Features
-
Employer Filed Claims Dominate Record-Setting Claims Numbers
April 24, 2020
Last week, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) processed 247,003 initial claims with employer filed claims accounting for 94%. In the past month, GDOL has processed 1,090,536 claims, more than the combined total for the previous three years. Unemployment initial claims throughout the United States decreased 810,000 last week to 4.4 million.
-
No Date Set for Georgia Lawmakers to Return to Session
April 24, 2020
When announcing his plans Monday to begin the transition phase of reopening the state, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp made some reference to the FY21 State Budget which has been on hold since Georgia lawmakers went on break because of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, neither Kemp, Lt Governor Geoff Duncan nor House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) made any reference to a return date.
-
Corsica Technologies: How Hackers are Using Coronavirus to Compromise Your Computer
April 24, 2020
Given the rapidly evolving story around the COVID-19 pandemic, countless Americans are actively searching for information. Hackers have taken notice and are wasting no time trying to take advantage in a number of ways.
-
Mayor Davis Announces Meal Partnership with World Central Kitchen and Golden Harvest Food Bank
April 23, 2020
Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr. and global hunger relief organization World Central Kitchen are partnering with Golden Harvest Food Bank to provide nearly 30,000 meals weekly for local residents. The meals will be delivered weekly to the Golden Harvest Food Bank Augusta Warehouse, which will serve as a distribution hub for 13 local hunger relief and social service organizations to provide to families in need.
-
Fortune CEO Alan Murray Joined by Frank Blake as CEO Forum Shifts Online May 5th
April 23, 2020
Fortune CEO Alan Murray will be the featured guest at goBeyondProfit’s CEO Forum planned for May 5, in dialogue with retired The Home Depot CEO and Chairman Frank Blake. The event, previously scheduled as a breakfast gathering, will now be held as an encrypted Zoom video at 11 a.m.
-
PSC Sets Rules on How EMCs Will Offer Rural Broadband
April 23, 2020
The Georgia Public Service Commission has released a final order directing Electric Membership Cooperatives that want to provide broadband Internet service in rural parts of the state to develop a cost allocation manual. The PSC must approve that manual before the EMC can start to provide Internet service.
-
Gov. Kemp and Georgia Dept. of Labor Address Unemployment Options
April 23, 2020
In response to the Governor’s decision Monday to initiate a gradual return to work, the Georgia Department of Labor and Governor Kemp are partnering to make sure Georgians understand their unemployment options.
-
Chick-fil-A Announces Multi-Million Dollar COVID-19 Community Relief Effort
April 22, 2020
Chick-fil-A, Inc. announced a relief effort dedicated to helping local franchisees continue their support of those impacted by COVID-19 in the communities they serve.
-
Georgia Power Recognized Nationally as a Utility That is "Easiest to Do Business With"
April 22, 2020
For the second year in a row, residential customers rated Georgia Power as a utility that's "Easiest to Do Business With" according to a study by industry-leading analysts in the energy sector. The company was ranked among top utilities based on company reputation and outreach, communication, and customer and field service satisfaction.
-
Kia Motors Begins Producing Face Shields at US Plant
April 21, 2020
In response to a nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kia Motors today announced that production of face shields has begun at its manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia. Initial donations of medical use face shields assembled at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) will be made in Georgia, Alabama, New York and California.
-
Governor Kemp Updates Georgians on COVID-19, Begins Reopening Economy
April 21, 2020
Governor Brian P. Kemp provided the following update on COVID-19 in Georgia. Governor Kemp was joined by Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Speaker David Ralston, Georgia National Guard Adjutant General Tom Carden, Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey, and GEMA/HS Director Homer Bryson, and announced Phase I for the prudent reopening of the state’s economy which continues to prioritize the health and safety of Georgia citizens.
-
AG Carr & Partners Kick Off 9th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy
April 21, 2020
The 9th Annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy is a two-week virtual fundraising drive fueled by Georgia’s legal community.
-
TriNet & The Harris Poll Reveal Pulse Survey Results on State of Small & Medium-Size Business During COVID-19
April 21, 2020
To better understand broad COVID-19 sentiment, beyond its own small and medium size business (SMB) customers, TriNet, a leading provider of comprehensive human resources, teamed with The Harris Poll on three industry-wide pulse surveys on the topic of cash flow and liquidity.
-
Columbia County Chamber Virtual Engagement Series For Week of April 20th
April 20, 2020
The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a “Chamber Happy Hours” every other Monday, starting with Monday, April 20, at 4:30 p.m. and “Chamber Virtual Engagement Series” every Wednesday and Friday at 1:00pm. The Chamber will feature different topics and speakers through the video conference program, “Zoom.”
-
Georgia Public Policy Foundation: Build the Foundation for a Sound Ongoing COVID-19 Response
April 20, 2020
State and local government budgets, businesses, families and individuals continue to reel from the effects of the novel coronavirus. The biggest factor is the unknown. The longer the crisis continues, the dimmer the future appears to many, and the bigger the hole they must dig out of.
-
Carl Vinson Institute of Government Ramps up Online Continuing Education
April 20, 2020
The University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government is quickly moving some popular education programs online so that state and local officials don’t fall behind during the coronavirus pandemic.
-
Georgia Reps. Work for Increased Rural Broadband During COVID Outbreak
April 17, 2020
Several members of the Georgia delegation are teaming up in a bi-partisan effort to increase broadband access to residents in rural parts of the state. Reps. Doug Collins (R-GA-09), Austin Scott (R-GA-08), and Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02) sent a letter to officials at Windstream late last week stressing the importance of increased broadband access during this unprecedented time in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.
-
Georgia Health Policy Center: Improving the Lives of All Georgians
April 17, 2020
For 25 years, the Georgia Health Policy Center (GHPC) has played a crucial role in developing and evaluating hundreds of health programs and services across Georgia and the U.S. Using research from experts at Georgia State’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, it provides expertise, guidance and program development in a variety of areas, including behavioral health, child health and well-being, health care financing and rural health.
-
66% of U.S. Employees Are Working Remotely at Least Part-Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 17, 2020
Two-thirds of employees are currently working remotely at least part of the work week as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey from Clutch, a B2B ratings and reviews platform.
-
AT&T to Support Nurses and Physicians With Three Months of Free Service on FirstNet Network
April 16, 2020
AT&T delivered “Some Good News” tonight announcing three months of free wireless service for frontline nurses and physicians nationwide on the FirstNet network – built with AT&T in a public-private partnership with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority).
-
Georgia Bankers Association CEO: Georgia’s Banks Customizing Solutions to Help Small Businesses
April 16, 2020
Since the COVID-19 emergency began, FDIC-insured banks across Georgia have been proactively working with their consumer and business clients to help get them through this emergency. Bankers have been developing customized solutions as there is no one-size-fits-all answer as each person or business has a specific need.
-
AG Chris Carr Surveys Needs of Georgia Food Banks, Reinforces Georgia Legal Food Frenzy
April 16, 2020
Attorney General Chris Carr visited the Atlanta Community Food Bank to survey the needs of Georgia’s regional food banks, honor our Georgia National Guard soldiers who are on the frontlines of the Coronavirus pandemic and reinforce the Georgia legal community’s commitment to supporting our food banks.
-
Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark: Act Now
April 15, 2020
As leaders begin discussions about reopening the economy, we know that it does not signal an end to the pandemic nor an abatement of the financial crisis for which we all face an inevitably long and rather costly recession. It is instead a call for the business community to engage and the government to prepare and consider additional action at the local, state and federal levels.
-
Georgia Receives More Than $522M In Federal Funds To Address Impact Of Coronavirus
April 14, 2020
Governor Brian P. Kemp, announced the availability of $522,237,467 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds for Georgia’s transit operators which is made available by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The CARES Act was signed into law by President Trump on March 27, 2020.
-
DCA Announces Annual CDBG Competition
April 14, 2020
The Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) provides funding to assist a wide range of eligible activities, including housing improvement projects, public facilities such as water and sewer lines, buildings such as local health centers or head start centers, and economic development projects. All projects must substantially benefit low and moderate income persons.