February 2023 Features

• Survey Shows Optimism from Small Business Owners

  February 28, 2023

  Based on the results of PNC's latest semi-annual survey of small and mid-sized businesses, it appears that resilient business owners are defying predictions of an economic downturn later this year. In fact, business owner optimism about the outlook for their own businesses in the next six months has reached a 20-year survey high.

• Georgia Manufacturing Alliance Celebrates 15th Anniversary

  February 27, 2023

  Georgia Manufacturing Alliance, founded in 2008, celebrated 15 years of serving Georgia’s manufacturers, and manufacturing executives and personnel, during a February 21st Gala at Sweetwater Brewing Company in Atlanta.

• 2023 Georgia Grown Executive Chefs Announced

  February 27, 2023

  Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) President + CEO Karen Bremer announced five new Georgia Grown Executive Chefs at the 2023 Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception last night.

• 16th ACCS 27-year History Comes to a Close at Robins

  February 24, 2023

  Air Combat Command’s 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron closed a chapter in its 27-year history during an inactivation ceremony with the 461st Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Feb. 16th.

• Annual Georgia Archives History Symposium “Georgia, Nature, and the Environment” Coming April 1st

  February 24, 2023

  The free symposium will feature scholarly presentations discussing Georgia’s history of conservation efforts throughout the years, the various environmental changes in the landscape and animal life of Georgia, and the developments that stimulated the economic growth of Georgia, such as the marble industry, the parks system, and the Blue Ridge parkway.

• Mercer University School of Medicine & Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Join Forces to Advance Pediatric Healthcare in Rural Georgia

  February 23, 2023

  Mercer University School of Medicine and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta announced they will be working together to launch a major initiative focused on improving pediatric healthcare in rural Georgia.

• Georgia Center of Innovation Partners Two Georgia Companies to Solve One’s Labor Challenge

  February 23, 2023

  In today's labor market, the ability to immediately summon a workforce by simply sending a text may seem like a fantasy. But for TSG Resolute, a small manufacturer in Americus, Georgia, it's reality, thanks to a unique partnership with Atlanta-based communication and scheduling software staffing company Casi, brought about by the Manufacturing team at the Georgia Center of Innovation.

• GaDOE Partners with SME Education Foundation to Provide Students with Manufacturing & Engineering Education

  February 22, 2023

  The Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Association of Manufacturers have partnered with the SME Education Foundation to provide a unique industry-informed, hands-on manufacturing program to select high school students across the state, through the Foundation's SME PRIME program.

• Coca-Cola UNITED Breaks Ground on $85 Million Investment in Macon

  February 21, 2023

  Coca-Cola Bottling Company United, has officially broken ground on an $85 million investment to its Macon, Georgia facility as announced in December. Coca-Cola UNITED will expand its Macon Coca-Cola warehouse by approximately 260,000 square feet, as well as install the leading-edge Vertique warehousing system that is among the most advanced in the beverage industry.

• Governor Kemp & The Georgia Historical Society Appoint 2023 Georgia Trustees

  February 17, 2023

  In recognition of the 290th anniversary of the founding of the Georgia colony, the Honorable Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia, and Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society, officially appointed Dan Amos and Donna Hyland as the 2023 Georgia Trustees in a signing ceremony at the Georgia State Capitol.

• Georgia Leaders Selected for 
2023 GeorgiaForward Young Gamechangers Cohort

  February 16, 2023

  GeorgiaForward has selected 45 promising professionals to serve the organization’s 2023 Young Gamechangers program. YG is a unique leadership action program hosted by GeorgiaForward, a non-profit organization administrated by the Georgia Municipal Association.

• Atrium Health Navicent Launches Rise to Success Program to Help Train Health Care Workers of the Future

  February 15, 2023

  Graduating high school seniors are eligible to apply for entrance into Atrium Health Navicent’s new Rise to Success Program which will provide part-time employment and financial support for students pursing health care careers.

• Governor Kemp Announces Second Consecutive Record-breaking Year for Georgia Trade

  February 15, 2023

  Governor Brian Kemp joined the Department of Economic Development in announcing that the State of Georgia achieved a record-breaking year for international trade for a second year in a row. In 2022, Georgia’s total trade exceeded $196 billion across 221 countries and territories.

• Code for Macon Announces Their Kickoff While Inviting Community Members To Join Their First Project

  February 14, 2023

  Code for Macon, a community for software developers and technologists, is thrilled to announce the start of its local chapter with a launch event on Friday, February 17th, at 6 pm at the McEachern Art Center.bThis event will feature the announcement of Code for Macon’s first project of the year, providing a platform for attendees to connect with like-minded individuals while solving local challenges.

• Lt. Governor Jones Brings Back Statewide Field Representative Constituent Program

  February 14, 2023

  Lt. Governor Burt Jones announced a new constituent services program. The Statewide Field Representative Constituent Program divides Georgia’s 159 counties into three regions with a dedicated constituent services representative for each.

• AFSC Commander Visits Robins: ‘Robins is Bridge to Future’

  February 13, 2023

  Team Robins rolled out the red carpet for Lt. Gen. Stacey Hawkins, Air Force Sustainment Center commander, his wife, Natalie Hawkins, and the rest of the AFSC command team for a mission immersion at Robins Air Force Base in January.

• America's SBDC Launches New Annual Report Showcasing the SBDC Network's Nationwide Impact

  February 13, 2023

  As small business owners navigate an ever-changing landscape, Small Business Development Centers continue to support and elevate their clients through innovative training programs and advising strategies.

• Georgia Chamber Hosts Business Prospects for Annual ‘Georgia Quail Hunt’ in Albany

  February 10, 2023

  This week, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Georgia Quail Hunt in Albany, as business leaders representing state recruitment and expansion prospects joined local and state economic development officials, including Lt. Governor Burt Jones and University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, to learn about the benefits of doing business in Georgia.

• CEO Confidence Picked Up in Q1, but CEOs Remain Pessimistic Entering 2023

  February 10, 2023

  The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence in collaboration with The Business Council stands at 43 to start 2023, up from 32 in the final quarter of 2022. The Measure's improvement early in Q1 2023 represents an uptick from the extreme weakness seen last year, which brought it to lows comparable to the depths of the COVID-19 recession in 2020.

• New Research Reveals the Best States to Launch a Business - Georgia Ranks 2nd

  February 08, 2023

  The research, undertaken by Lensa, looked at factors such as the rate of new entrepreneurs, corporate tax rate, and venture capital, to reveal the best states to launch your business.

• Scott McMurray Named Deputy Commissioner for Georgia Quick Start

  February 08, 2023

  Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier announced his appointment of Scott McMurray as Deputy Commissioner for Georgia Quick Start. McMurray assumes the Deputy Commissioner role after serving as Interim Deputy Commissioner of Georgia Quick Start upon the retirement of Jackie Rohosky.

• River Edge Behavioral Health Appoints New CEO

  February 06, 2023

  Dr. Steve Corkery, Chair of the River Edge Community Service Board is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Cass Hatcher as Chief Executive Officer of River Edge Behavioral Health. This was the culmination of a nation-wide search over the last several months.

• UGA: Effects of Possible Recession on Agriculture, Grocery Prices

  February 06, 2023

  Chances are good that you have felt the pinch at the grocery store and bemoaned the price of some of your standard weekly staples. Economists at the University of Georgia say to brace yourselves for more of the same in the upcoming months.

• Helms College Celebrates Macon Graduates

  February 03, 2023

  Helms College Macon Campus held a commencement ceremony for graduates of its School of Hospitality and School of Industrial Trades on Tuesday, January 31st, at the Anderson Conference Center.

• If You Build It They Will Come. But Where Will They Live?

  February 03, 2023

  Georgia has been building a fortress economy since coming out of the great recession. “The number one state to do business” is as much of a mission statement as it is a ranking.