February 2026 Features

• Amanda Free Named President of Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Georgia

  February 23, 2026

  Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia announced that Amanda Free has been named President. She succeeds Robert Bunch, who has transitioned to a new role within Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, leading the East Region Commercial region and Anthem’s Specialty Business.

• ASU Appoints Inaugural Vice President & Chief University Growth Officer, Pioneering a New Model for Higher Education

  February 19, 2026

  Albany State University today announced the appointment of Troy Beetz as its inaugural Vice President and Chief University Growth Officer, effective March 2nd.

• GDOL Honored as “Model Agency” for HR Excellence

  February 19, 2026

  The Georgia Department of Labor has earned the “Model Agency Award” for Excellence in Human Resources from the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, achieving the highest assessment results among all Tier 1 agencies.

• Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission Hosts Strategic Roundtable in Atlanta Ahead of Albany-Dougherty Day at the Capitol

  February 18, 2026

  The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission convened city and county leadership, development partners, and key stakeholders for an Economic Development Roundtable at the Georgia Experience Center in Atlanta last week ahead of the Chamber's Albany-Dougherty Day at the Capitol.

• Georgia Power Delivers Lower Costs for Customers with Latest Filings

  February 18, 2026

  Georgia Power today filed its expected Fuel Cost Recovery and Storm Cost Recovery cases with the Georgia Public Service Commission. Together, the cases seek to lower costs for customers through two distinct filings. The cumulative effect of the filings will result in overall lower rates for customers beginning this summer if approved by the Georgia PSC.

• Wild Adventures Announces 2026 Concert Series Lineup

  February 17, 2026

  Wild Adventures Theme Park has announced its 2026 Wild Adventures LIVE! concert series, featuring an exciting mix of award-winning music acts and exclusive events for season passholders.

• Georgia Historical Society Premieres New Georgia Day Video Exploring the Thirteenth Colony’s Founding

  February 13, 2026

  In recognition of the 293rd anniversary of Georgia’s founding on February 12, 1733, the Georgia Historical Society premieres a new Georgia Day video today, marking Georgia Day 2026.

• Consumer Advocacy Group Ranks Phoebe Hospitals Among Georgia’s Best

  February 12, 2026

  Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and Phoebe Sumter Medical Center are two of just six Georgia hospitals to earn the highest five-star rating in a new independent hospital scorecard.  Phoebe Worth Medical also received a high rating of four stars from Georgia Watch, a statewide consumer advocacy organization.

• Georgia Leaders Selected for 2026 GeorgiaForward Young Gamechangers Cohort

  February 12, 2026

  GeorgiaForward has selected 50 promising young leaders to serve the organization’s 2026 Young Gamechangers program. YG is a unique leadership action program hosted by GeorgiaForward, a non-profit organization administered by the Georgia Municipal Association.

• Kevin Price to Join Georgia Ports Reporting to CEO Griff Lynch

  February 11, 2026

  Georgia Ports Authority has appointed Kevin Price as President reporting to CEO Griff Lynch effective July 1st, with a longer-term transition plan to assume the role of President and CEO in mid-2027.

• Georgia Chamber Hosts 37th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt in Albany

  February 10, 2026

  Last week, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted its 37th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt, a premier statewide recruitment initiative designed to showcase the economic advantages of doing business in Georgia. The event took place on February 4th–6th in Southwest Georgia but the event’s impact and vision extended far beyond Southwest Georgia, with a continued focus on attracting investment, creating jobs, and building partnerships that benefit communities across the entire state.

• Frank Wilson to Speak at TEAAMS Session at Albany Technical College

  February 09, 2026

  Albany Technical College announces the upcoming TEAAMS Monthly Empowerment Session on February 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Logistics Education Center. The featured speaker for this session will be Frank Wilson. As part of the college’s Teaching, Empowering, African American Males to Succeed (TEAAMS) initiative, the program aims to equip African American males with essential skills to help them persist and succeed despite internal and external challenges.

• TCSG State Board Elects Buzz Law as Chair & Carvel Lewis as Vice Chair

  February 09, 2026

  The State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia today announced the election of new board leadership for 2026, naming longtime board member Buzz Law as Chair and Carvel Lewis as Vice Chair.

• AT&T Expands Fiber Network to More Than Two Million Customer Locations in Georgia

  February 06, 2026

  AT&T Fiber is now available to more than two million residential and business locations in Georgia. The expanded network gives more customers access to super-fast internet speeds up to 5-Gigs. AT&T made the announcement at an event in Albany alongside local and state leaders.

• Survey: Companies Take a More Cautious Approach to Corporate Philanthropy as Political & Economic Pressures Mount

  February 06, 2026

  Amid heightened scrutiny, companies are retreating from issues perceived as politically sensitive in their corporate philanthropy efforts. In 2026, nearly one-third of surveyed philanthropy leaders plan to scale back racial equality initiatives, with reductions also planned for environmental justice and gender equality, according to a new survey by The Conference Board. This continues the trend observed in 2025.

• Georgia Election Review Panel Recommends Gradual Shift To Hand-Marked Ballots

  February 05, 2026

  After six lengthy hearings around the state last year, a special legislative committee studying the elections process has recommended incremental changes to Georgia’s voting system.

• Albany State University Announces 2026 Blue and Gold Scholarship Gala

  February 04, 2026

  Albany State University will host one of its most anticipated and impactful events of the year, the Blue and Gold Scholarship Gala, on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 6 p.m. in the ASU West Campus Arena.

• Albany Museum of Art Names LRA Constructors as General Contractor for Its Downtown Relocation Project

  February 03, 2026

  The Albany Museum of Art has named LRA Constructors, Inc., as the general contractor for the museum’s adaptive reuse construction project in downtown Albany.

• Albany Named 2026 Visionary City Award Honoree

  February 02, 2026

  The City of Albany is honored to receive the 2026 Visionary City Award from the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend. This award celebrates cities that plan thoughtfully, build strong partnerships, and work to improve life for residents.

• Governor Kemp Announces Third Round of Rural Site Development Grants

  February 02, 2026

  Governor Brian Kemp announced the third round of grants from the Rural Site Development Initiative (RSDI) within the OneGeorgia Authority. With $4.3 million included in this latest allotment, the total investment committed to rural site development projects since the program’s launch in FY 2025 is now up to $21 million.

• Georgia Historical Society’s Georgia History Festival Continues with Family-Friendly Events

  February 02, 2026

  The Georgia Historical Society's Georgia History Festival continues in February with a weekend of educational events for students and families in recognition of the founding of Georgia on February 12th, 1733. Taking place on Saturday, February 7th, and Sunday, February 8th, the festivities begin with the Colonial Faire & Muster at Wormsloe State Historic Site. The weekend wraps up on February 8 with the statewide tradition of Super Museum Sunday.