January 2023 Features

• Drew Ferguson Announced as Chairman of Subcommittee on Social Security

  January 30, 2023

  U.S. Congressman Drew Ferguson (R-GA) released the following statement on his assignment to the House Budget Committee, and House Ways and Means Subcommittee assignments as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Social Security, and member of the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures – also referred to as the Subcommittee on Tax.

• SK Battery America Exceeds Hiring Goal, On Track to Reach 3,000 Workers

  January 30, 2023

  Governor Brian Kemp today announced SK Battery America has exceeded its hiring goal of 2,600 employees two years ahead of schedule for its two lithium-ion battery manufacturing facilities in Commerce, Georgia. The company met its goal at the end of 2022 and is further expanding its workforce to approximately 3,000 over the next year to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles.

• CEOs Pessimistic About Revenue and Economic Growth, Survey Finds

  January 30, 2023

  GLG, the world's insight network, released the findings of its fourth annual global CEO survey, which asked more than 450 CEOs around the world about the economic impacts of 2022 and their priorities and outlooks for the year ahead.

• AG Chris Carr Talks Data Privacy Week, Offers Online Security Tips

  January 27, 2023

  Attorney General Chris Carr is encouraging all Georgians to join in recognizing Data Privacy Week from Jan. 22-28, 2023, by reviewing and adjusting their online privacy settings to protect their personal information.

• Committee Recommends Stronger Investment in Georgia Music Industry

  January 26, 2023

  The Joint Georgia Music Heritage Study Committee released its final report in December 2022, and after review, Georgia Music Partners is excited to share the study’s findings which include several significant investments designed to support and expand the state’s music industry.

• West Georgia Technical College Receives $50K Donation from KIA Georgia for Precision Manufacturing Lab Expansion at Coweta Campus

  January 24, 2023

  West Georgia Technical College has received a $50,000 donation from Kia Georgia to expand upon the College’s existing Precision Manufacturing and Maintenance lab located at its Coweta campus.

• 2023 GMA Visionary Cities Awards Announced for 9 Georgia Cities

  January 24, 2023

  On Jan. 22, during the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Cities United Summit, nine cities from across the Peach State were recognized with the Visionary City Award.

• Key Industries Sustain Momentum for State's Economic Development

  January 23, 2023

  Governor Brian Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, has announced that Georgia sustained its momentum through economic development projects in key industries during the first half of Fiscal Year 2023.

• Addressing the Workforce Skills Gap, Construction Ready and Goodwill Industries Partner to Bring Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program to Newnan

  January 20, 2023

  Beginning in March, Construction Ready and Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers (Goodwill) are partnering to offer a pre-apprenticeship training program in Newnan. Through this partnership, Newnan area residents will be eligible for a fully-funded 20-day construction education program that ends with training, credentialing and job placement.

• Governor Kemp Sells Georgia to the World at Davos

  January 20, 2023

  Why the heck was Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in Davos Switzerland this week? Some that asked that question genuinely wanted to know the answer. To many in the populist wing of the Republican party, it was more of a statement, heavy with implied derision.

• New Report Announces 2,000+ Georgia Businesses Committed to Operating Generously

  January 19, 2023

  In the midst of economic uncertainty, commitment to generosity matters. More than 2,000 Georgia-based companies have pledged to operate generous businesses – caring for their employees, customers, and surrounding communities.

• USG Announces New Presidents at Clayton State University and Atlanta Metropolitan State College

  January 19, 2023

  The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia today named Dr. Georj Lewis president of Clayton State University and Dr. Ingrid Thompson-Sellers president of Atlanta Metropolitan State College, effective Feb. 1, 2023.

• Unemployment Rate Stays the Same as GDOL Welcomes New Commissioner

  January 19, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's December unemployment rate was 3 percent, unchanged from a revised 3 percent in November. Additionally, job numbers reached another all-time high, increasing by almost 6,000 from November.

• Georgia Ports Handles Nearly 6 million TEUs in 2022

  January 18, 2023

  The Georgia Ports Authority handled a record 5.9 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in Calendar Year 2022, an increase of 5 percent over 2021.

• CEO Survey: A Recession is the Biggest Worry in 2023

  January 17, 2023

  As the new year begins, what will keep the world's executives up at night? CEOs in both the United States and globally say slow growth and a recession are their #1 external worry of 2023.

• Charlie Harper: Atlanta’s Capitol Isn’t Washington’s

  January 13, 2023

  I made the move to writing columns for print newspapers and online publications 12 years ago this month. The goal, then and now, was to try to bring a view of state government’s operations and workings to Georgia’s voters, citizens, and taxpayers.

• GSEC Expansion Creates Unified Voice for Georgia’s Film Industry

  January 12, 2023

  All major Georgia film studios are now members of Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition (GSEC), firmly establishing the organization as the unified voice of Georgia’s film, television and digital entertainment industry.

• Monica Thornton Joins The Nature Conservancy in Georgia as Executive Director

  January 12, 2023

  Following an extensive search process which attracted dozens of qualified applicants across the country, Monica Thornton has joined The Nature Conservancy in Georgia in the role of Executive Director.

• Chick-fil-A Donates $5M to 46 Nonprofits through True Inspiration Awards Program

  January 11, 2023

  Chick-fil-A, Inc. announced the nonprofit grant recipients of the 2023 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards program with a total of 46 award winners – an increase of 12 from 2022. Collectively, these organizations will receive a total of $5 million in grants to further their community efforts.

• The Conference Board Employment Trends Index Declined in December

  January 10, 2023

  The Conference Board Employment Trends Index fell in December to 116.31 from a downwardly revised 117.14 in November 2022. The Employment Trends Index is a leading composite index for employment. When the index increases, employment is likely to grow as well, and vice versa. Turning points in the index indicate that a turning point in the number of jobs is about to occur in the coming months.

• Audit: Georgia Sales Tax Exemption on Manufacturing Proving Major Economic Driver

  January 09, 2023

  Georgia’s sales tax exemption on inputs used in manufacturing is a loser in the strict sense of its net impact on state and local tax revenues, according to a new audit.

• Southern Company Announces Succession Plan, Chris Womack to Succeed Tom Fanning as CEO

  January 06, 2023

  Chris Womack has been appointed president of Southern Company and elected as a member of the Board of Directors of Southern Company, effective March 31st. Womack also has been appointed CEO of Southern Company effective immediately following the conclusion of Southern Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

• Relevance Beats Recession: How SMBs Can Prepare for Economic Downturns

  January 06, 2023

  Recession fears often drive small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to dramatically reduce their budgets. Spending cuts may keep companies afloat, but cutbacks need to be strategic. Scaling back business operations that drive sales, such as marketing, leaves businesses vulnerable to recession-driven earnings losses.

• U-Haul Ranks Georgia No. 8 Growth State

  January 05, 2023

  Texas, Florida and the Carolinas were the preferred destinations of one-way U-Haul truck customers during 2022, ranking as the top growth states on the annual U-Haul Growth Index.

• Delta Honors Legendary Georgia Football Coach Vince Dooley with Plane Dedication

  January 04, 2023

  Delta commemorated the life and legacy of renowned University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley on Tuesday with the dedication of a Boeing 767-400 featuring a memorial seal honoring the Hall of Famer.