July 2021 Features

  • Georgia Earns Back-to-Back No. 1 Tech Hub Rankings

    July 30, 2021

    For the second consecutive year, Business Facilities magazine has named Georgia’s capital city of Atlanta the No. 1 Tech Hub spot. The momentum the state is experiencing, particularly in tech, is no accident and can be attributed to several factors.

  • Georgia Power Announces Revised Schedule, Cost Forecast for Vogtle Units 3 & 4

    July 30, 2021

    Georgia Power announced a revised schedule and cost forecast for the Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear expansion project, resulting from productivity challenges and additional time for testing and quality assurance. The company currently projects a Unit 3 in-service date in the second quarter of 2022 and a Unit 4 in-service date in the first quarter of 2023.

  • ‘How Do We Welcome Our Team Back?’ Georgia-Based Companies Solidify Return-To-Work Plans

    July 29, 2021

    Do you want to keep working from home, or are you the type who thrives in the office setting? And how should companies accommodate workers after the pandemic upended everything we once knew about the workplace?

  • Port of Savannah Moves 5M TEUs in FY2021

    July 28, 2021

    For the first time in its history, the Port of Savannah has moved 5.3 million twenty-foot equivalent container units, growing cargo volumes by 20 percent in FY2021, or nearly 900,000 TEUs compared to the previous year.

  • Delta Fuels Georgia's Post-Pandemic Economic Growth

    July 27, 2021

    With travel on the rebound, Delta has announced the hiring of 2,216 Georgians since January 1 to join the ranks of the now nearly 30,000 who work for Delta in the state of Georgia. These talented professionals have been hired to work in career jobs across Delta's business in Reservations and Customer Care, Airport Customer Service and Cargo, Flight Operations and Tech Ops.

  • Georgia's Medical Cannabis Commission Closer to Helping Patients in Need

    July 26, 2021

    The Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission announced during their public hearing on Saturday, the Notice of Intent to Award six Class 1 and Class 2 Production Licenses to manufacture low-THC cannabis oil for medical use in Georgia. Sixty-nine applicants submitted competitive proposals and have undergone a fair and rigorous selection process.

  • Nearly Half of Employers Plan to Increase Corporate Gifting Frequency Post Pandemic

    July 26, 2021

    Corporate gifting is on the rise as nearly fifty percent of businesses say they intend to increase the frequency of their gift giving post COVID-19, according to a new corporate gifting survey from Coresight Research commissioned by GiftNow, a Synchrony solution.

  • AAA Survey: Traveler Confidence Soars; 75% Of Georgians Are More Comfortable Traveling Now

    July 23, 2021

    Traveler confidence is soaring, according to a new AAA Travel survey, fielded in late June. According to the data, three-quarters of Georgians (75%) feel more comfortable traveling now than they did three months ago.

  • Georgia Film Records Blockbuster Year

    July 22, 2021

    The Georgia Department of Economic Development announced today that the film industry recorded a blockbuster year in Georgia. During fiscal year 2021, the film and television industry set a new record with $4 billion in direct spending on productions in the state.

  • Colony Bank Forms Colony Insurance, Agrees to Acquire The Barnes Agency in Macon

    July 21, 2021

    Colony Bankcorp, Inc., the bank holding company for Colony Bank, announced it has agreed to acquire The Barnes Agency, an Allstate appointed consumer property and casualty insurance agency in Macon. The transaction is expected to close August 1st.

  • University System of Georgia State Economic Impact Grows to $18.6 Billion

    July 21, 2021

    In fiscal year 2020, the University System of Georgia (USG) served as a significant source of stability and played a critical role in the state’s recovery with an $18.6 billion statewide economic impact. USG’s impact grew 0.6 percent over fiscal year 2019. The system directly and indirectly generated 155,010 jobs.

  • Knight Foundation to Double Macon-Bibb’s ARPA Investments in NewTown Macon, Historic Macon to Create Affordable Housing

    July 20, 2021

    NewTown Macon and the Historic Macon Foundation will increase affordable housing in Macon-Bibb County by building new rental units and renovating existing ones with investments from Macon-Bibb County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and a matching grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The grant announcement was made on Monday, July 19th and is pending approval of the ARPA funds by the Macon-Bibb County Commission.

  • Georgia Lottery Annual Profits for HOPE, Pre-K Soar to a Record $1.54B

    July 20, 2021

    The Georgia Lottery Corp. today announced its most successful year ever with historic profits generated for Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship and Pre-K programs. The Georgia Lottery raised a record $1,544,954,000 in profits for fiscal year 2021, bringing the total transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account since inception to more than $23.8 billion.

  • Daring Duos: Two Sets of Twins Chase Flying Dreams Together at MGA

    July 15, 2021

    When they were growing up in Brunswick, fraternal twins Breland and Sydni Wray loved to hear stories about their Uncle Chad and his experiences flying Black Hawk helicopters for the U.S. Army.

  • Delta to Add Airbus, Boeing Aircraft to Fleet Amid Travel Demand Recovery

    July 14, 2021

    Delta has entered into agreements to add 29 used Boeing 737-900ERs and lease seven used Airbus A350-900s as it continues to streamline and modernize its fleet. The 36 additional aircraft will improve fuel efficiency and enhance the customer experience, while supporting Delta’s fleet renewal strategy focused on simplification, scale, size and sustainability.

  • Georgia’s Sizzle Reel Puts Spotlight on Community, Economic Benefits of Industry

    July 13, 2021

    Between the increase in streaming platforms and theaters around the country reopening to bring cinema fans back to the big screen, TV and movie entertainment is continuing an unprecedented run.

  • Small Business Employment Gains Continue, Especially in Leisure and Hospitality

    July 12, 2021

    Despite the competitive hiring environment, small business employment growth grew 0.26 percent in June, according to aggregated payroll data of approximately 350,000 clients provided by Paychex.

  • Georgia Council for the Arts Awards More Than $2M in Grant Funding to Support Arts Throughout Georgia

    July 08, 2021

    The Georgia Council for the Arts, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), today announced the recipients of its Bridge, Project, and Arts Education grants as part of its initial disbursement of grants for fiscal year 2022. A total of 266 grants were awarded that will provide more than $2 million in funding towards arts initiatives throughout the state.

  • Georgia Historical Society Elects David Abney, Mark Burns, & Robert Jepson to Board of Curators

    July 08, 2021

    The Georgia Historical Society has announced that David Abney (Atlanta) and Mark Burns (Savannah) have recently been elected to the GHS Board of Curators and that Chairman Emeritus Robert S. Jepson, Jr. (Savannah) will be returning to the Board.

  • 2021 Macon Film Festival Official Selection Lineup & Schedule

    July 06, 2021

    The Macon Film Festival is celebrating its 16th annual event with a hybrid festival featuring both in-person and virtual screenings and events. The in-person festival will take place in Macon, August 19th – 22nd with film screenings at the Douglass Theatre, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and in the planetarium at the Museum of Arts & Sciences.