June 2020 Features

• Hawks to Transform State Farm Arena into 'Georgia’s Largest-ever Voting Precinct'

  June 30, 2020

  Fulton County is partnering with the Atlanta Hawks to create Georgia’s largest-ever voting precinct at State Farm Arena, starting with early voting on July 20 for the Georgia General Primary Runoff Election on August 11th

• New Plans Unveiled for Alexander IV Senior Living Center

  June 29, 2020

  A historic Macon school closed for more than 10 years will be reborn as an upscale senior living center by next year. Representatives of Historic Macon, Macon-Bibb County, Dover Signature Properties, Piedmont Construction Group, Design Innovation Architects and the Ingleside neighborhood gathered at the former Alexander IV Elementary School on Ridge Avenue to hear plans for Alexander IV Senior Living.

• Entrepreneurs Encouraged to Apply for the PPP Program Before the June 30th Deadline- “Recovery Now in Cities Across Georgia"

  June 29, 2020

  During these past few months since the outbreak of the Covid-19 Pandemic, I've gained an astounding confirmation at roundtables, virtual townhalls, radio interviews, hundreds of phone calls, and emails, that the key component to the success of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is due to the significant level of local participation, local and federal collaboration, and support at the community level.

• USDA Sending $12.5 Million to Georgia for Rural Broadband

  June 29, 2020

  Broadband deployment efforts by SyncGlobal and Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative are coming together with the announcement of USDA/RUS grant money awarded for the region.

• Corsica Technologies: Remote Work is the New Normal. Here’s How to Embrace It.

  June 29, 2020

  Although many industries have been forced to quickly pivot to a remote workforce due to COVID-19, the shift is not a new one. Over the last five years remote work has seen a 44% growth, over the last decade that number is 91%. Whether recent circumstances forced your business to transition to a remote workforce or it was already in the works, it’s vital that you fully embrace the change if you want to be successful. Here’s how.

• Flint Energies Names Nelms as CEO

  June 26, 2020

  Flint Energies’ Board of Directors announced today that Jeremy Nelms has been hired to serve as the Cooperative’s new CEO beginning October 1st. Nelms will succeed Bob Ray who has been leading Flint since 2003.

• Content Marketing 101: How to Put it Into Practice

  June 26, 2020

  Parts one and two of this content marketing series focused on what content marketing is and why it’s important. Most importantly, you know that consistently offering valuable content marketing pieces will strengthen your leadership position and enable you to become a resource for your client.

• Georgia Processes More Claims in 14 Weeks Than in the Past Seven Years

  June 26, 2020

  The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today they have processed over 2.7 million regular UI initial claims in the past 14 weeks, more than the last seven years combined.

• Kemp, Duncan, Ralston Encourage Passage of COVID-19 Economic Relief Package

  June 26, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Duncan, and Speaker David Ralston expressed their support of the passage of an economic relief package for businesses in the wake of COVID-19.

• Delta Donates 1 Million Pounds of Food (and Counting) to Communities Around World

  June 25, 2020

  The COVID-19 crisis has created a number of opportunities for Delta people to make a difference in the communities where we live and work. Since Delta has temporarily adjusted services on board and in Delta Sky Clubs, they have donated food and other provisions from warehouses around the globe to hospitals, schools, food banks and other organizations.

• GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson: State’s Tourism is Down Due to Pandemic, but Not Out

  June 24, 2020

  As the unofficial capital of the Southeast, Georgia has the biggest cities, the most diverse population and a vast geographical range from the mountains to the beach. Our tourism industry constantly redefines what it means to be Southern by sharing the places, culture, stories and people that make Georgia so unique, and this has earned our state a strong reputation as a top travel destination.

• June Poll Shows Georgia Employee Trust and Loyalty Increased by Businesses’ Pandemic Response; Employees Report Heightened Productivity but Specific Concerns, Wishes for Recovery

  June 23, 2020

  A goBeyondProfit survey conducted earlier this month among working Georgians shows businesses’ pandemic response has increased their employees’ trust and loyalty. Respondents reported work productivity higher than before the pandemic and indicated better-than-neutral mental wellbeing, though they worry about job security and coronavirus exposure at work and among their family and friends.

• CFCG and the Griffith Family Foundation Announce the Central Georgia Empowerment Fund

  June 22, 2020

  The Central Georgia Empowerment Fund will cultivate charitable giving within the African American community, build capacity and financial sustainability of nonprofits that serve the African American community, and address the most pressing needs facing African Americans in the Central Georgia region.

• Chris Clark: The Inequality of Opportunity

  June 22, 2020

  We are in an important national conversation on systemic racism and the underlying inequality of economic opportunity in America. The Georgia Chamber and the business community will directly engage in dialogue and actively advocate for policies that create long term job growth, mobility, and equality for all Georgians. Doing so is essential for our collective prosperity.

• New Report Examines Bioscience Industry’s Economic Impact in Georgia & Role in Global Pandemic

  June 22, 2020

  The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) released new data on the bioscience industry in the United States this week during the BIO Digital conference. The new report, The Bioscience Economy: Propelling Life-Saving Treatments, Supporting State & Local Communities, analyzes the bioscience industry’s economic footprint across the nation and in Georgia, the significant role of small- and mid-sized companies, and the industry’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• States Whose Unemployment Rates Are Bouncing Back Most

  June 22, 2020

  With states opening up and the national unemployment rate now at 13.3% compared to the nearly historic high of 14.7% at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, WalletHub released its report on the States Whose Unemployment Rates Are Bouncing Back Most.

• Mercer Board of Trustees Executive Committee Adopts FY2021 Budget, Approves Six New Degree Programs

  June 19, 2020

  The Executive Committee of Mercer University’s Board of Trustees during its meeting today on the Cecil B. Day Campus in Atlanta adopted a record $269.2 million operating budget for 2020-21, in addition to more than $30 million in federally funded research expenditures, and approved six new undergraduate and graduate degree programs while eliminating others with no or low enrollments.

• Georgia Bankers Association Elects and Installs Officers and Directors to its Board

  June 19, 2020

  Members of the Georgia Bankers Association (GBA) have elected and installed officers for the 2020-2021 fiscal year and added 10 members to its board of directors.

• Lt. Gov. Duncan Unveils New Version of Hate-crimes Proposal in Georgia

  June 18, 2020

  Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan introduced hate crimes legislation that empowers communities by giving them the ability to seek a hate crimes charge from a grand jury if local prosecutors don’t. The bill would also create a separate offense for “bias-motivated intimidation” for alleged hate crimes, which satisfies the constitutional protections of due process by requiring an indictment.

• Advisory Group to Review Names Used On University System of Georgia Campuses

  June 18, 2020

  Board of Regents Chairman Sachin Shailendra and Chancellor Steve Wrigley of the University System of Georgia (USG) have asked an advisory group to review and study the names of buildings and colleges on all USG campuses and report to the Board on any recommended changes.

• Georgia Honors State’s 2020 ‘Small Business ROCK STARS’

  June 17, 2020

  Today, the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA) teamed up to recognize Georgia’s 2020 Small Business ROCK STARS. Originally set to take place in April, the ceremony to celebrate the four winning businesses was transformed into a completely virtual production to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

• GEICO’s Macon Office has Immediate Openings to Fill

  June 16, 2020

  GEICO is hiring 200 Customer Service Representatives, Sales Representatives, Claims Service Representatives and Emergency Roadside Service Representatives at its Macon regional offices over the next two months. Companywide, the insurer has announced plans to hire 3,000 new associates by the end of the year.

• GPA Elects Officers for FY2021

  June 16, 2020

  At its meeting Tuesday, the Georgia Ports Authority board elected officers for the coming fiscal year, selecting Will McKnight to serve a second year as chairman.

• Raphael Bostic: A Moral and Economic Imperative to End Racism

  June 16, 2020

  As I have observed the protests against police brutality over the past few weeks, I have shared in the outrage of the truly horrific events that brought us to this point. I know many of you are feeling shocked and outraged. My first thoughts are for those who lost their lives and those suffering through these events in very real ways, and I stand with all those peacefully protesting for change.

• Georgia Again Recognized for Excellence in Attracting Jobs and Investment

  June 15, 2020

  Governor Kemp announced that Georgia has received its 12th Shovel Award – its 11th consecutive such award – recognizing the state’s excellence in attracting investment and creating jobs.