Features
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NFIB: Optimism High but Job Openings at Record Highs
May 13, 2021
Seeming to confirm concerns about workers being reluctant to re-enter the workforce, the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB) latest Small Business Optimism Index rose to 99.8% in April, up 1.6% from March. The index has increased nearly five points since the beginning of the year but nearly half of business owners report job openings going unfilled.
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Amazon Fulfillment Center Coming to Savannah With 1,000 Jobs
May 10, 2021
Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Amazon will expand its significant presence in Georgia with a new fulfillment center planned in Savannah, Georgia. The new facility will feature innovative Amazon robotics technology and create 1,000 full-time jobs.
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Upcoming Virtual Event Helps Columbus Area Businesses Navigate Hiring and Retention During COVID-19 Pandemic
May 07, 2021
The Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO) and BETTER WORK Columbus (formerly known as Hiring Well, Doing Good) is announcing the next event in its virtual conference series, “The Changing COVID Workforce,” that features leaders from the Columbus area sharing their expertise on how to adapt to the changing work environment during and after the pandemic.
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Chris Clark & Santiago Marquez: Georgia Needs Dreamers for a Robust Economic Recovery
May 07, 2021
It has been clear from the start of the pandemic that this is not simply a public health crisis. Businesses of all sizes were negatively impacted and, much like the rest of the country, Georgia’s economy took a hit. Fortunately, Georgia has already begun economic recovery efforts due to our state’s earlier re-opening leading to a 4.8% unemployment rate as opposed to the national rate of 6.2%.
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How Tech will Smooth the Return to Global Travel: A Q&A with Delta’s Innovation Leader
May 07, 2021
With summer ahead and more customers taking steps to return to the skies, Delta has continued to find new ways to welcome customers back with less guesswork.
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Explore Georgia Launches Marketing Campaign & Travel Guide To Support Tourism Recovery
May 05, 2021
To celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, Governor Brian P. Kemp in conjunction with Explore Georgia, the state tourism office within the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced several new initiatives to increase visitation and support tourism recovery in the state.
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Georgia Celebrates State’s 2021 ‘Small Business ROCK STARS’
May 04, 2021
The Georgia Department of Economic Development today announced its six 2021 Small Business ROCK STARS as part of the state’s celebration of this week's Georgia Small Business Week.
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Speakers Announced: U.S. Chamber Global Forum on Economic Recovery
May 03, 2021
Join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for our inaugural Global Forum on May 18th and 19th.Led by U.S. Chamber CEO and President Suzanne Clark, this year's Global Forum on Economic Recovery will bring together leaders from business and government to discuss the opportunities and impediments to a dynamic global recovery.
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American Airlines Returning to the Columbus Airport this Summer
April 30, 2021
The Columbus Airport is pleased to announce the return of American Airlines to the Columbus Georgia market with nonstop service from Charlotte Douglas International to Columbus Airport and a second route with nonstop service from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Columbus Airport.
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Aflac Reports First Quarter Net Earnings of $1.3B, Sets Second Quarter Dividend
April 30, 2021
Aflac Incorporated reported its first quarter results. Total revenues were $5.9 billion in the first quarter of 2021, compared with $5.2 billion in the first quarter of 2020. Net earnings were $1.3 billion, or $1.87 per diluted share, compared with $566 million, or $0.78 per diluted share a year ago, driven by higher net investment gains.
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New Filing Illustrates Atlanta Gas Light’s Plans to Enhance Its System, Support Growth in Georgia
April 30, 2021
Atlanta Gas Light submitted its first-ever Integrated Capacity Development Plan, a filing newly required by the Georgia Public Service Commission. The document, referred to as the i-CDP, provides insight into the company’s long-range plans for initiatives that will enable it to meet increased demand and deliver superior customer service while continuing to serve the state safely and reliably.
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goBeyondProfit Research Clarifies Georgians’ Heightened Expectations and Offers Road Map for Business Response
April 29, 2021
Georgia-specific research confirms employee and consumer rising expectations – and propensity to act – based on how businesses speak out about issues and care for employees, community and environment. Business executive input reveals increasing business value and commitment to corporate character efforts, according to goBeyondProfit, a statewide alliance of CEOs which conducted the survey in March 2021.
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Georgia Power Retirees Provide Breakfast for Columbus Line Crews
April 28, 2021
Georgia Power retirees from the Chattahoochee Valley area are showing their appreciation to current line workers this month in honor of “Thank a Lineman” Month.
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US Consumer Confidence Up Sharply Again in April
April 28, 2021
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index rose sharply again in April, following a substantial gain in March.
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Georgia Ports Authority Details Capacity, Operations Expansion
April 27, 2021
At the Georgia Foreign Trade Conference, the Georgia Ports Authority released fiscal year to date numbers (July -March) showing record volumes of 3.9 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, an increase of 15 percent, and detailed a plan that expedites completion of more than 1.4 million additional TEUs of annual capacity.
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Columbus Botanical Garden to Dedicate Three New Gardens Friday
April 26, 2021
The Columbus Botanical Garden will dedicate its three newest gardens in a special ceremony on Friday morning, April 30th, at the Garden. During closure of the Columbus Botanical Gardens due to COVID-19, and into the Fall of 2020 after reopening, Garden staff worked to continue expanding and improving the gardens.
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What to Expect in the Housing Market After the Pandemic
April 26, 2021
The coronavirus pandemic has upended the housing market, opening up new opportunities for many, pushing some to move back home and causing others to reevaluate how they want their home to look. With vaccines being widely distributed, new Zillow surveys reveal what's likely to change and what's expected to remain when the pandemic ends.
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Colony Bankcorp & SouthCrest Financial Group to Combine in Transformational Merger
April 23, 2021
Colony Bankcorp, Inc., the holding company for Colony Bank, and SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc., the holding company for SouthCrest Bank, N.A., jointly announced the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Merger under which Colony has agreed to acquire 100% of the common stock of SouthCrest in a combined stock-and-cash transaction valued at approximately $84.0 million.
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2021 Virtual SBDC StartSMART Columbus Kicks-off on May 5th
April 23, 2021
Whether you are a new business (in business 2 years or less), or are still in the planning phase, building a business takes the right tools—and a lot of hard work. SBDC StartSMART will equip you to be successful!
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Jobs Increase Over the Month in Every Georgia MSA
April 23, 2021
The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that the number of jobs and employment numbers were up in every metropolitan statistical area (MSA) from February to March of 2021. The unemployment rate was down over the month in every MSA. For March, the unemployment rate was down and the labor force and employment numbers were up in every reported regional commission.
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New Report Reveals Cox Enterprises Has Invested Nearly $1 Billion in Sustainability and Cleantech
April 23, 2021
Cox Enterprises released Making Our Mark, its collective impact report, which details the company's investment of nearly $1 billion in sustainable businesses and technologies, and more than $191 million donated to or invested in communities.
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#ChildrensHospitalsWeek Presented by Hall Booth Smith, P.C. Begins This Week
April 20, 2021
To shine a light on the importance of children’s hospitals and how donations help kids get the best care when they need it, The Children’s Hospital at Piedmont Columbus Regional is pleased to participate in the fifth annual #ChildrensHospitalsWeek presented by Hall Booth Smith, P.C. on April 19th-25th.
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AG Chris Carr & Partners Kick Off Annual Fundraiser to Benefit Georgia’s Regional Food Banks
April 20, 2021
Today marks the first day of the 10th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy, a two-week virtual fundraising drive fortified by Georgia’s legal community, benefitting the state’s regional food banks.
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Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Drops in March While Jobs Increase
April 16, 2021
The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced that Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percentage points to reach 4.5 percent in March while the state saw a significant increase in the number of jobs.
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Trailblazing Off-Leash Dog Park And Bar Concept - Fetch Park - Is Coming To Columbus This Fall
April 14, 2021
Fetch Park the trailblazing dog park bar concept that started in Atlanta and has been featured by the likes of The Travel Channel, CNN, ESPN, and Mercedes-Benz, has announced expansion plans in Columbus' thriving-and-growing Uptown neighborhood as part of local real estate development company, The Cotton Companies, latest adaptive reuse project.