, $75 million over the five-year period, to help advance racial equity and social justice efforts in Georgia.

• Business Ownership Key for Economic Recovery in U.S. Cities, New Report Shows

  May 24, 2021

  The National League of Cities (NLC) and the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) released today new guidance for U.S. cities to pursue equitable post-COVID economic recovery through the use of employee ownership.

• Phoebe Breaks Ground on New Urgent Care Clinic in Lee County

  May 21, 2021

  A new healthcare option is coming to Lee County. Thursday, Phoebe broke ground on an urgent care clinic at Lee Crossings on US Highway 19 South. The clinic will be located in a growing part of southwest Georgia, adjacent to a Publix Supermarket and Chick Fil A restaurant.

• Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Continued to Drop in April

  May 21, 2021

  The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced that Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped another 0.2 percentage points to reach 4.3 percent in April.

• State Lawmaker Wants to Create Cyberforce in Georgia

  May 20, 2021

  While the gas shortage seems to be easing in most areas across the state following the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, the concern about future attacks is still on the minds of many state officials. In fact, the incident has driven one state lawmaker to look into ways to address this in Georgia.

• Demolition Work Begins at Future Site of Albany Museum of Art

  May 19, 2021

  Demolition work began Monday on a former dance studio adjacent to the future home of the Albany Museum of Art. The building at the southeast corner of Washington Street and Broad Avenue will make way for a sculpture garden.

• Partnership for Inclusive Innovation Awards Grant to First-of-its-Kind, Statewide Farm Ownership Program

  May 18, 2021

  Today, the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation announced a $250,000 grant for The Conservation Fund’s Georgia Working Farms Fund program – the first and only program in the U.S. to offer end-to-end support for next-generation farmers, including a path to farm ownership and access to established markets to sell their products.

• goBeyondProfit Invites Business Executives to CEO Conversation: Navigating Rising Expectations in Georgia

  May 17, 2021

  goBeyondProfit will host a CEO Conversation via Zoom this Thursday, May 20th at 2pm featuring a panel of prominent business executives discussing the recently released corporate generosity report: Navigating Rising Expectations in Georgia.

• EDC, Chamber, CVB Partner on Job and Internship Placement Initiative

  May 14, 2021

  The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau are working on a collaborative initiative to match local students to employment and internship opportunities in the community.

• TCSG and Georgia DCA to Implement $8.367M Grant in Southwest Georgia

  May 14, 2021

  The Technical College System of Georgia has been selected by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to administer the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Workforce Development Program. The grant will utilize $8.367 million of the $41.837 million allocation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded to Georgia in response to Hurricane Michael.

• Governor Kemp, State Labor Commissioner Announce Economic Recovery Plan

  May 14, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp & Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced Georgia’s plan for reemployment and economic recovery. To address workforce shortages and boost a full economic recovery, state labor officials plan to end Georgia’s participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs, effective Saturday, June 26th.

• Nominations for the 2022 Class of Leadership Albany Are Now Open

  May 13, 2021

  Leadership Albany was established in 1984 for the purpose of identifying and developing leaders in the Albany, GA area, exposing them to issues and problems confronting the community, informing them about institutions in the community, and providing a forum for the participants to better know each other.

• NFIB: Optimism High but Job Openings at Record Highs

  May 13, 2021

  Seeming to confirm concerns about workers being reluctant to re-enter the workforce, the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB) latest Small Business Optimism Index rose to 99.8% in April, up 1.6% from March. The index has increased nearly five points since the beginning of the year but nearly half of business owners report job openings going unfilled.

• Albany Area Chamber Recognizes 2021 STAR Students and Teachers

  May 10, 2021

  The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce this week recognized Dougherty County students and educators as part of the PAGE STAR program that recognizes academic achievement and performance on the SAT.

• Amazon Fulfillment Center Coming to Savannah With 1,000 Jobs

  May 10, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Amazon will expand its significant presence in Georgia with a new fulfillment center planned in Savannah, Georgia. The new facility will feature innovative Amazon robotics technology and create 1,000 full-time jobs.

• Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Nationally Recognized With Another Leapfrog ‘A’ Hospital Safety Grade

  May 07, 2021

  Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital (PPMH) received an ‘A’ grade in the spring 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade a national distinction recognizing Phoebe’s achievements protecting patients from errors, injuries, accidents and infections. This is Phoebe’s fourth straight top hospital safety grade.

• Chris Clark & Santiago Marquez: Georgia Needs Dreamers for a Robust Economic Recovery

  May 07, 2021

  It has been clear from the start of the pandemic that this is not simply a public health crisis. Businesses of all sizes were negatively impacted and, much like the rest of the country, Georgia’s economy took a hit. Fortunately, Georgia has already begun economic recovery efforts due to our state’s earlier re-opening leading to a 4.8% unemployment rate as opposed to the national rate of 6.2%.

• How Tech will Smooth the Return to Global Travel: A Q&A with Delta’s Innovation Leader

  May 07, 2021

  With summer ahead and more customers taking steps to return to the skies, Delta has continued to find new ways to welcome customers back with less guesswork.

• Explore Georgia Launches Marketing Campaign & Travel Guide To Support Tourism Recovery

  May 05, 2021

  To celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, Governor Brian P. Kemp in conjunction with Explore Georgia, the state tourism office within the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced several new initiatives to increase visitation and support tourism recovery in the state.

• Pretoria Fields - A Georgia 2021 Small Business Rock Star

  May 04, 2021

  Dr. Tripp Morgan, founder of Pretoria Fields, grew up surrounded by agriculture in Camilla, Georgia. He began brewing beer as a hobby, dreaming of one day opening his own brewery, but decided to put it on hold while he pursued a career in medicine.