August 2023 Features

• New Coalition Takes Aim at Tort Reform in Georgia

  August 31, 2023

  A new nonprofit founded by three high-power lobbying firms is setting its sites on tort reform in Georgia. Competitive Georgia announced its formation Tuesday, the latest sign that business leaders are preparing a major push for the General Assembly to curb what they see as frivolous lawsuits that drive up the cost of doing business.

• Georgia DOT Celebrates Connected Vehicle Technology Integration

  August 29, 2023

  Georgia Department of Transportation recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything waivers granted by the Federal Communications Commission allowing Georgia DOT to integrate C-V2X technology across the state.

• Charlie Harper: Preparing For The Last Season Of College Football As We Know it

  August 28, 2023

  The weather says summer, but the calendar says fall. We know this because the University of Georgia Bulldogs are ready to suit up between the hedges in Athens to defend their National Championship. Or better said, Championships. Plural.

• Albany Area Chamber Hosts State of the Community: “Issues & Insights”

  August 25, 2023

  The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce’s signature "State of the Community" event Wednesday featured dynamic panels of prominent leaders who engaged in a comprehensive dialogue about pressing topics shaping the Albany Area, including health care, housing, economic development education and transportation.

• CE Family Announces CEO Transition

  August 24, 2023

  The CE Family, a leading conglomerate of businesses, is excited to announce a significant transition within its organization. CEO Natalie Dixon has decided to embark on a new journey, following her passion for ministry with Hope City United Church. This transition marks an inspiring change for both the CE Family and Natalie Dixon herself.

• Georgia Energy Cities Showcase Prime Business Opportunities During ECG-MEAG Power Economic Development Southwest Georgia Bus Tour

  August 23, 2023

  This week marked a pivotal event as the Georgia Energy Cities extended a warm welcome to the ECG | MEAG Power Economic Development Southwest Georgia Bus Tour. This initiative has unveiled the promising prospects available for potential businesses seeking to establish a foothold in Georgia.

• Georgia Named the Best State for Business Growth, According to New Research

  August 23, 2023

  New research has revealed the best states for business growth, with Georgia taking the top spot. Business consulting firm Venture Smarter analyzed data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics to discover the business growth rate in each state based on the number of establishments in December 2021 compared to December 2022.

• Modern Gas Announces Leadership Promotions and Celebrates Industry Recognition

  August 22, 2023

  Modern Gas Company, is pleased to announce significant leadership promotions that reflect its dedication to ongoing growth and innovation. The family-owned business has promoted Mark Holloway from President to CEO, signaling a strategic shift toward the future of Modern Gas.

• Albany Technical College Announces the Start of Construction on the Dr. Anthony O. Parker Transportation Academy

  August 21, 2023

  Albany Technical College announces the groundbreaking of the highly anticipated Dr. Anthony O. Parker Transportation Academy. This cutting-edge facility is dedicated to further enhancing the college's Diesel Technology and Auto Collision Repair programs. The official groundbreaking ceremony is slated for Monday, August 28th, at 11 AM on Albany Technical College’s main campus.

• Georgia Ranks Sixth for States that Dine Out the Most, with Chick-Fil-A Their Favorite Restaurant

  August 21, 2023

  Dining out is often seen as something to do when celebrating an event or seeking a fast meal after a long day, that’s why a new study has investigated which states enjoy dining out the most.

• Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark -The Coming Crisis in Healthcare: Workforce

  August 18, 2023

  Across Georgia and the country, we are experiencing a serious need for healthcare staff. Hospitals, senior care facilities, urgent care centers, local health clinics, and even imaging centers are facing long-term problems providing access to care for our citizens.

• Georgia-Pacific Unveils Wildlife Conservation Area at Albany Plant

  August 17, 2023

  Georgia-Pacific, a leading manufacturer of building and packaging products, proudly announces the establishment of a new wildlife conservation area at its state-of-the-art lumber plant in Albany, Georgia. This innovative initiative reflects the company's unwavering dedication to environmental responsibility and its mission to positively impact the local community.

• Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Holds Firm, Remains Below National Average

  August 17, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's July unemployment rate remained steady at 3.2 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.2 percent in June. The unemployment rate is also three-tenths lower than the national average.

• Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Hosts Bank Security Round Table to Address Check Fraud in the Albany Area

  August 16, 2023

  The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce Monday hosted a roundtable discussion with financial institutions and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors on the check fraud security challenges that impact commerce and citizens and which in 2023 are estimated to have a $24 billion national economic impact. Locally, losses are estimated to be in the millions.

• Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson Returns Millions in Unremitted Funds to the Georgia State Treasury

  August 16, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson hosted a press conference yesterday to reveal the findings of a comprehensive internal audit, which uncovered $105,170,178.20 in unremitted funds that began accumulating in fiscal year 2014.

• The Average Georgia Credit Score Increased 12 Points During COVID

  August 15, 2023

  When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the United States at the beginning of 2020, quarantine and social distancing regulations caused consumer behaviors to change dramatically. As a result, many Americans were able to save money during the pandemic and able to improve their financial situations by increasing savings and paying down debt.

• Georgia Voted #12 Best State for Franchising; What Does This Mean for Small Business Throughout State?

  August 14, 2023

  This month, we are taking at the “Rich States, Poor States” Economic Competitiveness Index and how it can be useful to franchisors as they expand their footprints. For the state of Georgia, these rankings reveal a lot about where the state economy is going and where there is opportunity for their economy to grow.

• Albany Tech Foundation's 1st Annual Dr. Anthony Parker Golf Tournament Announced

  August 11, 2023

  The Albany Tech Foundation is gearing up for its 1st Annual Dr. Anthony Parker Golf Tournament. The tournament will take place at the River Pointe Golf Club on September 26th.

• Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Georgia Serves Grants $6.6M in AmeriCorps Funding for Georgia

  August 11, 2023

  Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Christopher Nunn announced that Georgia Serves is granting $6,600,668 in federal AmeriCorps funding to 20 organizations across the state.

• Jekyll Island, Helen & Dahlonega Voted Among the Top Budget-Friendly Honeymoon Destinations in America

  August 11, 2023

  As the wedding bells start ringing across the country, the euphoria of newlywed bliss is closely shadowed by the daunting expenses that weddings and honeymoons entail. Living the high life in 2023 isn't exactly a cakewalk, with that pesky thing we call inflation still sticking around and most couples starting their wedded adventure with a 'something borrowed' bank balance.

• USG’s Economic Impact Grows to $20.1B as Graduates Earn $1+ Million More with Their College Degrees

  August 10, 2023

  The University System of Georgia contributed a total of $20.1 billion to Georgia’s economy between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, a $800 million or 4.14% increase over the previous year, a new study shows.

• Albany State University Prepares for Academic Year After 2023 Summer Enrollment Increase

  August 09, 2023

  Albany State University is preparing for a successful academic year after experiencing an enrollment increase during summer 2023 totaling over 3,200 students. This is an estimated increase based on the 2,896 students that were enrolled during the summer of 2022.

• Georgia Breaks Economic Development Records for Third Year in a Row

  August 09, 2023

  Governor Brian Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, yesterday announced that for the third year in a row the state broke records for economic development during Fiscal Year 2023.

• New Survey Finds Employees Ask for Community Outreach Reboot

  August 08, 2023

  In the 2023 Business Generosity Report by goBeyondProfit and Georgia CEO, Georgia employees clearly indicated their shifting priorities regarding the most important demonstrations of generosity to the community.

• Georgia Center of Innovation Hosts Successful 2023 Georgia AgTech Summit

  August 07, 2023

  On June 7th, the Georgia Center of Innovation hosted the second annual Georgia AgTech Summit at the Robert F. Hatcher Sr. Conference Center on the campus of Middle Georgia State University. Similar to the first Georgia AgTech Summit held in 2022, this goal of this year’s Summit’s was to bring together industry, academia, and government partners who are players in the Georgia AgTech ecosystem to collaborate and share ideas.