May 2023 Features

• Blue Bird Celebrates Grand Opening of Electric Vehicle Build-up Center in Fort Valley

  May 31, 2023

  Blue Bird Corporation celebrated the grand opening of its Electric Vehicle Build-up Center on the grounds of the company’s main U.S. manufacturing plant in Fort Valley. The opening marks an important milestone as the company continues to expand its electric school bus production capacity from 4 to 20 vehicles a day.

• Leading Producers Make Chamber’s List of 2023 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch

  May 30, 2023

  The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Augusta Magazine are proud to announce the selection of the 2023 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch.

• Vogtle Unit 3 Reaches 100% Energy Output for 1st Time

  May 30, 2023

  Georgia Power announced Monday Vogtle Unit 3 has safely reached 100 percent power, marking a major milestone towards commercial operation and service for customers. This milestone marks the maximum energy the unit is licensed to produce in the reactor core and is the first time the unit has reached its expected output.

• Hyundai & LG Plan $4.3 Billion Battery Plant in Savannah

  May 30, 2023

  LG Energy Solution and Hyundai Motor Group announced an EV battery cell manufacturing joint venture in the U.S.

• AU’s New Strategic Plan Shows Plenty of Promise

  May 25, 2023

  It’s been just over a year since Augusta University Leaders announced AU’s new strategic plan, Creating a Legacy Like No Other, and in the year since the roll-out, colleges and schools, departments, and smaller teams and units have worked to align their respective goals and strategic plans with the greater university plan.

• AAA: 1.3M Georgians Expected to Travel Memorial Day Weekend

  May 25, 2023

  AAA Travel expects there will be a significant number of Georgians planning to travel this Memorial Day holiday weekend.

• PSC Commissioner Tim Echols: Cleaner Air is Not Free

  May 25, 2023

  Electricity generation is no longer the leading source of carbon emissions in our state, this according to Drawdown Georgia, a group of scientists and researchers from multiple universities led by Georgia Tech’s Dr. Marilyn Brown.

• Jekyll Island Authority Board Selects New Executive Director

  May 24, 2023

  The Jekyll Island Authority Board of Directors has selected Mark Williams to serve as the new Executive Director of the JIA, succeeding current Executive Director Jones Hooks, who will retire June 30th. Williams is the current Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and a JIA Board member.

• Volunteers: The Backbone of SRNS Education Outreach

  May 23, 2023

  Since 2008, the success and reach of the Savannah River Nuclear Solutions education outreach programs have relied on the support of volunteers. One mother-daughter duo continues to go above and beyond to provide valuable support to educational initiatives that impact the community.

• Vinson Institute Creates Workforce Planning Guide to Help Communities Tackle Challenges

  May 23, 2023

  Experts at the University of Georgia’s Vinson Institute of Government have partnered with Georgia Power to provide communities across the state with a comprehensive and accessible resource to address the growth opportunities provided by new industries.

• Gen Z Surpasses Baby Boomers in Small Business Workforce Participation

  May 23, 2023

  According to a new report from Paychex, Inc., Generation Z (born 1997-2012) participation in the small business workforce has surpassed Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964) and is the only segment in the labor market showing growth.

• Julie Langham Appointed as Vice President for Economic Development at Augusta Tech

  May 22, 2023

  Augusta Technical College has appointed Mrs. Julie Langham as the Vice President for Economic Development.

• Augusta University’s Medical College of Georgia to Open New Four-year Campus at Armstrong Campus of Georgia Southern University in Savannah

  May 19, 2023

  Georgia’s only public medical school has received funding approval to open a new four-year campus in Savannah, an expansion that will provide greater access to education and training for medical students and ease the state’s ongoing shortage of physicians.

• 2023 GLOBE Awards Celebrate Georgia Exporters Across Diverse Industries

  May 19, 2023

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development announced 27 Georgia business recipients of the 2023 GLOBE Award. Managed by the Department’s International Trade team, this state-led awards program highlights Georgia companies that expanded sales to new international markets in the previous year.

• Governor Kemp Announces $225M in Grant Awards for Georgia Communities

  May 19, 2023

  Governor Brian Kemp announced preliminary grant awards totaling more than $225 million for 142 qualified projects that improve neighborhood assets like parks, recreation facilities, sidewalks, and healthy food access in communities all across the state disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Leadership Augusta Announces Class of 2024 Chair and Co-Chair

  May 17, 2023

  Leadership Augusta is proud to announce Stephen King, Class of 2021, as the adult Class of 2024 Chair and Al Dallas, Class of 2023, will be his Co-Chair.

• Georgia's Legal Community Provides 3.2M Meals to State’s Regional Food Banks

  May 17, 2023

  Attorney General Chris Carr announced that attorneys across Georgia raised a total of $829,239 during the 12th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy fundraising competition. This is the equivalent of 3.2 million meals for the state’s regional food banks to then distribute to Georgia children, seniors and families in need.

• Georgia Historical Society to Dedicate New Historical Marker Recognizing Augusta’s Chinese Community and the CCBA

  May 17, 2023

  The Georgia Historical Society will dedicate a new historical marker recognizing “The Augusta Chinese and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association” in partnership with the Augusta Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.

• AAA: Georgian's Summer Travel Surging

  May 17, 2023

  If you haven’t booked your summer travel plans yet, AAA says you better do it soon. The Auto Club Group is seeing very strong bookings for cruises, tours, hotels, and flights.

• Secretary Raffensperger Builds Coalition of Influential State and Community Leaders to Take on Licensing Reform

  May 16, 2023

  Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is announcing the creation of the GA WORKS Licensing Commission. The commission seeks to evaluate the Professional Licensing Board’s future ability to meet the demands of a rapidly growing Georgia workforce, and pay specific attention to the regulatory burdens that impact the agency’s ability to get Georgians to work quickly and efficiently.

• “Am I OK?” Join the Augusta Metro Chamber for a Mental Health Check Up at Women In Business

  May 15, 2023

  May is Mental Health Awareness Month. On Tuesday, the Augusta Metro Chamber’s Women In Business Program, presented by Peach State Federal Credit Union, will focus on mental health with special guest Elizabeth Estey of Life Management Group.

• Companies Find Global Growth Opportunities with Georgia’s International Trade Team

  May 12, 2023

  Georgia’s status as a global gateway is a result of decades of strategic planning by Georgia leaders, starting when the state opened its first international trade offices 50 years ago this year.

• Survey: US Job Satisfaction Hits All-Time High

  May 12, 2023

  American workers are more content than ever, according to The Conference Board Job Satisfaction 2023. The report finds improved satisfaction across nearly all 26 components—with gains in non-compensation factors like work-life balance outpacing even those from improved pay and benefits.

• 2020-2022 Augusta Champions Recognized

  May 11, 2023

  Destination Augusta (DA) and the Augusta Sports Council recognized the 2020-2022 Augusta Champions at a breakfast held at the Doris Building. An Augusta Champion is a local resident who by working with DA and the ASC, helped to bring a meeting or convention, sporting event or family reunion to Augusta.

• Technology Association of Georgia Announces 2023 Top 40 Innovative Companies

  May 11, 2023

  The Technology Association of Georgia recently announced the 2023 Top 40 Innovative Technology Companies in Georgia.