October 2024 Features

• Hope After the Storm: Goodwill Partners with Community Allies to Support Families Impacted by Hurricane Helene

  October 31, 2024

  As families across the region rebuild after Hurricane Helene, Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA is providing ongoing support through its Good Samaritan and Daily Bread initiatives.

• Georgia Chamber Announces Key Leadership Promotions to Advance Public Affairs & Foundation Initiatives

  October 31, 2024

  Today, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the promotion of three dedicated team members who exemplify the values and principles of the “Georgia Chamber Way.” As the Georgia Chamber works to strengthen our mission of advocating for free enterprise, fostering economic resilience, and supporting the future of Georgia’s business community, these servant-hearted leaders will play essential roles in driving forward our agenda and strategic vision.

• Leadership Georgia Names the Class of 2025

  October 30, 2024

  The Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees is proud to announce the participants for the organization’s Class of 2025. Each year, Leadership Georgia seeks out emerging leaders and selects sixty-three participants from a pool of several hundred applicants to participate in the yearlong leadership program.

• Apply for a Complimentary Georgia Chamber Membership | Small Diverse Businesses

  October 30, 2024

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Fiserv are proud to offer complimentary Chamber memberships to small, diverse businesses based in Georgia.

• Delta Mainline Service Returns to Augusta Regional Airport

  October 29, 2024

  Delta Air Lines will resume mainline service to Augusta Regional Airport on November 11th. Delta Airlines has changed several of their morning flights to larger aircraft, accommodating more passengers, and providing larger seating in first class and comfort class.

• GMA's Larry Hanson: Public Safety - Serving and Protecting Georgia’s Cities, Citizens and Visitors

  October 29, 2024

  As I travel across Georgia throughout the year and currently for our fall district meetings, one issue that consistently rises to the top in many conversations is public safety. Public safety is a fundamental part of what makes Georgia’s cities great places to live.

• Augusta Metro Chamber Supports Continuation of 1% Sales and Use Tax for Educational Purposes

  October 28, 2024

  The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Committee recently endorsed the continuation of the 1% Sales and Use Tax for Educational Purposes in Richmond County.

• From Global to Local: International Businesses Grow Globally in Georgia

  October 25, 2024

  With more than 5,000 participants representing 96 global markets, the 2024 SelectUSA Investment Summit was an opportune moment for Georgia to demonstrate why it has been the No. 1 state for business for over a decade to companies entering the U.S.

• Technical College System of Georgia Recognizes 23 Alumni as 2024 Alumni of the Year

  October 25, 2024

  The Technical College System of Georgia announced 23 recipients as Alumni of the Year from its 22 colleges. The award honors exceptional alumni who have made significant contributions in their fields, demonstrated leadership in their communities, and serve as ambassadors of technical education in Georgia.

• Augusta University Expert Talks Hurricane Helene’s Impact on the Supply Chain

  October 25, 2024

  According to Rick Franza, PhD, professor in the James M. Hull College of Business and an expert on operations and supply chain management, said lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge at the Port of Baltimore incident earlier this year can help with mitigation of risk and recovering during these problematic times

• New Committee to Explore Impacts of AI on Georgia Courts

  October 24, 2024

  Georgia Chief Justice Michael Boggs Tuesday announced the formation of an ad hoc committee that will assess the risks and benefits of using artificial intelligence in the state’s court system.

• Gov. Kemp Announces Georgia Surplus Tax Relief Rebates

  October 23, 2024

  For the second time in three years, Gov. Brian Kemp is giving Georgians a tax rebate worth more than $1 billion.

• AT&T Donates $25,000 to Support Golden Harvest Food Bank and Communities Affected by Hurricane Helene

  October 22, 2024

  AT&T is contributing $25,000 to Golden Harvest Food Bank to assist Georgia communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.

• Fostering Success Act, Inc. Announces Partnership with University System of Georgia Foundation

  October 22, 2024

  Fostering Success Act, Inc., announced it has signed a partnership agreement with the University System of Georgia Foundation. The joint venture will enable the two organizations to raise funds for youth who have aged out of the state’s foster care system to attend one of Georgia’s 26 public colleges and universities with a scholarship or financial aid beginning in the immediate academic year.

• Energizing Our Cities for a Stronger Georgia

  October 21, 2024

  As the dust settles from the recent political conventions, it’s clear that the political parties have emerged with renewed vigor, ready to champion their candidates and their vision for the future. In a similar vein, GMA’s Annual Convention, Cities United Summit, training opportunities and other gatherings bring city officials from across the state together to learn, share, and strategize about the future of our cities.

• Cyber Threats Abound in Wake of Hurricane Helene

  October 18, 2024

  As thousands of linemen, utility crews, emergency personnel, debris removal crews and volunteers have been working in Augusta in the wake of Hurricane Helene, another group is in business now, too: scammers.

• Pinnacle Club’s Head Chef Achieves Top Culinary Honor, Elevating Augusta’s Dining Scene

  October 18, 2024

  The Pinnacle Club is proud to announce that its head chef de cuisine, Joseph Awokang, has successfully completed the rigorous requirements of the American Culinary Federation to earn the distinguished title of Certified Executive Chef.

• New Study Highlights Georgia’s Nonprofit Arts, Culture Impact

  October 18, 2024

  Reported by the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s strategic arts arm, Georgia Council for the Arts, Georgia’s nonprofit arts and culture sector delivers a minimum economic impact of at least $1.27 billion and supports nearly 20,000 jobs.

• Georgia's Job Market Hits New Highs as Unemployment Holds Steady at 3.6% in September

  October 18, 2024

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's September unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.6 percent in August. The unemployment rate was five-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.

• A Lesson From Jimmy Carter As He Celebrates A Century Of Life

  October 17, 2024

  Former President Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100 th birthday earlier this month. It’s a goal few of us will ever reach. Even fewer will get to spend four of our years as the leader of the free world.

• Early Voting in Georgia Off to Brisk Start

  October 16, 2024

  Early voting is off to a record-breaking start in Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger reported Tuesday. By 3:30 p.m., about 234,000 Georgians had cast their ballots on the first day of the early voting period.

• Sonny Deriso & Craig Menear Named 2025 Georgia Trustees

  October 15, 2024

  The Georgia Historical Society announced that Walter M. “Sonny” Deriso, Jr., Banker, Attorney, and Civic Leader, and Craig A. Menear, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Home Depot, will be inducted by the Georgia Historical Society and the Office of the Governor as the newest Georgia Trustees on April 26, 2025, at the Trustees Gala.

• Georgia Agriculture & Forestry Industry Suffer Estimated $6.5B in Damages from Helene

  October 11, 2024

  Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper in coordination with Governor Brian Kemp, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the Georgia Forestry Commission announced the preliminary estimate of Hurricane Helene’s economic impact on Georgia Agriculture is $6.46 billion.

• Gov. Kemp Hosts Final Roundtable on Litigation Reform

  October 10, 2024

  Governor Brian Kemp hosted leaders from Georgia businesses and policymakers for a roundtable discussion on civil litigation and its impact on the state's economic wellbeing. This was the final of three roundtable events announced by Governor Kemp for this Fall.

• How Aflac Found Its Voice and Changed Insurance Advertising

  October 09, 2024

  The insurance business is all about taking calculated risks, so Aflac CEO Dan Amos always makes sure his numbers line up before he makes a big decision. Still, on New Year’s Day 2000 — the day the now-famous Aflac Duck quacked its way into the world for the first time — he was anxious.