May 2018 Features

• AT&T, MARTA, InSite Wireless Partner to Deliver Improved Mobile Internet to Rail Commuters

  May 31, 2018

  Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority riders now have access to faster mobile wireless speeds and better connections thanks to a new agreement between AT&T and InSite Wireless Group.

• Cristo Rey Interns Share Their Experience at State Road and Tollway Authority

  May 31, 2018

  This school year, the State Road and Tollway Authority hosted four student interns from Cristo Rey Atlanta Jesuit High School through the school’s Corporate Work Study Program. SRTA is one of 137 corporate partners for 2017-18.

• Connecting Georgia’s Communities to Spur Economic Development: RuralWorks

  May 31, 2018

  The newest division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Rural Georgia Initiatives, has one primary focus in mind: to help rural Georgia communities become more competitive for economic development projects and identify new strategies for attracting jobs and investment.

• Georgia Department of Transportation Heads into 2018 Summer Construction Season

  May 30, 2018

  With Memorial Day in the rear view mirror, the unofficial start of summer has begun. For Georgia Department of Transportation, summer road construction is gearing up across Georgia. The Department announced plans for an active 2018 summer construction season, with hundreds of construction and maintenance projects along interstates and state routes across Georgia.

• Ted Turner and CNN Recognized with New Historical Marker

  May 29, 2018

  The Georgia Historical Society was pleased to dedicate a new Georgia Business History Initiative historical marker recognizing CNN and visionary founder Ted Turner. The marker was unveiled in a private ceremony at the CNN Center that was attended by friends and family of Turner along with hundreds of CNN and Turner Broadcasting employees.

• City of Atlanta Announces Land Acquisition for Piedmont Park Expansion

  May 29, 2018

  Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced that the City of Atlanta has agreed to purchase 2.94 acres of land located at the corner of Piedmont Avenue and Monroe Drive for the historic expansion of Piedmont Park and the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

• Delta Offering More Trans-Atlantic Flying Than Ever

  May 29, 2018

  Memorial Day weekend marked the start of Delta's biggest ever summer on the trans-Atlantic. Some 11 routes – both new and old favorites – will begin over the next couple of days connecting the U.S. and nine countries in Europe.

• U.S. CEOs' Confidence Soars As Hunt For Sustained Growth Continues

  May 29, 2018

  U.S. chief executives are highly confident in the growth prospects for their companies over the next three years and will focus on M&A and collaborative efforts such as accelerator or incubator programs for startup firms to achieve sustained growth, according to a study released today by KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax, and advisory firm.

• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Announces One Atlanta: The Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

  May 24, 2018

  Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announces the establishment of the first-ever Mayor’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, known as One Atlanta.

• Georgia Banks & Industry Groups Applaud Dodd-Frank Rollback

  May 24, 2018

  Georgia-based community banks, regional banks, and industry groups are applauding the significant rollback of Dodd-Frank Act regulations. As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) helped craft the bipartisan rollback plan, which included three of his provisions. The rollback plan now heads to President Trump’s desk to become law.

• Georgia DOT Restricts Construction-Related Closures Statewide During Memorial Day Holiday Weekend

  May 24, 2018

  To ease Memorial Day weekend traffic congestion, the Georgia Department of Transportation is suspending construction-related lane closures from Friday, May 25th through Tuesday, May 29th on Interstate Highways, and limiting lane closures on state routes that directly serve major tourist and recreation centers.

• What’ll Ya Have? The Varsity Celebrates 90 Years of Fast, Fresh and Fun-Filled Dining Experiences in Atlanta

  May 23, 2018

  The Varsity, Atlanta’s iconic family-owned and operated restaurant, will celebrate its 90th anniversary later this month. As part of the festivities, the restaurant is selling commemorative merchandise, including limited edition cups that will allow guests to enjoy unlimited refills on soft drinks and $0.90 refills on Frosted Orange, vanilla and chocolate milkshakes through December 31st.

• Community Foundation Reaches $1.1B, Issues $100M in Grants in 2017

  May 23, 2018

  The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta has reached $1.1 billion in assets, as revealed in the 2017 Annual Report. In 2017 the Foundation also awarded $100 million in grants to nonprofit organizations.

• Southern Company Announces Sale of Certain Florida Assets to NextEra Energy

  May 22, 2018

  Southern Company today announced that it has entered into agreements to sell Gulf Power Company, Florida City Gas and the entities holding Southern Power's interests in Plant Oleander and Plant Stanton to NextEra Energy for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $6.475 billion. Net of debt, this reflects an equity value of approximately $5.075 billion.

• Zillow: Federal Tax Cut Will Inject Nearly $40B into the Housing Market

  May 21, 2018

  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted at the end of last year could result in tens of billions of dollars being reinvested into the housing market, according to the Zillow Housing Aspirations Report. This is despite the fact that legislation expressly limited a number of longstanding tax benefits for homeowners.

• Sonny Deriso to Helm Georgia Historical Society Board

  May 18, 2018

  The Georgia Historical Society Board of Curators has elected Walter M. “Sonny” Deriso (Atlanta/Albany) as the new Board Chairman. Deriso is the Chairman and a director of Atlantic Capital Bancshares, Inc. and Atlantic Capital Bank, a position he has held since their founding in October 2006. Deriso succeeds Vince Dooley, who will complete a two year term as chairman on June 30th.

• Ponce City Market: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Atlanta’s Largest Building

  May 18, 2018

  Ponce City Market, the vibrant community hub located in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward district, is the subject of Ponce City Market: The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of Atlanta’s Largest Building, a new book detailing the structure’s rich history and national significance.

• Ed Bastian Announces $500,000 Sponsorship, Honored as 'CEO of Year' at Annual Atlanta Business League Luncheon

  May 17, 2018

  Delta CEO Ed Bastian was honored with the Herman J. Russell CEO of the Year Award by the Atlanta Business League Tuesday, recognized for his commitment to the community and his role in supporting minority businesses and entrepreneurs.

• Financial Technology Report Shows Georgia Leads as Global FinTech Hub

  May 17, 2018

  The Technology Association of Georgia, the state's leading association dedicated to the promotion and economic advancement of Georgia's technology industry, has unveiled its 2018 State of Georgia's FinTech Ecosystem Report.

• Piedmont Healthcare Partners with PerfectServe to Standardize After-Hours Communications Across all Physician Practices

  May 16, 2018

  Piedmont Healthcare, one of Georgia's fastest-growing health systems, has begun deployment of the PerfectServe clinical communication and collaboration solution, replacing each practice's after hours answering service with an enterprise-wide, standardized communication platform. These physician locations include close to 100 primary care, heart and other specialty services supporting Piedmont's 11 hospitals, serving nearly two million patients.

• GSU's Robinson College to Offer First In-Person Blockchain Strategy Boot Camp in the U.S.

  May 16, 2018

  Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business is partnering with blockchain strategy firm Intuit Factory to offer Blockchain Strategy Boot Camp, a four-day executive education program that will equip digital transformation leaders and entrepreneurs with a solid understanding of blockchain technologies.

• Dentons Appoints Atlanta Policy Professionals to Global and Local Leadership Posts

  May 15, 2018

  Dentons, the world's largest law firm, announces the elevation of members of its award-winning Public Policy practice to leadership positions. Eric Tanenblatt has been named chair of Dentons' Global Public Policy and Regulation practice. Edward Lindsey, former Republican Majority Whip in the Georgia General Assembly, will head the Firm's Georgia State Government Affairs team.

• GDOT Commissioner: Georgia Well-Positioned for Infrastructure Plan

  May 15, 2018

  This week is National Infrastructure Week. There will be events across the nation to bring awareness to the criticality of infrastructure conditions and the need for investment. The Georgia Department of Transportation is focused on improving both the state of good repair of our infrastructure and investing in mobility enhancements to our transportation network in order to facilitate growth and improve the quality of life for all Georgians.

• Atlanta's State Bank to Merge with Houston's Cadence Bank in $1.4B Deal

  May 14, 2018

  Cadence Bancorporation and State Bank Financial Corporation jointly announced the entry into a definitive merger agreement in a stock-for-stock transaction, creating a combined organization with $16 billion in assets, $12 billion in loans, $13 billion in deposits and approximately 100 branches serving Texas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi, based on the companies’ balance sheets as of March 31, 2018.

• ACG Atlanta Announces 40 Fastest-­Growing Companies in Georgia

  May 14, 2018

  The Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, a global professional organization with the mission of Driving Middle-­Market Growth, announced the 2018 Georgia Fast 40, recognizing the top 40 fastest-­growing middle-­market companies in Georgia.