December 2021 Features

• goBeyondProfit’s Top 2021 CEO Insights Curated for You

  December 30, 2021

  We blinked and the year is over. In an ever-changing business climate, goBeyondProfit shared candid insights from peers and ideas for leading with generosity. Below you’ll find a curated selection of the most relevant, talked about resources.

• Rivian to Build $5B Electric Truck Plant in Georgia, Largest Economic Development Project in State History

  December 17, 2021

  At an event with company leaders, Governor Brian Kemp announced yesterday that Rivian will invest $5 billion in a carbon-conscious campus in Georgia for its electric adventure vehicles. Across operations, Rivian will create approximately 7,500 jobs in the state.

• 'Tis the Season: More than 109 Million Americans to Travel for the Holidays; 34% More Georgians than 2020

  December 17, 2021

  Americans who had to cancel getaways and get-togethers last year because of the pandemic are making up for lost time this holiday season. More than 109 million people — an almost 34% increase from 2020 — will travel 50 miles or more as they hit the road, board airplanes or take other transportation out of town between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2.

• Georgia Employs Highest Number of Georgians Ever

  December 16, 2021

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced today that the state now employs the highest number of Georgians ever, surpassing the number of employed prior to the pandemic by over 3,000.

• Georgia Ranks First in New Election Integrity Scorecard

  December 15, 2021

  Georgia has ranked first on the Heritage Foundation’s new Election Integrity Scorecard. After passage of Georgia’s new election law, SB202, Georgia received 83 out of a total possible 100 points, and top marks in voter ID implementation, voter list accuracy, and citizenship verification. Georgia was ranked as the top state in the country for Election Integrity.

• Georgia’s Economy Well On its Way ‘Back to Normal’ by End of 2022

  December 14, 2021

  Consumer spending, housing, business investment and local governments fuel growth. The Georgia economy is on track to exceed its pre-pandemic peak and make a full recovery by the end of 2022, recovering faster than the national economy.

• Albany Technical College has Reached a Milestone with 50 Commercial Truck Driving Graduates for the Fall

  December 14, 2021

  Albany Technical College has reached a milestone with 50 students completing the Commercial Truck Driving Program for Fall 2021. This is an Albany Technical College record number of graduating students.

• White House Appoints SBA Southeast Regional Administrator

  December 14, 2021

  Allen Thomas of Greenville, North Carolina has been sworn in as Region IV (4) Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration. He has oversight of the federal Agency for nine district offices located across eight states; Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

• Leadership Albany Holds 2020 Class Graduation, Honors Cynthia George

  December 13, 2021

  Strong leadership and fierce commitment to community were on full display as Leadership Albany bestowed its highest honor, the Ed Freeman Award, to long-time community advocate and leader Cynthia George, at Thursday’s commencement ceremony for the Leadership Albany Class of 2020.

• CEO Confidence Slipped Further in Q4, but CEOs Remain Optimistic Entering 2022

  December 13, 2021

  The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence in collaboration with The Business Council retreated in the final quarter of 2021. The measure now stands at 65, down moderately from 67 in Q3 2021—and substantially from Q2's all-time high of 82.

• Navy Secretary Recognizes MCLB Albany for Energy Security Excellence

  December 09, 2021

  The Secretary of the Navy recently awarded two Marine Corps bases, including Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, the 2021 Energy Excellence Award for outstanding contributions to energy security, new technology, innovation, program management and efficiency within the federal government.

• Georgia Department of Economic Development Announces 2021 GEAR Award Winners

  December 09, 2021

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today announced the five companies that earned 2021 GEAR Awards. These awards are designed to recognize forward movement in the state’s automotive and mobility industries through innovation and emerging technologies.

• Employees are Increasingly Driving Companies' Disaster Philanthropy Efforts

  December 09, 2021

  As the frequency, intensity, and economic fallout from natural disasters continues to rise, employees are fast-emerging as an influential force driving their companies' disaster philanthropy efforts.

• Employees of Small Businesses See Record High Hourly Earnings Growth in November; Job Growth Also Continues to Increase

  December 08, 2021

  Wage growth reached a new high for the employees of small businesses in the U.S. in November, according to aggregated payroll data of approximately 350,000 Paychex clients with fewer than 50 employees.

• Watson Spence Celebrates Fifty Year Anniversary of Dunn Stapleton

  December 07, 2021

  Watson Spence today announced the celebration of 50 years of committed service to the firm by partner Dunn Stapleton. To honor and celebrate Stapleton on his golden anniversary, Watson Spence is donating $25,000 to the Phoebe Cancer Center.

• Georgia Chamber Holds Virtual Webinar on Maximizing Global Talent to Address Labor Needs, Spark Economic Growth

  December 07, 2021

  On Wednesday, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted a virtual webinar titled, "Georgia's New Economic Growth Strategy: Maximizing Global Talent" on the importance of utilizing the state's diverse immigrant population to increase workforce participation and economic contributions.

• GPA to Expedite 1.6M TEUs of On-terminal Capacity by June

  December 07, 2021

  At the Georgia Ports Authority Board meeting Monday, Executive Director Griff Lynch detailed actions that will expedite the completion of 1.6 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in annual capacity.

• Georgia is the Southeast's Best Place to Work from Home

  December 07, 2021

  Georgia is the best state in the Southeast to work from home in, new research reveals.

• Albany Area Chamber Announces ‘Albany Under 40’ Category Winners

  December 06, 2021

  The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday recognized the finalists and announced the category winners of the 2021 Albany Under 40 Awards, a program that celebrates the Albany Area’s emerging leaders and professionals in a variety of business sectors, each representing a component of the area’s diversified talent pool and economy.

• Leading Semiconductor Manufacturer to Open Design Center in Atlanta

  December 06, 2021

  Governor Brian Kemp today announced that Micron Technology, Inc., one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers and the only U.S.-based manufacturer of memory, will open a state-of-the-art memory design center in Midtown Atlanta in January 2022.

• Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business is Now Systemwide Home for the Georgia Fintech Academy

  December 06, 2021

  The Georgia Fintech Academy, a collaboration between the state's fintech industry and the University System of Georgia (USG), has transitioned to Georgia State University's J. Mack Robinson College of Business. Robinson was selected as the Fintech Academy's institutional home after an incubation period with the USG.

• Watson Spence Kicks Off 12 Days of Giving - Donates $4000 to Boys and Girls Club of Albany

  December 03, 2021

  Watson Spence is again celebrating the holiday season by donating to local charities through its "Twelve Days of Giving" program.

• Georgia Power Foundation Commits $100,000 to Support the Resiliency of Families in Georgia

  December 03, 2021

  The Georgia Power Foundation recently committed a $100,000 donation to support comprehensive wrap-around services for Families First, the state’s largest family and children’s services organization in metro Atlanta.

• Georgia’s Banks Continue Earnings Momentum in Third Quarter

  December 01, 2021

  The 153 FDIC-insured banks headquartered in Georgia through Sept. 30 reported strong third quarter performance. According to the latest FDIC data, cumulatively the state’s banks earned $579.1 million during the quarter, an increase of $128.8 million, or 29%, compared to the same three-month period in 2020.