November 2019 Features

• Homelessness: Where Does Georgia Rank?

  November 22, 2019

  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development delivers an annual estimate to Congress of homeless people in the country. And based on the latest estimates from the federal government, there were 552,830 people experiencing homelessness across the United States in January 2018. This is based on the latest HUD study — which provides a snapshot of homelessness across the country on a single night.

• Sen. Isakson Honored for Lasting Impact on Georgia’s Economy, Business Community

  November 21, 2019

  A new video and a recent Atlanta Business Chronicle article highlight the legacy and impact of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., on Georgia’s economy as the longtime businessman prepares to leave the Senate on Dec. 31.

• 2020 Election: Both Parties Look at “the Numbers”

  November 21, 2019

  With another Democratic party presidential debate being held this week at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, focus naturally turns to Georgia and its importance in the 2020 election cycle. Is Georgia a “swing state” up for grabs? Both parties are “doing the math” after looking at turnout numbers to answer that question.

• Columbus Chamber Begins Nationwide Search for President & CEO

  November 20, 2019

  The Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce has retained Jorgenson Consulting, a national executive search firm located in Greensboro, North Carolina to assist in the search for its next President and CEO.

• Kia Motors Celebrates Decade of Manufacturing in Georgia

  November 20, 2019

  Kia Motors Corporation celebrated its 10th anniversary of vehicle production in West Point, Georgia, U.S.A. The facility, named Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), was the company’s first manufacturing hub to open in North America. It has so far helped create more than 15,000 local jobs and produced more than three million vehicles.

• Debate Stage Symbolizes State Policy That's Working

  November 20, 2019

  As Democratic presidential candidates on Wednesday debate in Atlanta, they’ll do so on a studio soundstage that is one of many built in the state since the introduction of Georgia’s film tax credit.

• Secretary Raffensperger Encourages Georgians To Support Small Business This Holiday Season

  November 20, 2019

  As families join together to celebrate Thanksgiving and the start of the 2019 holiday season, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger encourages Georgia to support small businesses.

• Governor Brian Kemp: Our Plan to Make Health Insurance Accessible, Affordable in Georgia

  November 19, 2019

  Georgia is experiencing historic job growth and unmatched economic opportunity in every corner of the state. Participation in the job market is at record highs, unemployment recently dropped to a twenty-year low, and we were named the “#1 State for Business” for the seventh year in a row. But even with rising wages and 30,000 new private sector jobs this year alone, far too many hardworking Georgians struggle to access and afford health insurance coverage.

• Piedmont Transplant Institute to Open New Clinic in Columbus

  November 15, 2019

  Piedmont Transplant Institute has opened a new satellite clinic in Columbus, providing patients in rural Georgia with access to sub-specialty care.

• Greater Women’s Business Council Recognizes 10 Companies Committed to the Advancement of Women-Owned Businesses at 2019 LACE Awards

  November 15, 2019

  The Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC), the largest provider of certification and development resources for women business enterprises (WBEs) in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, hosted its annual LACE (Ladies Achieving Continuous Excellence) Awards Gala on Nov. 8 at the St. Regis hotel in Atlanta.

• Georgia Power Ranked #1 in Segment by J.D. Power for Business Customer Satisfaction

  November 14, 2019

  For the second year in a row, Georgia Power has been ranked number one for business customer satisfaction among Large Utilities in the South by J.D. Power in its 2019 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study.

• Ted Williams, Warren Buffett & a Secret to Your Company’s Community Impact

  November 13, 2019

  One of goBeyondProfit's founding members was asked to serve on a panel of CEOs discussing best practices in Community Impact. Panelist Keith Reynolds Jennings kindly agreed to share his insights here for Georgia readers.

• University System of Georgia Enrollment Increases to Record High

  November 13, 2019

  The headcount enrollment for the 26 institutions of the University System of Georgia in Fall 2019 was 333,507, representing an increase of 1.5 percent (4,795 students) over the Fall 2018 enrollment of 328,712, according to USG’s Fall 2019 Semester Enrollment Report.

• Secretary Of State Brad Raffensperger Launches Columbus Financial Literacy Program To Empower Women With Financial Tools

  November 12, 2019

  Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is pleased to announce that “She Leads,” a financial empowerment seminar, is coming to Columbus. The event will take place Wednesday, November 20th, 2019.

• Mercer Board Approves New Names for Two Academic Units, Authorizes Major Construction Projects in Columbus and Atlanta

  November 11, 2019

  Mercer University’s Board of Trustees approved name changes for the College of Liberal Arts and Stetson School of Business and Economics and authorized work to begin on major health sciences facilities on the Atlanta and Columbus campuses.

• President Jimmy Carter Honored as 2019 Distinguished Conservationist at 26th Annual ecoBenefête

  November 11, 2019

  The Georgia Conservancy honored Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter as its 2019 Distinguished Conservationist at the Atlanta History Center on November 7th. The Distinguished Conservationist Award, bestowed at that Conservancy’s annual gala, ecoBenefête, recognizes President Carter’s profound and lasting impact on the conservation and protection of Georgia’s natural resources.

• Georgia Receives Top Business Ranking for Record-Breaking Seventh Straight Year

  November 07, 2019

  Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Georgia’s business climate has been named No. 1 in the nation by Site Selection Magazine, an internationally circulated business publication covering corporate real estate and economic development, for the seventh year in a row. Georgia is the only state that has received the distinction seven consecutive times in the history of Site Selection’s rankings.

• Bill Would Eliminate Taxes from Military Retirements

  November 07, 2019

  A group of Georgia state representatives are hoping to remove income tax from military retirements. One of the co-signers of HB-7 is newcomer Rep. Philip Singleton (R-Sharpsburg) who was sworn in as the newest state representative for Newnan’s District 71 less than a month ago. At his swearing in ceremony he announced his plans to form the House Veteran Caucus.

• Aflac's New Group Worksite Life Insurance Includes Advanced Claim Payment, First-Responder and Living Benefits Riders

  November 06, 2019

  Aflac, the leader in supplemental insurance sales at U.S. worksites, announced the launch of its new group worksite life insurance. It is the latest product in the company's life portfolio, designed to help a wide array of individuals and families pay the bills if something happens to a primary wage earner.

• For S&P 500 CEOs, Stock Awards Now Comprise More Than 50% of Total Compensation

  November 06, 2019

  A new report reveals that stock awards, which include restricted stock and performance-based shares, represented a record portion of CEO compensation in 2018. For S&P 500 CEOs, stock awards alone exceeded 50 percent for the first time. Moreover, they climbed to a record of nearly 40 percent for those in the Russell 3000.

• Delta Increases Service between Atlanta, Key Regional Airports throughout Georgia

  November 05, 2019

  Delta is deepening its investment in communities throughout its hometown state of Georgia with more flying from Albany, Brunswick, Columbus and Valdosta to the airline's Atlanta hub. Each market will see one additional daily frequency to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport beginning next spring, increasing seat capacity to and from these Georgia communities by 35 percent in 2020.

• Califormulations Chooses Columbus, Bringing 30+ Jobs & $5 Million in Investments

  November 04, 2019

  The Development Authority of Columbus and its economic development partners at the Columbus Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce that Califormulations, LLC, a unique platform designed to deliver end-to-end food and beverage innovation to consumer packaged goods companies and their brands, will soon begin operations in Columbus.

• Sen. Isakson Highlights Georgia Projects in Senate-Passed Federal Funding Measure

  November 04, 2019

  U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., applauded the Senate passage of H.R.3055, which includes important funding for agriculture, transportation and other Georgia priorities, while urging colleagues to end obstruction tactics to advance funding for other measures including for veterans, health care, water projects and national security.

• Callaway Resort & Gardens and Herschend Family Entertainment Announce New Relationship

  November 01, 2019

  Callaway Resort & Gardens announced that it has reached an agreement with Herschend Family Entertainment to operate and manage its resort and garden attractions in Pine Mountain, Georgia.

• Governor Kemp Announces "Georgia Access" Health Waiver

  November 01, 2019

  Governor Brian P. Kemp joined members of the General Assembly and business leaders to unveil Georgia Access - a Section 1332 state relief and empowerment waiver to the Affordable Care Act.