February 2026 Features

• Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation Announces Its 2026 List of State's 10 Places in Peril

  February 27, 2026

  The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation released today its 2026 list of 10 Places in Perilin the state.

• CEO Confidence Rose Significantly in Q1

  February 27, 2026

  The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence in collaboration with The Business Council, surged to 59 in Q1 2026, rising by 11 points from 48 in Q4 2025. A total of 142 CEOs participated in the Q1 survey, which was fielded from February 3 through February 16.

• PSC Chairman Jason Shaw: Georgia Does it Right with Data Centers

  February 26, 2026

  Georgia has proven time and again that it has the unique ability to temper rapid economic changes with responsible planning, ensuring we successfully navigate our state’s continuing growth. Few industries illustrate this more clearly than the rapid rise of data centers.

• Southern Company Receives Historic Department of Energy $26.5B Loan Guarantees to Increase Grid Reliability

  February 26, 2026

  Customers across Alabama and Georgia are set to benefit from a historic U.S. government investment into energy infrastructure and grid reliability. Southern Company's subsidiaries, Georgia Power and Alabama Power, have received a loan package of up to $26.54 billion from the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Dominance Financing. Over the approximately 30-year term of the loans, customers are expected to recognize estimated savings of $7 billion.

• Augusta Positioned to Become a Leader in Medical Device Entrepreneurship

  February 25, 2026

  The Georgia Institute of Technology and Augusta University have launched a collaborative effort to boost the city’s medical device innovation ecosystem. The Augusta region is already a major hub for health and life sciences, boasting five hospitals and the Medical College of Georgia, the nation’s 13th oldest medical school and one of its largest.

• Kia Georgia Celebrates Trio of Major Milestones, Including Start of Production for 2027 Kia Telluride

  February 25, 2026

  Kia Georgia team members marked another historic day at its West Point facility Tuesday with the start of production of the all-new 2027 Kia Telluride.

• Bill Beazley Homes Celebrates 50 Years of Building Communities: From a Single Foundation to a Regional Legacy

  February 24, 2026

  Bill Beazley Homes, a cornerstone of residential development in the Greater Augusta-Aiken region, is proud to announce the official celebration of its 50th anniversary. Since breaking ground on its very first home in 1976, the company has grown from a local builder into a nationally recognized "Giant of Building," shaping the landscape of Georgia and South Carolina.

• AI Hype Versus Reality & 'Generational Recession': New Goodwill Report Reveals Growing Workforce Gaps

  February 24, 2026

  Amid widespread layoffs and economic disruption, a new report from Goodwill Industries reveals a number of critical gaps in the reality of today's workforce. The Workforce in Flux: Americans and the Changing World of Work report, includes findings that allude to a deepening "generational recession" affecting the nation's youngest workers as well as a widening gap between AI expectations and reality.

• Amanda Free Named President of Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Georgia

  February 23, 2026

  Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia announced that Amanda Free has been named President. She succeeds Robert Bunch, who has transitioned to a new role within Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, leading the East Region Commercial region and Anthem’s Specialty Business.

• How Destination Augusta Made a Strategic Bet on Smarter Meetings Growth

  February 20, 2026

  Augusta — known as the “Feel Good City” and set along the Savannah River — is a compelling meetings destination with diverse offerings and Southern charm. As Destination Augusta continued to elevate its group sales strategy, the team identified an opportunity to further strengthen the systems and tools to support its meetings business.

• Augusta Metro Chamber to Host 117th Annual Meeting, “BINGO: Every Square Moves Us Forward”

  February 19, 2026

  Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce will host its 117th Annual Meeting, BINGO: Every Square Moves Us Forward, on Thursday, February 26, 2026, unveiling the Chamber’s 2-Year Strategic Roadmap through an interactive, BINGO-inspired experience designed to engage, connect, and advance the regional business community.

• GDOL Honored as “Model Agency” for HR Excellence

  February 19, 2026

  The Georgia Department of Labor has earned the “Model Agency Award” for Excellence in Human Resources from the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, achieving the highest assessment results among all Tier 1 agencies.

• Georgia Power Delivers Lower Costs for Customers with Latest Filings

  February 18, 2026

  Georgia Power today filed its expected Fuel Cost Recovery and Storm Cost Recovery cases with the Georgia Public Service Commission. Together, the cases seek to lower costs for customers through two distinct filings. The cumulative effect of the filings will result in overall lower rates for customers beginning this summer if approved by the Georgia PSC.

• Helms College Granted Full Five-Year Accreditation by ACCET, Affirming Quality, Outcomes, and Community Impact

  February 13, 2026

  Helms College has been granted full reaccreditation for five years by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training, the national accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The action affirms the college’s academic quality, institutional effectiveness, and commitment to student success through 2030.

• Georgia Historical Society Premieres New Georgia Day Video Exploring the Thirteenth Colony’s Founding

  February 13, 2026

  In recognition of the 293rd anniversary of Georgia’s founding on February 12, 1733, the Georgia Historical Society premieres a new Georgia Day video today, marking Georgia Day 2026.

• Kerry Bridges to Lead Augusta Tech Foundation As New Trustees Elected

  February 12, 2026

  The Augusta Technical College Foundation, Inc. started 2026 under new leadership with several new members of the Board of Trustees. Kerry Bridges of Georgia Power is the new chair while Jane Marie Kinsey of McKnight Construction is the new vice chair. They succeeded outgoing chair Randy Hatcher of MAU and retired architect Joe Gambill.

• Georgia Leaders Selected for 2026 GeorgiaForward Young Gamechangers Cohort

  February 12, 2026

  GeorgiaForward has selected 50 promising young leaders to serve the organization’s 2026 Young Gamechangers program. YG is a unique leadership action program hosted by GeorgiaForward, a non-profit organization administered by the Georgia Municipal Association.

• Kevin Price to Join Georgia Ports Reporting to CEO Griff Lynch

  February 11, 2026

  Georgia Ports Authority has appointed Kevin Price as President reporting to CEO Griff Lynch effective July 1st, with a longer-term transition plan to assume the role of President and CEO in mid-2027.

• Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA Announces Three New Board Members for 2026

  February 10, 2026

  Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors, effective 2026.

• Georgia Chamber Hosts 37th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt in Albany

  February 10, 2026

  Last week, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted its 37th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt, a premier statewide recruitment initiative designed to showcase the economic advantages of doing business in Georgia. The event took place on February 4th–6th in Southwest Georgia but the event’s impact and vision extended far beyond Southwest Georgia, with a continued focus on attracting investment, creating jobs, and building partnerships that benefit communities across the entire state.

• TCSG State Board Elects Buzz Law as Chair & Carvel Lewis as Vice Chair

  February 09, 2026

  The State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia today announced the election of new board leadership for 2026, naming longtime board member Buzz Law as Chair and Carvel Lewis as Vice Chair.

• AT&T Expands Fiber Network to More Than Two Million Customer Locations in Georgia

  February 06, 2026

  AT&T Fiber is now available to more than two million residential and business locations in Georgia. The expanded network gives more customers access to super-fast internet speeds up to 5-Gigs. AT&T made the announcement at an event in Albany alongside local and state leaders.

• Survey: Companies Take a More Cautious Approach to Corporate Philanthropy as Political & Economic Pressures Mount

  February 06, 2026

  Amid heightened scrutiny, companies are retreating from issues perceived as politically sensitive in their corporate philanthropy efforts. In 2026, nearly one-third of surveyed philanthropy leaders plan to scale back racial equality initiatives, with reductions also planned for environmental justice and gender equality, according to a new survey by The Conference Board. This continues the trend observed in 2025.

• Georgia Election Review Panel Recommends Gradual Shift To Hand-Marked Ballots

  February 05, 2026

  After six lengthy hearings around the state last year, a special legislative committee studying the elections process has recommended incremental changes to Georgia’s voting system.

• Augusta University To Host Augusta Half Marathon For Next Three Years

  February 03, 2026

  Following a successful event in 2025, Augusta University has agreed to serve as the host site and as a sponsor of the Augusta Half Marathon/10K/5K for the next three years, including the 2026 event that will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28.