January 2025 Features

• Lawmakers to Take Up Ambitious Building Projects List

  January 24, 2025

  This week’s winter storm in Georgia has forced the cancellation of three days of legislative hearings on Gov. Brian Kemp’s budget requests for the remainder of this fiscal year and fiscal 2026.

• Georgia Jobs Soar Toward 5 Million as Unemployment Holds Steady at 3.7%

  January 24, 2025

  The Georgia Department of Labor announced that Georgia's December unemployment rate was 3.7 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.7 percent in November. The unemployment rate was four-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.

• Georgia Well Positioned for Future Growth & Remaining Number One State to Do Business

  January 23, 2025

  The Georgia Chamber Foundation published the 2025 Economic Competitiveness Redbook, the most comprehensive collection of statewide economic data and the Foundation’s annual capstone project.

• Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership Announces Class of 2025

  January 23, 2025

  The Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership Board of Directors announced today the selection of its Class of 2025. These 30 outstanding leaders represent a cross-section of Georgia’s most impactful voices in academia, industry, advocacy, government and civic organizations.

• Georgia Commission to Promote 250th Anniversary of US Founding

  January 22, 2025

  To promote the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Governor Brian Kemp has established the Georgia US250 Commission.

• Piedmont Columbus Continues Focus on Quality, Patient Safety; Gives, Receives Community Support Over the Holidays

  January 21, 2025

  The second quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 at Piedmont Columbus Regional featured a national recognition, a dining menu overhaul, and holiday season giving/receiving.

• Governor Kemp to Reinforce Economic Partnerships in Germany and Poland

  January 21, 2025

  Governor Brian Kemp announced he will lead an international mission to Europe to strengthen existing economic and cultural ties in Germany and Poland while also developing new relationships that will bring further opportunities to hardworking Georgians.

• OneDigital Welcomes Nonprofit HR, Expanding Capabilities for the Social Impact Sector

  January 21, 2025

  OneDigital, a leading insurance brokerage, financial services, and HR consulting firm announced a transformative expansion of its platform, aimed at transforming the social impact sector through its acquisition of Nonprofit HR Solutions. This partnership marks OneDigital's first sector-focused expansion, designed to deliver tailored solutions that empower mission-driven organizations to thrive.

• Cities United for a Stronger Georgia: Advancing Advocacy in 2025

  January 17, 2025

  As we begin the new year, we enter another busy legislative session here in Georgia and recognize the start of a new administration in Washington. Whether we’re addressing infrastructure funding, public safety, housing, or economic development, one truth remains constant: GMA’s mission to advocate for the needs of Georgia’s cities is as vital as ever.

• CEO Confidence Soars in Q4 2024 Following U.S. Presidential Election

  January 17, 2025

  Small and midsize business CEO confidence surged to 100.8 in Q4 2024, a 15.7-point quarter-over-quarter increase and the highest score recorded since Q2 2021, per the latest CEO Confidence Index released by CEO coaching and peer advisory organization Vistage.

• Fostering Success Act Success Spotlight: Eric Tanenblatt

  January 16, 2025

  Eric Tanenblatt, Global Chair of Public Policy and Regulation at Dentons, is urging Georgia’s business and community leaders to take action and support foster youth through the Fostering Success Act.

• Chick-fil-A Expands True Inspiration Awards Grant Program, Awarding $6 Million to 56 Nonprofits

  January 16, 2025

  Chick-fil-A, Inc. announced the recipients of its 2025 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards grant program, marking a record-breaking year with $6 million awarded to nonprofits making an impact in ways that align with the company's corporate social responsibility focus areas of caring for people, caring for communities, caring through food and caring for the planet.

• Ed Elkins Transitions to 2025 Chair of the Georgia Chamber

  January 15, 2025

  On Tuesday, at the annual Georgia Chamber of Commerce Eggs & Issues Breakfast, Ed Elkins, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Norfolk Southern received the gavel to begin his term as 2025 Chair of the Georgia Chamber.

• Gov. Kemp Unveils Economic, Workforce Development Legislative Priorities at Eggs and Issues

  January 15, 2025

  Tuesday at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs and Issues legislative preview event, Governor Brian Kemp delivered an address announcing some of his top legislative and budgetary priorities for the 2025 legislative session.

• Survey: As 2025 Begins, CEOs Are Most Worried About a Trade War and Recession

  January 14, 2025

  As the new year begins, what will keep the world's executives up at night? CEO's globally rank intensified trade wars as the top geopolitical risk to their companies. They say tensions between the US, EU, and China will have the greatest geopolitical impact, according to a new survey from The Conference Board.

• Georgia Lawmakers Ready to Take Up Usual Mix of Old Business and New

  January 13, 2025

  The General Assembly will convene under the Gold Dome today with the usual mix of old and new business on its plate.

• How Georgia Communities Help Attract Film Production

  January 10, 2025

  Georgia is a global production hub: In 2024 alone, film and TV productions spent $2.6 billion, sparking economic growth in cities and towns statewide.

• Exploring the Role of Purpose in Company Culture and Personal Fulfillment

  January 09, 2025

  goBeyondProfit, a first-of-its-kind business leader initiative that inspires business generosity, sat down with Shane Jackson, president of Jackson Healthcare and co-founder of goBeyondProfit, to discuss the importance of personal purpose and what role, if any, a business can play.

• Georgia Named No. 1 for Best Business Climate by Site Selectors

  January 09, 2025

  In case you missed it, a survey of site selection experts recently published by Site Selection Magazine named Georgia the No. 1 state for Best Business Climate.

• "There's Still a Lot of Uncertainty": Atlanta Fed President Bostic Looks Back on 2024

  January 08, 2025

  Today we're going to talk with President Bostic—or Raphael, as he always insists everyone call him—about this year in the economy and monetary policy, and a little more generally about what it's like to be a monetary policymaker in the world's largest economy.

• President Carter: A Life Dedicated To Giving His Best

  January 08, 2025

  Former President Jimmy Carter died last week, but only after truly living for more than a century. He was a peanut farmer, a graduate of the Naval Academy, a nuclear engineer, a State Senator, Governor, and President. He was also a Sunday School teacher, humanitarian, poet, author, and holder of the Nobel Peace Prize.

• Grasons Opens Columbus Location Offering Trusted Estate Sale and Business Liquidation Services

  January 07, 2025

  Grasons, a leading estate sale and business liquidation service provider, announced today the opening of its newest location: Grasons of Columbus, providing professional, compassionate services to families and businesses throughout greater Columbus.

• Georgia Public Broadcasting Unveils 2030 Strategic Plan and Rebrand Coinciding with 65th Anniversary in 2025

  January 07, 2025

  On Monday, Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) debuted a new visual identity, sonic logo, and other branding updates across its 20 radio and nine television channels throughout the state.

• The Columbus Museum Wins National Award for “Best New Museum”

  January 06, 2025

  The votes are in, and The Columbus Museum has won first place as USA Today’s 10Best New Museum for 2025! This national recognition celebrates COMU’s transformation into a more vibrant and visitor-centric space where art, history, and community come together like never before.

• Georgia Power Encourages Customers to be Vigilant of Scams in 2025

  January 06, 2025

  Scams of various types often increase around the holidays and during the first of the year as post-holiday bills begin to arrive and as tax season approaches. Georgia Power, the state’s largest electric utility, encourages customers to beware of scams in 2025, especially those threatening power disconnection.