October 2023 Features

• Georgia Power's 2023 Integrated Resource Plan Update Supports Georgia's Extraordinary Economic Growth

  October 30, 2023

  Georgia Power filed an update to its Integrated Resource Plan that sets forth a flexible, comprehensive plan to support the state's extraordinary economic growth and continue providing clean, safe, reliable, and affordable power for customers.

• 'Coming Home,' Servant Leadership Themes Common to Rayfield's Vision, Investiture as Columbus State's Sixth President

  October 27, 2023

  To the students, alumni, employees and supporters in Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center on October 20th, Columbus State University’s newest president, Dr. Stuart Rayfield, celebrated the legacy of servant leadership and community partnerships that have permeated the institution’s 65-year history.

• Federal Judge Tosses Georgia Redistricting Maps; Governor Calls Special Session

  October 27, 2023

  A federal judge Thursday rejected both the congressional and legislative redistricting maps Georgia’s Republican-controlled General Assembly drew two years ago and ordered new maps prepared in time for next year’s elections.

• goBeyondProfit CEO Interviews: Richard Simms, CEO of Tyrannosaurus Tech

  October 27, 2023

  Tyrannosaurus Tech’s whimsical brand displays their earnest intention to be a bridge into the mysterious world of technology development. When Richard Simms and Carlos Gonzalez founded Tyrannosaurus Tech, they were laser-focused on survival, yet they quickly realized that they wanted to build a company that fulfilled a larger purpose.

• Technical College System of Georgia Celebrates Graduation of Inaugural Cohort from Senior Leadership Academy

  October 26, 2023

  The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) is proud to announce the successful completion of its first cohort of the Senior Leadership Academy, a transformative professional development program aimed at advancing careers within TCSG and its 22 colleges.

• Georgia Council for the Arts Awards Grant Funding to 87 Organizations

  October 25, 2023

  Georgia Council for the Arts, a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, announced the recipients of fiscal year 2024 Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities grant awards.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley to Celebrate with 85th Anniversary Reception to Honor Alumni, Supporters, and Partners.

  October 24, 2023

  Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley is thrilled to announce its 85th anniversary, marking eight and a half decades of transforming the lives of young people in our community.

• goBeyondProfit CEO Interviews: Colin Connolly, President and CEO of Cousins Properties

  October 20, 2023

  In part 2 of our interview with Colin Connolly, President and CEO of Cousins Properties, we explored their historic involvement with the East Lake Community as well as their more recent efforts to pay their civic rent in Atlanta.

• Aflac Report: Workforce Retention on the Line as Employers Battle Employee Burnout

  October 20, 2023

  Employers across various U.S. industries and regions are struggling to meet their employees' health care benefits needs — and employee satisfaction, wellbeing and retention are at stake, according to the 13th annual Aflac WorkForces Report released by Aflac.

• Ag Chris Carr Highlights Efforts to Fight Cybercrime During Cybersecurity Awareness Month

  October 19, 2023

  Attorney General Chris Carr is recognizing the month of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month by highlighting his office’s continued efforts to investigate and prosecute cyber-enabled crime through the work of his Prosecution Division and the Georgia Cyber Fraud Task Force.

• Georgia Sees Slight Increase in September Unemployment Rate

  October 19, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's September unemployment rate increased to 3.4 percent, up one-tenth from a revised 3.3 percent in August. The unemployment rate was four-tenths lower than the national average.

• CEO Confidence Dips in Q4

  October 18, 2023

  The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence in collaboration with The Business Council fell to 46 in Q4 2023, down from 48 in the third quarter. The Measure remained below a reading of 50, which indicates that CEOs maintain a cautious outlook regarding what's ahead for the economy.

• Fox Awards $500,000 for 12 Historic Georgia Theatres, Celebrating Fox Theatre Institute’s 15th Year

  October 17, 2023

  The Fox Theatre is delighted to announce 12 grant recipients for the current fiscal year, totaling $500,000 in financial support. These grants will be funded in three categories: Historic Preservation, Technical Assistance and Services and Urgent/Emergency Needs.

• Campus Events, Athletics Mark Upcoming Columbus State Homecoming Week for Students, Alumni and Community

  October 16, 2023

  Alumni get-togethers, daytime and evening student events, and soccer and club football games are just some of the activities occurring the week of October 16th as Columbus State University celebrates its annual Homecoming Week.

• TCSG Names College and Career Academy of the Year, CCA Student of the Year, & CCA Business Partner of the Year

  October 16, 2023

  The Technical College System of Georgia is pleased to announce that Newton County College and Career Academy has been awarded the prestigious title of "College and Career Academy of the Year" for 2023.

• UGA Captures Economic Impact of Georgia Agriculture

  October 16, 2023

  If you’ve ever driven down a rural road lined with fields of cotton plants festooned with fluffy bolls and wondered how much cotton is grown in your county, forget Google — the University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development has what you need.

• Georgia Ports Authority President: GPA ‘All-In’ on Building Best Gateway for U.S. Supply Chains

  October 13, 2023

  Georgia Ports Authority leaders presented an update on the port’s $1.9B master plan and infrastructure investments at the Savannah State of the Port event yesterday. The capacity crowd of 1,200 included state and local political leaders, GPA customers, maritime/logistics industry executives, investors, developers and supply chain partners.

• goBeyondProfit CEO Interviews: Colin Connolly, President, & CEO of Cousins Properties

  October 13, 2023

  In a recent conversation with President and CEO, Colin Connolly, we discussed the practical application of a corporate philosophy, their recent effort to pay their civic rent here in Atlanta and how concepts like ESG are merely the latest label for an on-going commitment to good governance and positive impacts in the lives of people and the planet.

• Atlanta Primed to Become U.S. Soccer Capital Ahead of 2026 World Cup

  October 12, 2023

  The U.S. Soccer Federation plans to build its first-ever national training center in Atlanta, placing the city at the center of its efforts to advance the sport across the country.

• Georgia Students Record Another All-time-high Graduation Rate

  October 11, 2023

  Georgia's high-school seniors recorded another historic graduation rate in 2023. The four-year graduation rate rose to 84.4% -- up from 84.1% in 2022, and an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation first required to be calculated in 2011 by federal law.

• Deloitte: Holiday Retail Sales Expected to Increase Between 3.5% to 4.6%

  October 11, 2023

  Holiday retail sales are likely to increase between 3.5% and 4.6% in 2023, according to Deloitte's annual holiday retail forecast. Overall, Deloitte's retail and consumer products practice projects holiday sales will total $1.54 to $1.56 trillion during the November to January timeframe. In 2022, holiday sales grew by 7.6% in the same period.

• Columbus State Sets Sights on New Five-year Strategic Plan

  October 10, 2023

  As Columbus State University’s current five-year strategic plan sunsets this year, the university is beginning the process of envisioning goals and opportunities that will guide the institution for the next half-decade.

• GaDOE and Georgia Chamber Partner on Rural Workforce Efforts

  October 10, 2023

  GaDOE, in partnership with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce Foundation through the Georgia Chamber's Center for Rural Prosperity, will award $3 million in grants to rural districts for projects designed to increase workforce readiness.

• Parade of Athletes with National Flags to Highlight the Opening Ceremonies for 2023 Freestyle Kayak World Championships

  October 06, 2023

  For the first time since the 1996 Olympics, the Chattahoochee Valley will be hosting a parade of athletes bearing national flags to officially open the Freestyle Kayak Championships. The event will be at the Phenix City Amphitheater on Saturday, October 7th. The opening ceremony event is free to the public, with doors open at 6:30pm.

• Georgia Quick Start Named No.1 Workforce Training Program in the U.S.

  October 06, 2023

  Georgia Quick Start, a division of the Technical College System of Georgia, has once again been voted the number one workforce training program in the U.S., according to a survey conducted by Area Development magazine, a trade publication for professional site locators.