February 2018 Features

• EDTS Recognized for Excellence in Managed IT Services with a Specialization in Security

  February 28, 2018

  CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named EDTS to its 2018 Managed Service Provider 500 list in the Managed Security 100 category. This annual list recognizes North American solution providers with award-winning approaches to delivering managed IT services.

• Georgia Banks Earn $3.4B During 2017

  February 28, 2018

  Georgia’s 177 state-based FDIC insured banks earned $3.4 billion in 2017, an increase of 13.7 percent over the previous year. Total deposits, loans and assets all increased during the year.

• Film Day at the Capitol Celebrates Georgia’s Film and Television Industry

  February 28, 2018

  The Georgia Film Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, celebrated Film Day at the Capitol to recognize the state’s past, present and future in the film industry. “No other film production center has seen more growth in infrastructure than Georgia has over the last eight years,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson. “Governor Deal’s leadership and unwavering support has ensured Georgia’s place as a top destination for film and television activity.”

• Augusta’s River Region March Conferences and Sports Events to Generate $4m+

  February 27, 2018

  The Augusta Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Augusta Sports Council are pleased to announce that visitors attending meetings, reunions, events and sporting events in Augusta’s River Region will generate at least $4,651,277.59 in total estimated economic impact during the month of March.

• GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry Receives Award for Engineering Influence

  February 27, 2018

  Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. received ACEC Georgia’s Engineering Influence Award “in recognition of his exceptional leadership and management of the department’s response to the Interstate 85 fire and bridge collapse” last year.

• Apply Today to be a Part of the Leadership Augusta Class of 2019

  February 26, 2018

  Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Leadership Augusta adult class, which runs from August 2018 through May 2019. Participants have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, foster understanding of major issues facing the region, network among community leaders, and directly contribute through voluntary participation in civic activities.

• Senators Johnny Isakson & David Perdue: Tax Cuts Are Helping Georgians

  February 26, 2018

  The tax cuts passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump are already having a positive impact across the country. Businesses are investing in our economy again. More than 3 million Americans have received bonuses. Wages are rising at their highest rate in eight years. Here in Georgia, we are seeing this positive impact firsthand.

• Technology Association of Georgia Unveils the Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia

  February 23, 2018

  The Technology Association of Georgia announced the Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia. TAG’S Top 40 Awards recognize Georgia-based technology companies for their innovation, financial impact, and their efforts at spreading awareness of the state’s technology initiatives throughout the U.S. and globally.

• Hollywood South: Entertainment Industry Brings $9.5B to Georgia

  February 22, 2018

  Still thinking about which films to check off on the Oscar ballot before awards season wraps up March 4 with the 90th Academy Awards? Consider “Baby Driver,” “I, Tonya,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “DeKalb Elementary.” They all were filmed in Georgia and contributed to the $9.5 billion the film industry brought to the state last year.

• Georgia-Pacific To Build State-of-the-Art Lumber Plant In Warren County

  February 21, 2018

  Georgia-Pacific announced it will build a new softwood lumber production facility in Warren County, Georgia, on property adjacent to its existing lumber mill. Construction of the $135 million, 340,000-square foot, technologically advanced plant is scheduled to begin in the summer of 2018 with an anticipated startup in spring 2019.

• Georgia Power Continue Building the Future of Energy with Innovative Smart Neighborhood Projects

  February 21, 2018

  Southern Company and its Alabama Power and Georgia Power subsidiaries have officially announced Smart Neighborhood initiatives that will provide customers with state-of-the-art home construction, distributed energy resources – including solar and battery energy storage – and smart home appliances and technologies.

• Augusta Regional Airport has Highest Passenger Numbers in Airport History

  February 20, 2018

  Augusta Regional Airport is excited to announce that 2017 was a record-breaking year in Airport history! A total of 580,755 passengers traveled through AGS in 2017 which broke AGS’s past highest record in 2015, by almost 30,000 people! Overall Airport traffic has increased 5.18% since 2016.

• Record-breaking Year for Georgia’s International Trade

  February 20, 2018

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development released Georgia’s 2017 international trade numbers, which indicate another record breaking year. In 2017, total trade between Georgia and the world reached 225 unique countries and territories, exceeding $128.6 billion.

• City Leaders Gain Critical Knowledge through UGA Partnership

  February 20, 2018

  More than 250 first-time mayors and city council members from Georgia cities gathered in Athens last week for the two-day Newly Elected Officials Institute, held every February to teach new leaders the basics of effective governance.

• University System Saves Students More Than $18M a Year in Free Textbooks

  February 19, 2018

  The University System of Georgia is saving students more than $18 million a year with its free online textbook initiative called Affordable Learning Georgia.

• 'Cyber Charged Growth' at the Augusta Chamber's 110th Annual Meeting March 1st

  February 16, 2018

  The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce their 110th Annual Meeting, presented by South State Bank, will focus on the ‘Cyber Charged Growth’ our region is experiencing.

• Chairman Jason Shaw Introduces Legislation to Create the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation

  February 16, 2018

  State Representative Jason Shaw (R-Lakeland) introduced legislation that would create the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation.

• Delta Pays Employees More Than $1B in Profit Sharing for Fourth Consecutive Year

  February 15, 2018

  Delta Air Lines will pay out more than $1 billion in profit sharing for the fourth year in a row and celebrate the outstanding accomplishments made possible by its more than 80,000 employees around the world.

• Columbia County Chamber Lauds Successful Year With 13th Annual Banquet

  February 13, 2018

  The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 13th Annual Banquet and Business Showcase on Thursday evening at the Columbia County Exhibition Center. With an estimated attendance of 600 local, state and federal business leaders, the event celebrated and saluted the Chamber’s accomplishments of 2017, with a look ahead to a prosperous 2018.

• UGA Extension, Mercer University Partner to Recruit Future Doctors for Rural Georgia

  February 13, 2018

  Jean Sumner is a third-generation rural doctor. As a child, she watched her grandfather and father care for the residents of Washington County, Georgia. She followed in their footsteps and became a “small-town doctor,” the kind who knows your mother, sits behind you in church and roots for the local football team.

• Secretary of State Brian Kemp Announces Record-Breaking Month of Annual Business Registrations

  February 12, 2018

  Secretary of State Brian Kemp announced a record-breaking month of annual business registrations. In the month of January, the Corporations Division processed over 216,000 annual business registrations – more registrations in one month’s time than ever before.

• Georgia Quail Hunt Celebrates 30th Anniversary

  February 09, 2018

  Area leaders were on hand this week to welcome 27 site selection professionals to Southwest Georgia, not only for the world-class quail hunting but more importantly to learn about the potential for doing business in the region. It’s all part of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s 30th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt in Albany.

• SRNS Surpasses 10 Million Safe Work Hours Milestone

  February 08, 2018

  Savannah River Nuclear Solutions employees have once again achieved an exceptional industrial safety milestone, having surpassed 10 million hours without a lost day of work due to an injury at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site. This is the second time that SRNS has achieved 10 million safe work hours in the last three years.

• Exporting Provides Opportunity for Growth for Rural Companies in Georgia

  February 08, 2018

  Even the basics of international commerce felt foreign to Bruce Roberts. He knew how to ship something via UPS but didn’t have a clue how international ocean freight worked. He didn’t know how helpful a Skype account or making a website friendly to international customers could be in attracting overseas clients.

• Augusta's Annual State of Tourism Luncheon Wednesday

  February 06, 2018

  The Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Augusta Sports Council will hold the 2018 State of Tourism Luncheon on Wednesday, February 7th, from 12pm to 1:30pm, at The Foundry, 250 Boy Scout Road.