July 2023 Features

• Vogtle Unit 3 Goes into Operation

  July 31, 2023

  Georgia Power declared today that Plant Vogtle Unit 3 has entered commercial operation and is now serving customers and the State of Georgia. The new unit represents a long-term investment in the state’s clean energy future and will provide reliable, emissions-free energy to customers for decades to come.

• Georgians Among the Friendliest & Most Welcoming in the Country

  July 31, 2023

  A road trip's magic isn't merely stitched together by appealing accommodations, tantalizing dining spots, scenic routes, or well-maintained roads, although these are certainly essential threads. At the heart of a truly memorable road trip, the fondness of the memories that outlive the journey itself, is the warmth of the people encountered along the way.

• SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Businesses and Residents of Troup County

  July 28, 2023

  Georgia businesses and residents affected by the severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding in Troup County, Georgia on March 25-27 are eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced today.

• Georgia Lottery Annual Profits for HOPE, Pre-K Top $1.51B

  July 28, 2023

  The Georgia Lottery Corp. announced it raised $1,516,383,000 for education in fiscal year 2023, bringing the total transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account since inception in 1993 to more than $26.8 billion.

• Georgia Foundation for Agriculture Receives Grant to Develop Virtual Agricultural Game

  July 26, 2023

  The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is receiving a $200,000 grant from The Partnership for Inclusive Innovation over the next two years to develop an immersive game to teach students about agriculture. Using a virtual, 3D-based platform, the game is intended to ignite students' interest in farming. Students will play the game on tablets or computers.

• The Majority of CEOs Surveyed Believe Generative AI will Increase Their Organizations' Efficiencies

  July 26, 2023

  Despite geopolitical disruption and looming economic concerns, CEOs remain focused on navigating through uncertainty. While the challenges are many, today's CEOs demonstrate incredible resilience through their ability to navigate external factors and continue to explore and invest in emerging technologies.

• WGTC Students Take Top Honors at National Business Conference

  July 25, 2023

  Six West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) students earned top prizes at the 2023 Future Business Leaders of America - Collegiate Division (FBLA-C) National Leadership Conference.

• New Research Explores a Penalty For Loyalty and The Gender Pay Gap In Georgia

  July 25, 2023

  goBeyondProfit’s 2023 Business Generosity Report confirms that generosity remains a driving factor behind employees’ choice of workplace. If you’re wondering how to prioritize limited funds, employed adults provide clear direction.

• Fostering Success Act, Inc. Launches to Help Georgians Contribute to New State Foster Care Tax Credit

  July 24, 2023

  The Fostering Success Act, Inc., a new non-profit, has launched to help Georgians contribute to a new $20 million state tax credit program that will not only reduce their state income tax burden but raises funds to support young adults aging out of the foster care system.

• All ITAACs Have been Submitted for Vogtle Unit 4

  July 24, 2023

  Georgia Power announced completion of another important step in the startup and operation of the new nuclear units at the Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear expansion site near Waynesboro. The company shared that Southern Nuclear has submitted documentation that all 364 inspections, tests and analyses have been performed and all acceptance criteria have been met.

• Hartsfield-Jackson Once Again Named World's Busiest Airport

  July 20, 2023

  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport once again retains its status as the world's busiest airport as determined by Airports Council International.

• Georgia Experiencing Record High Job Numbers in June

  July 20, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's June unemployment rate remained steady at 3.2 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.2 percent in May. The unemployment rate is also four-tenths lower than the national average of 3.6 percent.

• Georgia Takes Steps to Continue to Have the Cleanest Voter Lists in America

  July 19, 2023

  Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is announcing routine and legally required updates to Georgia’s voter records as part of the non-election year list-maintenance process.

• goBeyondProfit Data Shows Literally Everyone Is Experiencing Burnout

  July 18, 2023

  The goBeyondProfit and Georgia CEO 2023 Business Generosity Report revealed shocking levels of employee and executive burnout. It turns out that burnout is a pervasive and cross-generational problem affecting all levels and all sizes of companies.

• Georgia #9 Best State to Startup an LLC

  July 18, 2023

  Brand new research conducted by small business advice company Venture Smarter reveals the best and worst states to start up an LLC.

• Inaugural Event Celebrates Southern Leadership in Innovation

  July 17, 2023

  Consensus Digital Media hosted the first-ever Southern Surge Next Generation Manufacturing Summit in Atlanta. More than 150 elected leaders, industry executives, educators, students, economic development officials, policymakers, and community stakeholders from throughout the region converged in Atlanta to discuss the blueprint for leading the U.S. toward a more prosperous and sustainable future.

• Georgia Captures 8 Rankings in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards

  July 14, 2023

  Explore Georgia, the tourism division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, is proud to celebrate the state’s recognition in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 World’s Best Awards announced July 11.

• Southern Company Scores 100% on Disability Equality Index for the Seventh Consecutive Year

  July 13, 2023

  The 2023 Disability Equality Index has rated Southern Company as one of the "Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion." For the seventh consecutive year, Southern Company joins an elite group of companies with a 100 percent score on the DEI for a strong dedication to leading disability-inclusion practices.

• CEO Confidence on the Rise; Importance of ESG Growing Survey Reveals

  July 13, 2023

  The latest Marcum-Hofstra University CEO Survey provides compelling insight into the evolving mindset of middle-market CEOs across a range of industries, revealing a broadly optimistic view of the business landscape and the importance of companies supporting social and political causes.

• Georgia Wins Big at National SkillsUSA Conference

  July 12, 2023

  The highly anticipated SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference took place in Atlanta recently, and Georgia once again emerged as a leading force on the national stage. Demonstrating exceptional talent and dedication, Georgia's participants achieved remarkable success, earning a grand total of 68 medals across both the Secondary and Postsecondary divisions, solidifying Georgia's position as the #5 state in the country.

• Georgia Chamber Releases 2023 Legislative Scorecard

  July 12, 2023

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the state’s largest and most influential business advocacy organization, has released its official 2023 Legislative Scorecard showcasing how members of the general assembly voted on the business community’s top issues during the legislative session.

• New Study Finds Unanimous Agreement – Generosity is Critical to Business

  July 11, 2023

  In today’s polarized environment, employed adults in Georgia agree on the importance of generosity in business finds a new report by goBeyondProfit and Georgia CEO. The data confirms that employees are paying attention to how you execute your generosity commitments.

• Small Business Owners Study: American Dream Defined by Comfort, Happiness & Freedom

  July 10, 2023

  New survey results from GoDaddy, show that almost three-quarters of U.S. small business owners say their perception of the American Dream has changed.

• Rural Entrepreneurs Face Opportunities and Obstacles

  July 07, 2023

  Rural small businesses face a unique set of challenges, but they also have advantages over their urban and suburban counterparts – such as a tendency to be more profitable.

• Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark: Dynamism in Georgia’s Economy

  July 06, 2023

  Economic Dynamism is a term that refers to an economy’s adaptability, resiliency, competitiveness, and ability to respond to disruption. Georgia is no stranger to adaptability and resiliency, proven through our emergence from the COVID-19 pandemic with one of the nation’s leading economies.