April 2018 Features

  • Community Planning Institute Class Coming to Middle Georgia

    April 27, 2018

    The DCA Office of Planning and Environmental Management, in partnership with the Georgia Planning Association, offers a series of classes called the Community Planning Institute to Georgia’s planning commissioners, elected officials and local government staff. The Institute provides information about planning for land use, growth and development, as well as for efficient management of local water resources.

  • Main Street Macon Receives 2018 National Main Street Accreditation

    April 27, 2018

    Main Street Macon has been designated as an accredited Main Street America program for meeting rigorous performance standards set by the National Main Street Center. Each year, the National Main Street Center and its Coordinating Program partners announce the list of accredited Main Street America programs in recognition of their exemplary commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach.

  • Georgia Employers Association Legal & Benefits Workshop Covers the Bases for Georgia Employers

    April 26, 2018

    Georgia's thriving economy is producing excellent opportunities for business and associated challenges for business leaders and human resource professionals. Competition for the best employees is intense and the regulatory and legal environment continues to change rapidly. The upcoming Georgia Employers' Association Legal and Benefits Workshop is intended to help Georgia businesses keep all of the bases covered.

  • Mercer University Trustees Approve New 10-Year Strategic Plan, Record Operating Budget

    April 25, 2018

    Mercer University’s Board of Trustees, meeting on the Cecil B. Day Campus in Atlanta, adopted a record $248.4 million operating budget for 2018-19 and approved a new strategic plan that outlines the institution’s vision and priorities for the decade ahead.

  • SOS Brian Kemp Announces Commission Members to Review Georgia's Next Voting System

    April 25, 2018

    Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced his list of appointees to the Secure, Accessible & Fair Elections Commission, which is tasked with studying options for Georgia’s next voting system. The SAFE Commission will conduct thorough discussions on all options – including the feasibility of using all hand-marked paper ballots to all electronic machines with a voter-verified paper trail – and travel the state to solicit feedback from stakeholders.

  • FVSU & Robins Air Force Base Enter into Partnership to Enhance Supply Chain Logistics Careers

    April 24, 2018

    Fort Valley State University (FVSU) and the 638th Supply Chain Management Group at Robins Air Force Base today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at formalizing a partnership which will provide team members for the base’s workforce and leverage FVSU’s degree program in supply chain and logistics management to help employees of the base reach their educational and career goals.

  • Georgia Chamber Launches Scorecard Website for 2017-18 Session

    April 24, 2018

    The Georgia Chamber of Commerce launches its Scorecard website recapping the 2017-2018 Legislative Session and how each legislator voted on top-priority bills for the organization.

  • America's Swimming Pool Company Records Its 100th Franchise Owner

    April 23, 2018

    ASP – Americas Swimming Pool Company, announced they had reached a milestone that most franchisors never attain. ASP awarded franchise rights to their 100th franchise owner and 257th franchise territory. Reaching the 100 franchise owner milestone is an attribute obtained by less than 19% of franchise organizations in the United States.

  • AG Chris Carr: We Must Continue Efforts to Strengthen State's Response to the Opioid Epidemic

    April 23, 2018

    As the former Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Economic Development, I am very proud of the fact that our state is the top state in the nation in which to do business. The recognition highlights the collaborative mindset we apply to economic development in our state, and it highlights the many opportunities that our Georgia families enjoy as a result of having a thriving business environment.

  • State Economic Competitiveness Rankings Reveal Upward Standings Tied to Federal Tax Reform

    April 23, 2018

    The American Legislative Exchange Council released the much anticipated 2018 edition of Rich States, Poor States. Utah again earns the top spot for states with the best economic outlook, followed by Idaho, Indiana, North Dakota and Arizona. Several states' success in increased rankings can be tied directly to the success of federal tax reform and the resources it gave to lawmakers to cut taxes at the state level.

  • Senator David Perdue: Trump’s North Korea Policy Is Succeeding

    April 20, 2018

    CIA Director and Secretary of State-designate Mike Pompeo’s recent meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un was an important step to lay the groundwork for the upcoming meeting planned between President Trump and Kim.

  • Georgia Sets Employment Records in March

    April 19, 2018

    State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that Georgia continued to set records in March even as the number of jobs dipped slightly.

  • Delta Offsets Carbon Emissions for 170,000+ Customers Today

    April 19, 2018

    Delta is helping customers travel a little cleaner today by offsetting carbon emissions on all domestic travel into and out of seven major airports with high corporate travel demand. The investment comes in honor of Earth Month and the airline's commitment to carbon-neutral growth.

  • Mercedes-Benz of Macon Joins The Grand Opera House as 2018-2019 Title Sponsor

    April 18, 2018

    Mercedes-Benz of Macon, a division of Jackson Automotive Group, and The Grand Opera House, a performing arts center of Mercer University, today announced a new title sponsor agreement between the two entities. Starting with the 2018-2019 season in October 2018, The Grand’s Broadway season and all concerts of note will be included under the umbrella of “The Mercedes-Benz of Macon Great Performances Series at The Grand.”

  • AG Chris Carr and Legal Community Commence 7th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy

    April 18, 2018

    April 16th marked the first day of the 7th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy, a two-week food and fund drive led by Georgia’s legal community. The 2018 competition is presented by the Office of the Attorney General and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia to benefit the Georgia Food Bank Association.

  • Ex-Mercer University Baseball Player-Turned Entrepreneur Hits It Out of the Park

    April 17, 2018

    “A cup of coffee” is a baseball idiom used to describe a brief opportunity of time spent by a minor league player in the major leagues before being summarily sent down again. On a college level, Mercer University student, Shane Buerster, experienced that expression when cut from the school baseball team in his sophomore season, even though he had been a very good player throughout high school. Shane went one step further, however, and took the time to actually smell the coffee.

  • Three Companies Named Georgia’s 2018 Manufacturers of the Year

    April 17, 2018

    At a luncheon held Thursday, Gov. Nathan Deal named three of Georgia’s leading companies as the 2018 Manufacturers of the Year. Pratt & Whitney in Columbus, Ga., won in the category of 500 or more employees; NIBCO in Greensboro, Ga., won in the category of 150-500 employees; and, Alpharetta-based Metcam won in the category of 150 or fewer employees.

  • How Georgia is Improving Affordable Housing as a Platform for Health

    April 12, 2018

    Access to quality, affordable housing is critical for supporting good health. For individuals and families with tight budgets, high housing costs can lead to tough choices between making rent and going to the doctor, between keeping the lights on and buying healthy food, or even between being part of a community or becoming socially isolated.

  • Perdue Farms to Create 125 Jobs, Invest $42M in Houston County

    April 11, 2018

    Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Perdue Farms will create 125 new jobs and invest $42 million to expand its cooking operation in Houston County. Perdue Farms’ cooking operation in Perry produces a variety of frozen, cooked chicken products for consumers and restaurants.

  • Blue Bird Sells Its 2,500th Gasoline-Powered School Bus

    April 11, 2018

    Blue Bird recently celebrated its 2,500th gasoline school bus sale. Over the past two years, sales of Blue Bird’s gasoline school buses have grown substantially due to their low upfront costs, maintenance savings, cold weather startup, heating capabilities and public fueling accessibility.

  • Georgia’s Legacies, Past And Future

    April 11, 2018

    The last week of Georgia’s 2018 meeting of the General Assembly featured even more symbolism and ceremony than usual. There were the customary farewell speeches by members who won’t be returning after this year’s election. On Tuesday and Wednesday, there was also a casket in the middle of the rotunda.

  • Treasury, IRS Announce First Round of Opportunity Zones Designations for 18 States Including Georgia

    April 11, 2018

    The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service designated Opportunity Zones in 18 States. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act created Opportunity Zones to spur investment in distressed communities throughout the country. New investments in Opportunity Zones can receive preferential tax treatment.

  • Hartsfield-Jackson Still World’s Busiest in Global Ranking

    April 10, 2018

    Demand has continued its robust year-on-year growth across the world’s major airports both in terms of passenger numbers and air cargo. Passenger traffic at the world’s 20 busiest airports grew by 5.2% in 2017. With almost 1.5 billion passengers passing through their terminals in 2017, this group of 20 represents 17% of global passenger traffic.

  • Georgia’s 2018 International Representatives Visit the State

    April 09, 2018

    Georgia’s competitiveness in the global marketplace is continuously strengthened by the work of its international representatives across the globe. The state of Georgia has representation in 12 strategic markets including Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Europe, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Peru, the United Kingdom and Ireland. The state’s international representation directly contributes to the state’s success as a global business hub.

  • M&R Marketing Group: 3 Ways Digital Media Can Help Promote Your Event

    April 06, 2018

    With an exponential increase of Internet users in the past decade, it’s no surprise that businesses are flocking to the online world to achieve advertisement success. Without a doubt, more people are being reached and information is spreading in viral ways. Fortunately, there are countless digital media outlets you can use to advertise!