September 2018 Features

• Georgia Bio Appoints Maria Thacker Acting President and CEO

  September 27, 2018

  Georgia Bio announced that Maria Thacker Goethe has assumed the role of Acting President and CEO for the trade association and the Georgia BioEd Institute. She will also remain in her capacity as Executive Director for the Georgia Global Health Alliance.

• Former Commander of NSA Georgia to Lead Georgia Cyber Center

  September 24, 2018

  Col. Eric Toler, former commander of NSA Georgia, has been named executive director of the Georgia Cyber Center. He will begin his new position on Oct. 1st. In his new role, Col. Toler will work with Augusta University, Augusta Technical College and Georgia Technology Authority executive stakeholders to define and execute the overall strategy, vision, mission and goals for the center’s programs and partnerships.

• Georgia Named Top State for Business for Fifth Consecutive Year

  September 21, 2018

  Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Georgia has been named the No. 1 state for business for the fifth year in a row by Area Development, a leading corporate site selection and facility planning publication. Deal was joined by Area Development publisher and president Dennis J. Shea to make the announcement at the 2018 State of the Ports Address in Savannah.

• Georgia Ports Plan 8 Million TEU Capacity by 2028

  September 21, 2018

  At the Savannah State of the Port event, GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch thanked Governor Deal for his leadership and detailed GPA's 10-year, $2.5 billion plan to expand the capacity of the nation's fastest growing and single largest container terminal from 5.5 million twenty-foot equivalent unit containers to 8 million.

• Georgia's Graduation Rate Rises to All-Time High

  September 20, 2018

  Georgia’s high school graduation rate increased again in 2018, rising to 81.6 percent from 80.6 percent in 2017. This is an all-time high for Georgia’s graduation rate since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation now required by federal law. Seventy-four Georgia school districts recorded 2018 graduation rates at or above 90 percent.

• Georgia Labor Market Sets Records in August

  September 20, 2018

  Georgia Labor Commissioner, Mark Butler, said Thursday that Georgia’s unemployment rate for August dipped below the national number for the first time in 11 years.

• John Schuerholz and Frank Blake Named 2019 Georgia Trustees

  September 19, 2018

  The Georgia Historical Society announced that Frank Blake, retired Chairman and CEO of The Home Depot, and John Schuerholz, Vice-chairman emeritus of the Atlanta Braves, will be inducted as the newest Georgia Trustees on February 16th, 2019, at the Trustees Gala in Savannah. It is the highest honor the State of Georgia can confer.

• John McNair Named President & CEO of Community Bankers Association of Georgia

  September 18, 2018

  The Community Bankers Association of Georgia announced that John McNair, executive vice president of member relations at the Independent Community Bankers of America in Washington, D.C., was named CBA president and CEO.

• Amazon Storefronts: Over a Million Products From Nearly 20,000 U.S. Small Businesses From All 50 States

  September 18, 2018

  Amazon opens “Amazon Storefronts,” a new store for customers to shop exclusively from U.S. small and medium-sized businesses selling on Amazon.

• University System Recommends $13.6M for Lanier Tech Campus Project

  September 17, 2018

  The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has recommended $13.6 million in state funding for the University of North Georgia to begin renovations on the former Lanier Technical College campus space, located next door to UNG's Gainesville Campus.

• GeorgiaForward Forum Focuses on Engaging Georgia's Next Generation of Leaders

  September 17, 2018

  Are you ready for a different kind of leadership conference to help chart Georgia’s future? Make plans now to attend the 2018 GeorgiaForward Forum.

• Governor Deal Announces New Supreme Court & Appeals Court Appointments

  September 17, 2018

  Gov. Nathan Deal announced the appointment of the Honorable Charlie Bethel as a justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Bethel will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Justice P. Harris Hines. Deal also announced the appointment of the Honorable Christian A. Coomer to the Court of Appeals of Georgia to fill the vacancy created by Bethel’s appointment.

• Georgia Chamber Named State Chamber of the Year

  September 14, 2018

  The Council of State Chambers, named the Georgia Chamber of Commerce the 2018 State Chamber of Year at its annual award ceremony held in New Orleans, Louisiana.

• Georgia Chamber Announces the Launch of the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition

  September 13, 2018

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition, a statewide advocacy group focused on ensuring the long-term viability and success of Georgia’s screen entertainment industry.

• University System of Georgia Announces Creation of Georgia FinTech Academy

  September 12, 2018

  Chancellor Steve Wrigley and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia announced the formation of the Georgia FinTech Academy. The academy is a statewide initiative to create a talent pipeline for Georgia’s fast-growing financial technology (fintech) business sector.

• Attorney General Pledges to Work Toward Health Care Options That Protect Georgians’ Interests

  September 12, 2018

  As Attorney General, I am committed to upholding the rule of law with each decision I make in order to protect the basic principles upon which our nation is founded. It is in keeping with this commitment that I have joined a multi-state coalition challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, a terribly flawed law that has left Georgians with skyrocketing insurance premiums and dwindling access to health care.

• Business Leaders to Share Experience at Cottrell Speaker Series

  September 10, 2018

  Five business leaders have signed on to participate in four Cottrell Speaker Series events — two in the fall and two in the spring — hosted by the University of North Georgia's Mike Cottrell College of Business.

• Delta Flew a Record Number of Customers This Summer. Here's How.

  September 10, 2018

  Saying this summer was a busy one would be a significant understatement. No matter how you slice the data — number of customers carried, flights flown, destinations served, irregular operation days handled — there were records made and broken during the all-important period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

• Leadership Georgia Announces 2018 Award Winners

  September 06, 2018

  The Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees is pleased to announce recipients of three coveted awards to be presented at this year’s annual gala. Leadership Georgia’s Annual Gala and Awards Presentation has become a signature event for honoring and celebrating the outstanding accomplishments and contributions that have been made by alumni and others to Leadership Georgia, our communities and the state as a whole

• Greater Hall Chamber Chamber Releases 2018 Logistics Services Report

  September 05, 2018

  The Greater Hall Chamber, in partnership with the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics, has released an updated study of the growing Logistics Services Industry for the Gainesville-Hall County Metropolitan Area.

• Student Entrepreneurship Continues with the Georgia InVenture Prize

  September 05, 2018

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the Georgia InVenture Prize, which is open to students attending public and private colleges across the state. The contest aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship and start-up creation.

• Georgia Power Updates Ash Pond Closure Plans for Plants Branch & Bowen

  September 04, 2018

  Georgia Power announced updated, site-specific closure plans for ash ponds at Plants Branch and Bowen as part of its efforts to safely and permanently close 29 ash ponds at 11 current and former coal-fired power plants across the state.