May 2021 Features

• Georgia Secures AAA Bond Rating in 2021

  May 28, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced Georgia again secured the highest ratings of AAA with a stable outlook from each of the three main credit rating agencies: FitchRatings, Moody’s Investors Service, and S&P Global Ratings.

• As Country Rebuilds from Pandemic, Beer Industry Releases New Study on its Economic Impact in Georgia

  May 27, 2021

  Today, the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association released their biennial Beer Serves America report on the economic importance of the nation's beer industry. Bars, restaurants, sporting events and concerts are critical to Georgia’s economy and the U.S. economy at large, particularly as the country looks to recover and safely reopen.

• State Purchases Economic Development Mega-Site in Bryan County

  May 26, 2021

  Governor Kemp announced the authorization to purchase a 2,284-acre economic development site in partnership between the State of Georgia and the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority (JDA). The strategic purchase of the Bryan County Mega-Site is the largest in state history.

• SBA Launches ‘Community Navigator Pilot’ Program Application

  May 26, 2021

  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is accepting applications for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program. This new initiative, established by the American Rescue Plan, will leverage a community navigator approach to reach our nation’s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans.

• Macon Habitat and Bibb County School District Complete Home Construction

  May 25, 2021

  Macon Area Habitat for Humanity and Bibb County Schools will celebrate the dedication of a new home in Pleasant Hill for Habitat. This new home has been built through a partnership between the two organizations and the YouthBuild Program.

• Georgia Power Announces $75 Million Investment in Racial Equity & Social Justice Efforts

  May 25, 2021

  Georgia Power today announced the company and the Georgia Power Foundation are committing to invest $15 million annually from 2021-2025, $75 million over the five-year period, to help advance racial equity and social justice efforts in Georgia.

• Business Ownership Key for Economic Recovery in U.S. Cities, New Report Shows

  May 24, 2021

  The National League of Cities (NLC) and the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) released today new guidance for U.S. cities to pursue equitable post-COVID economic recovery through the use of employee ownership.

• Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Continued to Drop in April

  May 21, 2021

  The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced that Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped another 0.2 percentage points to reach 4.3 percent in April.

• Mayor Lester Miller Presents Budget for Fiscal Year 2022

  May 20, 2021

  On Tuesday, May 18th, Mayor Lester Miller presented his Proposed Fiscal Year 2022 Budget to the Commission and the public. In his proposed budget, he is recommending no increase in property taxes and aligns funding with the stated needs of the community, which was determined through thousands of responses and suggestions during his Transition Team process.

• State Lawmaker Wants to Create Cyberforce in Georgia

  May 20, 2021

  While the gas shortage seems to be easing in most areas across the state following the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, the concern about future attacks is still on the minds of many state officials. In fact, the incident has driven one state lawmaker to look into ways to address this in Georgia.

• Partnership for Inclusive Innovation Awards Grant to First-of-its-Kind, Statewide Farm Ownership Program

  May 18, 2021

  Today, the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation announced a $250,000 grant for The Conservation Fund’s Georgia Working Farms Fund program – the first and only program in the U.S. to offer end-to-end support for next-generation farmers, including a path to farm ownership and access to established markets to sell their products.

• goBeyondProfit Invites Business Executives to CEO Conversation: Navigating Rising Expectations in Georgia

  May 17, 2021

  goBeyondProfit will host a CEO Conversation via Zoom this Thursday, May 20th at 2pm featuring a panel of prominent business executives discussing the recently released corporate generosity report: Navigating Rising Expectations in Georgia.

• Governor Kemp, State Labor Commissioner Announce Economic Recovery Plan

  May 14, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp & Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced Georgia’s plan for reemployment and economic recovery. To address workforce shortages and boost a full economic recovery, state labor officials plan to end Georgia’s participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs, effective Saturday, June 26th.

• Mercer University to Conclude 2020-2021 Executive Forum with Presentations by Health Care Executive Shane Jackson

  May 13, 2021

  Mercer University’s Executive Forum, sponsored by BB&T, now Truist, concludes the 2020-2021 academic year with two presentations on May 19th by Jackson Healthcare President Shane Jackson.

• 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.

• Interfor Invests $30 Million in Expanding Sawmill in Perry

  May 12, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Interfor, a forest products company and the largest lumber producer in the state, will invest $30 million in expanding their sawmill operations in Perry, Georgia.

• Longtime Macon Bike Shop Bike Tech Announces Move to Downtown Location

  May 12, 2021

  Bike Tech is coming to Downtown Macon. The independent, family-owned bicycle business will move from its original Vineville location to 909 Second Street, with plans to open its new location this summer.

• U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock Tours Blue Bird School Bus Plant, Experiences Electric School Bus

  May 10, 2021

  Georgia U. S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock, witnessed Blue Bird Corporation’s industry leading zero-emission school bus technology firsthand during a ride-and-drive of an electric-powered Blue Bird school bus. In addition, the Senator toured its manufacturing facility in Fort Valley.

• 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.

• FVSU and the Tubman African American Museum Announce Educational Partnership

  May 07, 2021

  Fort Valley State University (FVSU) announced their partnership with the Tubman African American Museum that will provide access to new and innovative educational resources to bolster the school’s curriculum and enhance the educational mission of the museum. The collaboration will include internship programs; lecture series; and special exhibits featuring student and faculty work.

• 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%.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Piedmont Healthcare and HCA Healthcare Sign Purchase Agreement for Several Georgia Hospitals

  May 03, 2021

  Piedmont Healthcare has signed a purchase agreement with HCA Healthcare for the acquisition of several Georgia hospitals. Pending regulatory approval, Piedmont will acquire Eastside Medical Center in Snellville; Coliseum Medical Centers and Coliseum Northside, both in Macon; and Cartersville Medical Center in Cartersville.