July 2024 Features

• Brunswick Sets Cargo Record While Savannah Suffers Slight Decline

  July 31, 2024

  The Port of Brunswick had a better year than the Port of Savannah, the Georgia Ports Authority reported Tuesday.

• Robins’ Student Pathways Program Gives High Schoolers Real-world Experience

  July 30, 2024

  Almost every high schooler wants the chance to gain more insight and experience to a prospective career field. This summer, I, along with 22 other students from the Houston County School District, got that chance as part of the Robins Air Force Base Student Pathways Program.

• State Health Coverage Commission Begins Work

  July 30, 2024

  A newly created state commission looking for ways to improve health-care access and quality for low-income uninsured Georgians held its kickoff meeting last Thursday.

• ACE Celebrates 24-Year Legacy of Funding Georgia Small Business Owners at It's 2024 Annual Awards Fundraiser

  July 30, 2024

  Recognizing small businesses and the communities they serve is not only a duty of ACE – it is truly an honor. ACE | Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs Inc. is pleased to announce its Fundraiser for the 2024 Annual Awards Event taking place on September 19th from 4 PM – 7 PM at the magnificent Savanna Hall at Zoo Atlanta.

• Back-to-School with Purpose: How Shopping at Goodwill Transform Lives and Communities

  July 29, 2024

  Students of all ages can visit Goodwill stores in Middle Georgia and the CSRA for their back-to-school needs. Goodwill offers a wide range of affordable items, from clothing and shoes to accessories, housewares, and furniture, making it your budget-friendly one-stop shop for back-to-school items, college dorm essentials, and unique secondhand finds. Online shopping is also an option at shopgoodwill.com.

• Georgia Milestones Test Scores Show Post-pandemic Improvement

  July 29, 2024

  Students showed continued improvement in the latest Georgia Milestones tests that cratered during the pandemic, the state Department of Education reported Friday.

• Georgia Chamber of Commerce Nominations for the 2024 Rural Awards Still Open

  July 29, 2024

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the nominations process for the inaugural Georgia Chamber Rural Awards. These awards recognize the outstanding efforts of individuals, businesses, organizations, programs, and communities that have implemented innovative strategies and mission-based initiatives to address challenges and promote prosperity in Georgia’s rural areas.

• Piedmont Macon Employees Wear Jeans to Raise More Than $6,600 for Middle Georgia Nonprofits

  July 26, 2024

  Piedmont Macon employees put on their favorite pair of blue jeans over the past year to raise more than $6,600 for various charitable organizations across Middle Georgia.

• Colony Bank Welcomes Ryan Boyd Joins as a Financial Advisor

  July 26, 2024

  Colony Bank is pleased to announce that Ryan Boyd has joined Colony Financial Advisors, a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC, as a Financial Advisor. Boyd will be based in Colony Bank’s Macon banking center located at 1412 Bass Road and will also serve our Warner Robins and Centerville locations.

• Employees Make Historic Sacrifices to Preserve Quality of Life: Data Confirms Georgians Make Tough Choices Due to Gaps in Family-Focused Benefits

  July 26, 2024

  Employees are increasingly prioritizing overall wellness and benefits that enable them to help their families thrive. A new report by goBeyondProfit reveals widening gaps between what companies are currently offering and what employees are looking for in an employer.

• Georgia's AAA Bond Rating Reaffirmed by S&P

  July 24, 2024

  At the start of an international trip to promote the No. 1 state for business and further job creation in Georgia, Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that S&P Global Ratings reaffirmed its "AAA with a stable outlook" assessment for the state's credit worthiness.

• Mercer University School of Medicine and SGMC Health Celebrate Opening of Valdosta Clinical Campus and Simulation Lab

  July 23, 2024

  The energy was palpable at SGMC Health, formerly known as South Georgia Medical Center, on Thursday, July 18, when leaders from across the state of Georgia came together to celebrate a monumental event: the grand opening of Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) and SGMC Health’s clinical campus and simulation lab.

• FSA Stories: Jackyln’s Story from Fostering Success Act, Inc

  July 23, 2024

  Meet Jackyln, a sophomore at Georgia Tech studying biochemistry. Her path from foster care to a promising career in forensics showcases her determination and resilience, and she thanks Georgia taxpayers for making it possible.

• Hartsfield-Jackson Remains World’s Busiest Airport

  July 23, 2024

  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has once again been recognized as the busiest airport in the world by Airports Council International World, according to the latest ACI World Airport Traffic Dataset for 2023.

• Georgia Among States Leading in New Businesses

  July 22, 2024

  A new study has named the top ten states submitting the most business applications, and Georgia comes in at #4.

• Public Service Commission to Take Up Plan to Add New Fossil Fuels to Energy Mix

  July 22, 2024

  Georgia energy regulators already have approved a request by Georgia Power for a significant increase in electrical generating capacity to meet the needs of a growing state.

• Confidence Among Small and Midsize Business CEOs Dips in Q2 2024

  July 22, 2024

  Small and midsize business CEO confidence decreased slightly to 83.3 in Q2 2024, according to the latest CEO Confidence Index released by CEO coaching and peer advisory organization Vistage.

• Gov. Kemp Announces Details for $1.5B Transportation Infrastructure Investment

  July 19, 2024

  Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced new details for the historic $1.5 billion investment in transportation infrastructure around the state included in the Amended Fiscal Year 2024 budget.

• Summer Job Market Sees Influx of Graduates, Slight Rise in June Unemployment

  July 19, 2024

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's June unemployment rate was 3.3, up one-tenth from a revised 3.2 percent in May. The unemployment rate was eight-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.

• Robins North and CGTC Partnership Building Tomorrow’s Workforce

  July 18, 2024

  In 2019, Robins Air Force Base, Central Georgia Technical College and Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority came together for a first-of-its-kind partnership allowing students enrolled in the aerospace training program a unique opportunity.

• How to Best Prioritize Limited Funds for Impactful Community Investments

  July 18, 2024

  While Georgia’s businesses have long been the backbone of strong communities, a new report by goBeyondProfit and Georgia CEO reveals meaningful shifts in community care and offers executives insight on how best to invest limited funds.

• Report Highlights "Kemp Administration’s Extraordinary Successes in the Health Insurance World"

  July 17, 2024

  In case you missed it, a report recently released by the Georgia Public Policy Foundation examined the health insurance marketplace in Georgia since Governor Kemp took office.

• Deloitte: Back-to-School Spending Expected to Flatten Amid Financial Concerns

  July 16, 2024

  As families navigate the excitement of the back-to-school season, they're balancing between fulfilling what their children need and splurging on the novelties they want. The cost of school supplies has increased 24.5% over the past four years (per the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index).

• Georgia Chamber President & CEO Chris Clark Receives Prestigious GACCE Legacy Award

  July 15, 2024

  Georgia Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Chris Clark, CCE received the GACCE Legacy Award, the most prestigious prize awarded the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. Clark received the award on Thursday, July 11 at the GACCE Executive Leadership Conference held on St. Simons Island, Ga.

• Blue Bird Selected to Receive $80 Million Federal Grant to Expand Electric Vehicle Manufacturing

  July 12, 2024

  Blue Bird Corporation, the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, announced today that it has been selected to receive an $80 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to expand the company’s electric vehicle manufacturing capabilities and related workforce development efforts.