February 2022 Features

• Columbus State President Chris Markwood to Retire in June

  February 25, 2022

  Nearly seven years after first setting foot on the Columbus State University campus, Dr. Chris Markwood has announced his plans to retire from public higher education and step down from his role as president in June 2022. His final day as president on June 30 will conclude a higher education career that has spanned three decades—with almost a quarter of that time at Columbus State—and marked by a focus on student-centeredness.

• Georgia Center of Innovation: Providing Support Wherever Your Business Needs Us

  February 25, 2022

  At the Georgia Center of Innovation, it’s our mission to help businesses clear the path to innovation and growth by meeting them where they are – providing expert advice, and helping them navigate resources tailored to the needs they are facing.

• Port of Savannah to Grow Capacity by 60%

  February 25, 2022

  At Savannah State of the Port, Griff Lynch, Georgia Ports Authority’s executive director, unveiled plans to expand the port’s container capacity by 60 percent. The enhancements will bring the Port of Savannah’s annual capacity from 6 million twenty-foot equivalent container units to 9.5 million TEUs by 2025.

• Georgia Chamber Announces Release of Annual Rural Renaissance Report

  February 24, 2022

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announces the release of the 2022 Rural Renaissance Report following a meeting of the Rural Prosperity Council in Tifton. The report is part of continued efforts to elevate Georgia's 140 rural counties through recommendations highlighting strategies and innovative solutions.

• Announcing the Recipients of the 2022 Georgia Titan 100

  February 23, 2022

  Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce the 2022 Georgia Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Georgia’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives.

• Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark: Winning the War for Talent: Higher Education

  February 22, 2022

  No other issue so dominates boardroom and shipping docks as the lack of skilled workers. In the next three years Georgia will need to fill 122,000 healthcare positions, 27,000 manufacturing jobs will be open and 13,000 construction workers will be needed.

• Hartsfield-Jackson 2021 Passenger Numbers Nearly Double Prior Year

  February 22, 2022

  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport announced the release of the 2021 traffic report. According to the report, ATL served more than 75 million passengers in 2021, a significant increase of 76 percent from the 42.9 million passengers served in 2020.

• Small Business Owners are Bullish on 2022 Despite Rising Costs & Staffing Concerns

  February 22, 2022

  UpSwell Marketing, a direct marketing agency specializing in helping small businesses grow their customer base, just released the results of their annual business sentiment survey.

• Georgia Center of Innovation’s AgTech Focus Reaching New Audiences

  February 18, 2022

  The Georgia Center of Innovation’s Director of AgTech Chris Chammoun has been featured multiple times in recent media interviews as this key industry sector experiences growth in the state.

• Georgia Sees Record-Breaking Job Creation From Economic Development Projects in First Half of FY22

  February 17, 2022

  Economic development projects secured in every region of the State of Georgia resulted in record-breaking job creation for the first half of the fiscal year. These 160 locations or expansions supported by GDEcD’s Global Commerce division will result in the creation of nearly 24,400 jobs and $9.8 billion investment in the state.

• Board of Regents Announces Sole Finalist for University System of Georgia Chancellor

  February 16, 2022

  The Board of Regents voted to name former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue the sole finalist for the position of chancellor of the University System of Georgia (USG).

• Georgia Announces Record Year for International Trade

  February 16, 2022

  Governor Brian P. Kemp joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in announcing that the State of Georgia achieved a record-breaking year for international trade. In 2021, Georgia’s total trade reached $166.11 billion across 223 countries and territories.

• Piedmont Columbus Regional Completes Expansion of Northside Campus Emergency Department

  February 15, 2022

  Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside is excited to announce the renovation and expansion of its emergency department. The expansion has allowed the ED to double its capacity from 10 beds to 20 and continue meeting the growing needs of the residents in North Columbus, Harris County, and the surrounding area.

• RAISE Forum Seeks Post-Revenue Southern Startup Applicants

  February 15, 2022

  The 14th semi-annual RAISE (Retention and Advanced Investment for the Southeast at Emory) Forum is scheduled for Friday, May 10. Supported by The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, this invitation-only event connects startups and top-tier investors from across the Southeast to foster collaboration within the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and ensure the best startups can stay local.

• Governor, First Lady Announce Recipients of Arts & Humanities Awards

  February 14, 2022

  Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp announced the recipients of the 10th annual Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities to honor outstanding individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia through their work in these fields.

• Georgia Chamber Welcomes Business Prospects for Annual ‘Georgia Quail Hunt’ in Albany

  February 11, 2022

  This week, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosts its 33rd annual Georgia Quail Hunt in Albany, as business leaders representing state recruitment and expansion prospects joined local and state economic development officials, including Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, to learn about the benefits of doing business in Georgia.

• Construction Education Foundation of Georgia Rebrands As “Construction Ready”

  February 10, 2022

  This week the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) announced it is expanding its work beyond Georgia, enhancing its services, and changing its name to “Construction Ready.”

• Georgia Saw 56.6% Increase in New Business Applications, 2nd Largest in U.S.

  February 09, 2022

  A recent Federal Reserve Bank study noted that the pandemic caused an additional 200,000 businesses to close their doors last year, with small businesses comprising the bulk of the difference. However, it hasn’t been all bad news for the nation’s small businesses. A real-time survey of business applications conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau offers encouraging results.

• Columbus Symphony Orchestra presents Synovus Toast of the Town

  February 08, 2022

  The Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is thrilled to announce the return of one of Columbus’ premier events, the Synovus Toast of the Town. After a gap year due to the pandemic, the Synovus Toast of the Town is scheduled for Friday, March 4th at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center.

• Georgia-Based Nonprofits Announce Transformative Investment to Help Students Overcome Obstacles to Learning

  February 08, 2022

  The Communities In Schools of Georgia state office and independent affiliate Communities In Schools of Atlanta work to ensure every student, regardless of race, zip code, or history of marginalization has what they need to succeed in school and beyond.

• Governor Announces Over $5.6 Million in Grants for Law Enforcement Training Program

  February 07, 2022

  Governor Brian Kemp and Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) Executive Director Jay Neal announced the awards of 46 grants totaling $5,618,762 through the Law Enforcement Training Grant Program.

• Global Production Company Behind Super Bowl Halftime Stage Set To Open Atlanta Outpost

  February 04, 2022

  As it gears up for the biggest sporting event of the year, All Access is officially setting up shop in the Hollywood of the South. With its well-established Los Angeles client base that continues to relocate projects to Georgia, the global company is following suit by expanding its presence with an Atlanta location to better serve its television, film and entertainment clients.

• Chick-fil-A Holds Onto Top Fast Food Spot in MBLM's Brand Intimacy COVID Study

  February 03, 2022

  The fast food industry maintained its sixth place ranking in the second year of the pandemic according to MBLM's Brand Intimacy COVID Study, which analyzes brands based on emotional connections during the pandemic.

• Georgia Chamber and Fiserv Award Recipients of Small Diverse Business Program

  February 03, 2022

  The Georgia Chamber has announced the recipients for this year's Small Diverse Business program memberships. Eight diverse businesses will have the opportunity to take full advantage of a one-year membership to the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

• Governor Announces Almost $408 Million in Awards to Provide Broadband Access

  February 02, 2022

  Governor Brian Kemp, joined by members of the Broadband Infrastructure Committee and state leaders, announced almost $408 million in preliminary awards which will provide communities, households, and businesses in 70 Georgia counties access to faster and more reliable broadband.