November 2024 Features

• A Tribute to the Life and Leadership of Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson

  November 25, 2024

  The Georgia Department of Labor mourns the passing of Commissioner Bruce Thompson, a visionary leader, devoted mentor, and dedicated public servant. While his entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence will be deeply missed, Commissioner Thompson’s greatest legacy lies in his ability to foster a culture of family and belonging for those who worked alongside him.

• 2.3M Georgians Expected to Travel for Thanksgiving

  November 22, 2024

  AAA expects record-setting travel numbers for Thanksgiving. Over 2.3 million Georgians are forecast to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday. That’s an all-time high for Thanksgiving and nearly 40,000 more travelers than last year.

• goBeyondProfit Honors Bernie Marcus’ Legacy of Generosity

  November 22, 2024

  As a Founding Ambassador for goBeyondProfit, Bernie Marcus issued both a challenge to fellow business leaders and offered a road map for leading with generosity across a lifetime.

• Economic Development Expert Tapped to Lead Georgia Transportation Alliance

  November 21, 2024

  The Georgia Transportation Alliance, an affiliate of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, selected Georgia economic development veteran Joseph Santoro to serve as the new Executive Director of the Georgia Transportation Alliance.

• 2025 Travel Outlook: Squaremouth Predicts Traveler's Destination and Spend Trends

  November 21, 2024

  From historic hurricanes, growing anti-tourism sentiments, frequent travel disruptions and ever-rising trip costs, 2024 has been a challenging year for travelers. Looking ahead into the new year, Squaremouth, the nation's leading travel insurance marketplace, reveals their top 3 biggest travel predictions for 2025.

• Paving the Way: An Update from Georgia Department of Transportation

  November 20, 2024

  At the recent On Topic Luncheon presented by Porter Steel, GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry provided insights on Georgia’s transportation advancements for 2025. Speaking to an audience of over 160 business professionals, McMurry highlighted several key projects that emphasize infrastructure improvements across the region, particularly in Gwinnett County.

• Study: CEOs Optimistic Amid Uncertainty

  November 20, 2024

  Middle market companies are confident in their ability to navigate inflation and a potential recession, according to a survey by Moss Adams, one of the largest accounting, consulting and wealth management firms in the nation.

• Friendsgiving at the Miller Theater to Benefit Golden Harvest

  November 19, 2024

  Retro Concert Series presents Friendsgiving on November 27th at the Miller Theater. Friendsgiving will be a celebration of fantastic music and community with performances by Swamp Music – A Tribute to Skynyrd, Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers and Ryan Abel & Friends. $2 from each Friendsgiving ticket sold goes directly to Golden Harvest Food Bank.

• State Medical Cannabis Registry Reaches 25,000

  November 19, 2024

  Georgia’s medical cannabis program has hit an important milestone. Enrollment in the registry of patients eligible to receive the drug hit 25,000 during the weekend. That growth means the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, the state agency that operates the program, is authorized to open additional dispensaries.

• Augusta University Records Enrollment Growth for Ninth Straight Year

  November 18, 2024

  Augusta University has exceeded enrollment goals for its ninth consecutive year, with a total of 11,584 students — a 9.8% increase over last year’s impressive numbers. This year’s historic growth spans both undergraduate and graduate programs, with 6,078 undergraduates and 5,506 graduates, professional and post-professional students enrolled.

• Columbia County Chamber Awarded Prestigious 5-Star Accreditation from U.S. Chamber of Commerce

  November 18, 2024

  The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that it has been awarded the prestigious 5-Star Accreditation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

• Georgia Chamber Hosts the 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit

  November 18, 2024

  On November 13th, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit. The summit took place at the Georgia International Convention Center, with more than 250 people in attendance.

• Augusta's Forest Hills Golf Course Reopens Following Major Greens Renovation

  November 15, 2024

  The historic Forest Hills Golf Course in Augusta, Ga., has reopened for play under the management of Bobby Jones Links after an extensive renovation of its greens designed to enhance playability and the overall golf experience. The modifications significantly improve one of Augusta’s premier golf destinations.

• Board of Regents Elects New Chair and Vice Chair for 2025

  November 14, 2024

  The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia elected current Vice Chair T. Dallas Smith to a one-year term as the Board’s new chair and Regent David Dove to a one-year term as the Board’s vice chair.

• Georgia's Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.6% for Third Consecutive Month

  November 14, 2024

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

• Charlie Harper: 2024 Wasn’t As Close As Expected. 2026 Is a New Game Entirely

  November 14, 2024

  It wasn’t so close after all. Despite the insistence of many professional pundits and most major media outlets, the 2024 elections for President and control of Congress were called relatively early. By Wednesday morning, the word “mandate” was being used frequently as part of the instant analysis.

• Augusta Regional Airport Awarded $4M ATP Grant

  November 13, 2024

  Augusta Regional Airport is thrilled to announce they have been awarded a 4-million dollar grant through the competitive Federal Airport Terminal Program, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

• Peach Bowl, Inc. Commits $2 Million for 2024-25 College Football Season

  November 13, 2024

  Peach Bowl, Inc., college football’s most charitable bowl organization, today announced a commitment of $2 million in donations for the 2024-25 college football season.

• Georgia Power’s CEO Kim Greene: We Are Here for Georgia. We are Here for You.

  November 13, 2024

  I can’t recall a time in my career, or maybe my life, when I’ve seen anything like Hurricane Helene. It was impossible to believe unless you saw it up close, and even then, it is difficult to describe — pictures simply don’t do it justice. I visited some of the hardest-hit areas in Georgia in the days following the storm, and what I saw broke my heart.

• Augusta Technical College Announces Major Gift From SRP to Sponsor Accelerate Augusta

  November 12, 2024

  Augusta Technical College, in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta, proudly announces that SRP is the naming sponsor for Accelerate Augusta, the region’s newest small business incubator and microenterprise center.

• Join Barbara Dooley in Supporting Georgia’s Foster Youth and Our Future Workforce

  November 12, 2024

  Barbara Dooley – a beloved Georgia philanthropist, community leader, and passionate advocate for foster youth – believes that education and confidence are the keys to unlocking the potential of these young adults.

• Doctors Hospital of Augusta Donates Over 24,000 Pounds of Food and Supplies to Golden Harvest Food Bank

  November 11, 2024

  In a time of unprecedented need following Hurricane Helene, Doctors Hospital of Augusta has stepped up as the presenting sponsor of this year’s “It’s Spooky to Be Hungry” campaign, donating an impressive 24,663 pounds of food and supplies to Golden Harvest Food Bank.

• Georgia Power’s First Battery Energy Storage System Reaches Commercial Operation

  November 11, 2024

  Georgia Power leaders joined elected officials from the Georgia Public Service Commission, Georgia legislature, and Talbot and Muscogee counties on Thursday to mark commercial operation of the company’s first “grid-connected” battery energy storage system.

• Young GameChangers Conclude Program with Final Presentations in Valdosta

  November 07, 2024

  The GeorgiaForward Young GameChangers Program held its final presentations on Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Rainwater Conference Center. This marked the culmination of months of dedicated effort by participants committed to enhancing Valdosta’s growth and community impact.

• Trump Carries Georgia Four Years After Losing Peach State

  November 06, 2024

  Former President Donald Trump won Georgia’s 16 electoral votes Tuesday, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris by a narrow margin, several national news outlets projected before 1 a.m. Wednesday.