May 2021 Features

  • Georgia Secures AAA Bond Rating in 2021

    May 28, 2021

    Governor Brian P. Kemp announced Georgia again secured the highest ratings of AAA with a stable outlook from each of the three main credit rating agencies: FitchRatings, Moody’s Investors Service, and S&P Global Ratings.

  • As Country Rebuilds from Pandemic, Beer Industry Releases New Study on its Economic Impact in Georgia

    May 27, 2021

    Today, the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association released their biennial Beer Serves America report on the economic importance of the nation's beer industry. Bars, restaurants, sporting events and concerts are critical to Georgia’s economy and the U.S. economy at large, particularly as the country looks to recover and safely reopen.

  • State Purchases Economic Development Mega-Site in Bryan County

    May 26, 2021

    Governor Kemp announced the authorization to purchase a 2,284-acre economic development site in partnership between the State of Georgia and the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority (JDA). The strategic purchase of the Bryan County Mega-Site is the largest in state history.

  • SBA Launches ‘Community Navigator Pilot’ Program Application

    May 26, 2021

    The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is accepting applications for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program. This new initiative, established by the American Rescue Plan, will leverage a community navigator approach to reach our nation’s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans.

  • 60 Students Placed with 20 Companies For 2021 Students2Work Program

    May 25, 2021

    The Augusta Metro Chamber, in partnership with the Richmond County School System, will place 60 high school juniors and seniors into 8-week paid internships beginning June 7th for the 2021 Students2Work program.

  • Georgia Power Announces $75 Million Investment in Racial Equity & Social Justice Efforts

    May 25, 2021

    Georgia Power today announced the company and the Georgia Power Foundation are committing to invest $15 million annually from 2021-2025, $75 million over the five-year period, to help advance racial equity and social justice efforts in Georgia.

  • Business Ownership Key for Economic Recovery in U.S. Cities, New Report Shows

    May 24, 2021

    The National League of Cities (NLC) and the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) released today new guidance for U.S. cities to pursue equitable post-COVID economic recovery through the use of employee ownership.

  • Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Continued to Drop in April

    May 21, 2021

    The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced that Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped another 0.2 percentage points to reach 4.3 percent in April.

  • State Lawmaker Wants to Create Cyberforce in Georgia

    May 20, 2021

    While the gas shortage seems to be easing in most areas across the state following the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, the concern about future attacks is still on the minds of many state officials. In fact, the incident has driven one state lawmaker to look into ways to address this in Georgia.

  • Partnership for Inclusive Innovation Awards Grant to First-of-its-Kind, Statewide Farm Ownership Program

    May 18, 2021

    Today, the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation announced a $250,000 grant for The Conservation Fund’s Georgia Working Farms Fund program – the first and only program in the U.S. to offer end-to-end support for next-generation farmers, including a path to farm ownership and access to established markets to sell their products.

  • goBeyondProfit Invites Business Executives to CEO Conversation: Navigating Rising Expectations in Georgia

    May 17, 2021

    goBeyondProfit will host a CEO Conversation via Zoom this Thursday, May 20th at 2pm featuring a panel of prominent business executives discussing the recently released corporate generosity report: Navigating Rising Expectations in Georgia.

  • State of Georgia to Invest nearly $16 Million in Education and Research at Augusta University

    May 14, 2021

    Augusta University will receive nearly $16 million to advance the institution’s undergraduate and graduate education and launch STEM education opportunities to K-12 students in rural Georgia, following approval by Gov. Brian Kemp for the Year 2022 budget.

  • Governor Kemp, State Labor Commissioner Announce Economic Recovery Plan

    May 14, 2021

    Governor Brian P. Kemp & Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced Georgia’s plan for reemployment and economic recovery. To address workforce shortages and boost a full economic recovery, state labor officials plan to end Georgia’s participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs, effective Saturday, June 26th.

  • University Health Care System in Augusta Unanimously Approves Letter of Intent to Partner with Piedmont Healthcare

    May 13, 2021

    Piedmont Healthcare and University Health Care System in Augusta have signed a non-binding Letter-of-Intent, initiating a period of due diligence between the two organizations. Should the negotiations prove successful, University Health will become Piedmont’s regional “hub” for clinical services in the greater Augusta area.

  • NFIB: Optimism High but Job Openings at Record Highs

    May 13, 2021

    Seeming to confirm concerns about workers being reluctant to re-enter the workforce, the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB) latest Small Business Optimism Index rose to 99.8% in April, up 1.6% from March. The index has increased nearly five points since the beginning of the year but nearly half of business owners report job openings going unfilled.

  • Columbia County Chamber Celebrates Success At 16th Annual Banquet

    May 11, 2021

    The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 16th Annual Banquet and Business Showcase on Thursday, May 6th at the Columbia County Exhibition Center. With an estimated attendance of 400 local, state and federal business leaders, the event celebrated and saluted the Chamber’s accomplishments of 2020, with a look ahead to a prosperous 2021.

  • Mayor Davis on Proposes a 'Housing for Working Families' Package

    May 11, 2021

    Tomorrow, Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. will put before the Augusta Commission’s Administrative Services Committee several proposals to help spur economic development in the city and hopefully provide more affordable and workforce housing units to retain current and attract new residents to the city of Augusta.

  • Amazon Fulfillment Center Coming to Savannah With 1,000 Jobs

    May 10, 2021

    Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Amazon will expand its significant presence in Georgia with a new fulfillment center planned in Savannah, Georgia. The new facility will feature innovative Amazon robotics technology and create 1,000 full-time jobs.

  • Chris Clark & Santiago Marquez: Georgia Needs Dreamers for a Robust Economic Recovery

    May 07, 2021

    It has been clear from the start of the pandemic that this is not simply a public health crisis. Businesses of all sizes were negatively impacted and, much like the rest of the country, Georgia’s economy took a hit. Fortunately, Georgia has already begun economic recovery efforts due to our state’s earlier re-opening leading to a 4.8% unemployment rate as opposed to the national rate of 6.2%.

  • How Tech will Smooth the Return to Global Travel: A Q&A with Delta’s Innovation Leader

    May 07, 2021

    With summer ahead and more customers taking steps to return to the skies, Delta has continued to find new ways to welcome customers back with less guesswork.

  • JNSA Announces Shark Tank Style Economic Empowerment Program

    May 05, 2021

    The Jessye Norman School of the Arts will soon host a Shark-Tank style competition for interested CSRA families. The competition, “J-Tank,” is a collaboration between the school and the Augusta Housing Authority, First Community Bank, and the Augusta Partnership for Children. The project will underscore the importance of art as a vehicle for economic empowerment.

  • Explore Georgia Launches Marketing Campaign & Travel Guide To Support Tourism Recovery

    May 05, 2021

    To celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week, Governor Brian P. Kemp in conjunction with Explore Georgia, the state tourism office within the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced several new initiatives to increase visitation and support tourism recovery in the state.

  • Augusta Celebrates the Power of Travel During National Travel and Tourism Week

    May 04, 2021

    National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), the annual celebration of the contributions of the U.S. travel industry, will spotlight the critical role that travel will play in driving economic recovery efforts and building the path forward through the theme Power of Travel.

  • Georgia Celebrates State’s 2021 ‘Small Business ROCK STARS’

    May 04, 2021

    The Georgia Department of Economic Development today announced its six 2021 Small Business ROCK STARS as part of the state’s celebration of this week's Georgia Small Business Week.

  • Wier/Stewart Announces Promotions & Expansion Efforts

    May 03, 2021

    Since its founding in 2005, Wier/Stewart has left its mark on Augusta by providing advertising, marketing and creative services to a variety of organizations such as Augusta University, TaxSlayer and the Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau. Recent leadership announcements and strategic opportunities in this year’s first quarter have made way for the company to now further expand operations and marketing efforts into Atlanta, Georgia.