February 2025 Features

• UDA Sells Riverside Drive Property to Make Way for Mercer Medical School

  February 28, 2025

  On Thursday, the Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority approved selling its Riverside Drive property to Mercer University as the first step in a major redevelopment of the area. Mercer University will move their Medical School to the site, and that will serve as the catalyst for the development of hotels, lofts, restaurants, and retail space.

• Macon Magazine Announces Their First Ever Chef Challenge "Dish It!"

  February 28, 2025

  In honor of the publication’s February/March Food & Flavor Issue, Macon Magazine will bring an exciting chef challenge competition to Central Georgia foodies to taste next week: “Dish It! A chef challenge with a story.”

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Serves 108M Passengers in 2024

  February 28, 2025

  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport hosted 108.1 million passengers traveling through the Airport in 2024, making it the second-highest annual passenger volume in ATL’s history. This milestone is second only to ATL’s 2019 record of 110 million passengers, reinforcing the Airport’s status as the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.

• U.S. Manufacturing Picked Up in January Driven By Growing Demand

  February 28, 2025

  The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index — a leading indicator tracking demand conditions, shortages, transportation costs, inventories, and backlogs based on a monthly survey of 27,000 businesses — posted -0.21 at the start of the year. This indicates that global supply chains are effectively at full capacity.

• Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Announces Its 2025 List of State's 10 Places in Peril

  February 27, 2025

  The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released today its 2025 list of 10 Places in Peril in the state.

• SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler Issues Memo on Day One Priorities

  February 27, 2025

  Following her confirmation and swearing-in as the 28th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Kelly Loeffler issued a Day One memo outlining her top priorities for the agency.

• Slate Aviation, Macon-Bibb County Unveil 80,000 sqft Aviation MRO, Cabin Conversion Facility

  February 26, 2025

  Slate Aviation, one of the largest operators of VIP Bombardier CRJ and Challenger 850 aircraft in the U.S., and Macon-Bibb County, announced the opening of an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul and cabin conversion facility at Middle Georgia Regional Airport.

• Chief Justice Michael Boggs Announces Resignation from the Supreme Court of Georgia

  February 26, 2025

  Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs announced today that he will resign from the Supreme Court of Georgia effective March 31st, which is the last day of the Court’s current term.

• Bridging the Literacy Gap: Georgia Leaders Unite to Tackle Literacy Crisis and Celebrate the 2025 Georgia Reads Community Award Winners

  February 25, 2025

  According to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress scores, Georgia ranks 28th in the nation in 4th grade reading proficiency. To bring attention to Georgia’s literacy crisis and in celebration of Georgia Reads Day, leaders in government and education gathered at the Georgia State Capitol to recognize the 2025 Georgia Reads Community Award winners and READBowl Champions.

• Mercer University Named a Top 25 Beautiful College Campus by U.S. News & World Report

  February 25, 2025

  Mercer University has been named one of the 25 most beautiful college campuses by U.S. News & World Report.

• State Senate Panel Approves $40.5B Mid-Year Budget

  February 25, 2025

  The state Senate is upping the ante on funding to help victims of Hurricane Helene recover from the massive storm that marched through South Georgia and east Georgia from Valdosta to Augusta last September.

• Georgia Chamber Hosts 2025 Future of Talent Summit

  February 24, 2025

  On February 19th, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 Future of Talent Summit, with the theme “Reimagining Education and Talent Development.” The 2025 Future of Talent Summit was cohosted with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education.

• Educators and Groups Want to Address Teacher Shortage

  February 21, 2025

  The Georgia Department of Education kicked off a new teacher recruitment campaign Tuesday to address a teacher shortage. The move is necessary as a generation of teachers nears retirement after two decades and more in the classroom, State School Superintendent Richard Woods said.

• CEO Confidence Increased Sharply in Q1 2025

  February 21, 2025

  The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence in collaboration with The Business Council increased by 9 points, the highest level in three years. For the first time since early 2022, the Measure was well above 50 in Q1 2025, indicating that CEOs have shifted from the cautious optimism that prevailed in 2024 to a more confident optimism

• goBeyondProfit Founder Rick Jackson Receives Lifetime Achievement Award in Corporate Citizenship

  February 20, 2025

  goBeyondProfit, a first-of-its-kind business leader initiative that inspires business generosity, is proud to celebrate its founder, Rick Jackson, for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in Corporate Citizenship by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

• Next Steps in Place for Houston Healthcare to Join Emory Healthcare

  February 19, 2025

  Houston Healthcare and Emory Healthcare announced they have approved the initial steps and continuation process for Houston Healthcare to join the Emory Healthcare system.

• GACVB Presents 2025 Georgia Tourism Awards at Annual Conference

  February 19, 2025

  The 2025 Georgia Tourism Awards were presented at the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (GACVB) Annual Conference. The conference was held February 2nd-5th in Gwinnett. The Georgia Tourism Awards celebrate industry achievements and those who have excelled in leadership, creativity, initiative, innovation, customer service, and partnership.

• Georgia Chamber Hosts Business Prospects for 36th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt in Albany

  February 18, 2025

  Last week, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce successfully hosted its 36th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt—a premier statewide initiative designed to showcase the economic advantages of doing business in Georgia.

• Georgia Breaks Export Records, Rises in Total Trade

  February 14, 2025

  Governor Brian P. Kemp today joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in announcing that the State of Georgia surpassed $53.1 billion in exports, a year-over-year increase of 6.4% that outpaced the national average of 2.3%.

• 2025 Georgia Grown Executive Chefs Announced

  February 14, 2025

  Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper and Georgia Restaurant Association President + CEO Stephanie Fischer announced seven new Georgia Grown Executive Chefs at the 2025 Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception last night.

• MGA To Offer University System’s First B.S. In Applied Artificial Intelligence

  February 13, 2025

  Middle Georgia State University is set to become the University System of Georgia’s first institution to offer a Bachelor of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI), designed to prepare students for careers in a fast-moving industry.

• Brunswick Now the Nation’s Top Port for Autos, Heavy Equipment

  February 13, 2025

  At the Brunswick State of the Port event, Georgia Ports President and CEO Griff Lynch said Colonel’s Island Terminal has become the nation’s busiest port for autos and heavy equipment, handling more than 2 million tons of Roll-on/Roll-off cargo in 2024.

• Piedmont Macon’s $16.5M Upgrade to Heart Program Focuses on New Equipment and Renovated Spaces

  February 12, 2025

  A $16.5 million upgrade to Piedmont Macon Medical Center’s heart program offers patients an expanded and improved slate of diagnostic and treatment options.

• Governor Kemp’s Tort Reform Bill Moving in State Senate

  February 12, 2025

  Legislation backed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp aimed at reining in huge jury awards supporters say cripple Georgia businesses has cleared a state Senate committee following a five-hour hearing.

• Kevin Greiner: A Business Leader Investing in Georgia’s Future

  February 11, 2025

  Kevin Greiner, CEO of Gas South, believes in using business as a force for good. His company commits 5% of its profits to support youth in need, and when he learned about the Fostering Success Act, getting involved was an easy decision.