January 2023 Features

• Columbus Film Commission Meeting Topics to Include Sundance, Flat Rock Studio, Film Activity in the Region

  January 30, 2023

  The Columbus Film Commission meeting scheduled for February 1st will include featured speaker LARonda Sutton, plans for Flat Rock Studio, presenting at Sundance and other film activity in the region. The event will be at the Springer Opera House in Columbus.

• SK Battery America Exceeds Hiring Goal, On Track to Reach 3,000 Workers

  January 30, 2023

  Governor Brian Kemp today announced SK Battery America has exceeded its hiring goal of 2,600 employees two years ahead of schedule for its two lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities in Commerce, Georgia. The company met its goal at the end of 2022 and is further expanding its workforce to approximately 3,000 over the next year to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles.

• CEOs Pessimistic About Revenue and Economic Growth, Survey Finds

  January 30, 2023

  GLG, the world's insight network, released the findings of its fourth annual global CEO survey, which asked more than 450 CEOs around the world about the economic impacts of 2022 and their priorities and outlooks for the year ahead.

• Columbus Area-based Path Tec Parent Lab Logistics Rebrands as BioTouch

  January 27, 2023

  Lab Logistics Management, an Atlantic Street Capital portfolio company and a leading provider of outsourced medical supplies, kitting and logistics services to the healthcare industry, today announced that it has consolidated and relaunched as BioTouch.

• AG Chris Carr Talks Data Privacy Week, Offers Online Security Tips

  January 27, 2023

  Attorney General Chris Carr is encouraging all Georgians to join in recognizing Data Privacy Week from Jan. 22-28, 2023, by reviewing and adjusting their online privacy settings to protect their personal information.

• Columbus State's March 29-30 Diversity Forum to Spotlight Inclusive Conversations

  January 26, 2023

  Columbus State University’s annual Diversity Forum—scheduled for March 29-30 on the CSU campus—will highlight issues of diversity, poverty and inequality in a two-day format.

• Committee Recommends Stronger Investment in Georgia Music Industry

  January 26, 2023

  The Joint Georgia Music Heritage Study Committee released its final report in December 2022, and after review, Georgia Music Partners is excited to share the study’s findings which include several significant investments designed to support and expand the state’s music industry.

• 2023 GMA Visionary Cities Awards Announced for 9 Georgia Cities

  January 24, 2023

  On Jan. 22, during the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Cities United Summit, nine cities from across the Peach State were recognized with the Visionary City Award.

• Key Industries Sustain Momentum for State's Economic Development

  January 23, 2023

  Governor Brian Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, has announced that Georgia sustained its momentum through economic development projects in key industries during the first half of Fiscal Year 2023.

• Governor Kemp Sells Georgia to the World at Davos

  January 20, 2023

  Why the heck was Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in Davos Switzerland this week? Some that asked that question genuinely wanted to know the answer. To many in the populist wing of the Republican party, it was more of a statement, heavy with implied derision.

• New Report Announces 2,000+ Georgia Businesses Committed to Operating Generously

  January 19, 2023

  In the midst of economic uncertainty, commitment to generosity matters. More than 2,000 Georgia-based companies have pledged to operate generous businesses – caring for their employees, customers, and surrounding communities.

• Unemployment Rate Stays the Same as GDOL Welcomes New Commissioner

  January 19, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's December unemployment rate was 3 percent, unchanged from a revised 3 percent in November. Additionally, job numbers reached another all-time high, increasing by almost 6,000 from November.

• Greater Columbus Chamber Launches Livability Greater Columbus

  January 17, 2023

  The Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce recently teamed up with Livability Media, a custom media publishing company located in Tennessee, to develop and implement a print, digital and social media communications marketing program to tell the story of Columbus and showcase our quality of life for tourism and talent attraction.

• CEO Survey: A Recession is the Biggest Worry in 2023

  January 17, 2023

  As the new year begins, what will keep the world's executives up at night? CEOs in both the United States and globally say slow growth and a recession are their #1 external worry of 2023.

• 20 Years Later: Military, Academic Experts to Assemble in March to Cement Iraq War’s Lasting Legacy

  January 13, 2023

  Spanning more than eight years beginning in March 2003, the U.S. War in Iraq eventually involved more than one million U.S. troops. The incursion—known as “Operation Iraqi Freedom”—brought with it evolving wartime policies, modernized equipment and weaponry, and changes to U.S. military strategy.

• Charlie Harper: Atlanta’s Capitol Isn’t Washington’s

  January 13, 2023

  I made the move to writing columns for print newspapers and online publications 12 years ago this month. The goal, then and now, was to try to bring a view of state government’s operations and workings to Georgia’s voters, citizens, and taxpayers.

• GSEC Expansion Creates Unified Voice for Georgia’s Film Industry

  January 12, 2023

  All major Georgia film studios are now members of Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition (GSEC), firmly establishing the organization as the unified voice of Georgia’s film, television and digital entertainment industry.

• Monica Thornton Joins The Nature Conservancy in Georgia as Executive Director

  January 12, 2023

  Following an extensive search process which attracted dozens of qualified applicants across the country, Monica Thornton has joined The Nature Conservancy in Georgia in the role of Executive Director.

• Chick-fil-A Donates $5M to 46 Nonprofits through True Inspiration Awards Program

  January 11, 2023

  Chick-fil-A, Inc. announced the nonprofit grant recipients of the 2023 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards program with a total of 46 award winners – an increase of 12 from 2022. Collectively, these organizations will receive a total of $5 million in grants to further their community efforts.

• Audit: Georgia Sales Tax Exemption on Manufacturing Proving Major Economic Driver

  January 09, 2023

  Georgia’s sales tax exemption on inputs used in manufacturing is a loser in the strict sense of its net impact on state and local tax revenues, according to a new audit.

• Southern Company Announces Succession Plan, Chris Womack to Succeed Tom Fanning as CEO

  January 06, 2023

  Chris Womack has been appointed president of Southern Company and elected as a member of the Board of Directors of Southern Company, effective March 31st. Womack also has been appointed CEO of Southern Company effective immediately following the conclusion of Southern Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

• Relevance Beats Recession: How SMBs Can Prepare for Economic Downturns

  January 06, 2023

  Recession fears often drive small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to dramatically reduce their budgets. Spending cuts may keep companies afloat, but cutbacks need to be strategic. Scaling back business operations that drive sales, such as marketing, leaves businesses vulnerable to recession-driven earnings losses.

• U-Haul Ranks Georgia No. 8 Growth State

  January 05, 2023

  Texas, Florida and the Carolinas were the preferred destinations of one-way U-Haul truck customers during 2022, ranking as the top growth states on the annual U-Haul Growth Index.

• Flat Rock Studio Executes an Agreement with Catalyst Productions

  January 04, 2023

  Catalyst Productions and Flat Rock Studio announced an agreement to further expose and facilitate filmmaking in the region. The agreement calls for Catalyst Productions to fully engage with filmmakers across the globe to bring projects to the 180,000-square-foot facility and 80-acre campus.

• Delta Honors Legendary Georgia Football Coach Vince Dooley with Plane Dedication

  January 04, 2023

  Delta commemorated the life and legacy of renowned University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley on Tuesday with the dedication of a Boeing 767-400 featuring a memorial seal honoring the Hall of Famer.