November 2019 Features

• Homelessness: Where Does Georgia Rank?

  November 22, 2019

  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development delivers an annual estimate to Congress of homeless people in the country. And based on the latest estimates from the federal government, there were 552,830 people experiencing homelessness across the United States in January 2018. This is based on the latest HUD study — which provides a snapshot of homelessness across the country on a single night.

• Sen. Isakson Honored for Lasting Impact on Georgia’s Economy, Business Community

  November 21, 2019

  A new video and a recent Atlanta Business Chronicle article highlight the legacy and impact of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., on Georgia’s economy as the longtime businessman prepares to leave the Senate on Dec. 31.

• 2020 Election: Both Parties Look at “the Numbers”

  November 21, 2019

  With another Democratic party presidential debate being held this week at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, focus naturally turns to Georgia and its importance in the 2020 election cycle. Is Georgia a “swing state” up for grabs? Both parties are “doing the math” after looking at turnout numbers to answer that question.

• City of Atlanta Becomes the 100th LEED-Certified City or Community in the World

  November 20, 2019

  The City of Atlanta has earned LEED Silver certification, becoming the 100th city or community to certify under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Cities and Communities program.

• Debate Stage Symbolizes State Policy That's Working

  November 20, 2019

  As Democratic presidential candidates on Wednesday debate in Atlanta, they’ll do so on a studio soundstage that is one of many built in the state since the introduction of Georgia’s film tax credit.

• Secretary Raffensperger Encourages Georgians To Support Small Business This Holiday Season

  November 20, 2019

  As families join together to celebrate Thanksgiving and the start of the 2019 holiday season, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger encourages Georgia to support small businesses.

• Kia Motors Celebrates Decade of Manufacturing in Georgia

  November 20, 2019

  Kia Motors Corporation celebrated its 10th anniversary of vehicle production in West Point, Georgia, U.S.A. The facility, named Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), was the company’s first manufacturing hub to open in North America. It has so far helped create more than 15,000 local jobs and produced more than three million vehicles.

• Governor Brian Kemp: Our Plan to Make Health Insurance Accessible, Affordable in Georgia

  November 19, 2019

  Georgia is experiencing historic job growth and unmatched economic opportunity in every corner of the state. Participation in the job market is at record highs, unemployment recently dropped to a twenty-year low, and we were named the “#1 State for Business” for the seventh year in a row. But even with rising wages and 30,000 new private sector jobs this year alone, far too many hardworking Georgians struggle to access and afford health insurance coverage.

• MARTA Board Approves Agreement for New Rail Car Fleet

  November 18, 2019

  MARTA’s board of directors approved a $646 million agreement with Stadler Rail for the purchase of 254 new rail cars. The agreement also contains options for MARTA to order up to 100 additional rail cars. The procurement, which is the single largest for either organization, is a milestone in MARTA’s capital improvement program aimed at more efficient performance and enhanced customer experience.

• Greater Women’s Business Council Recognizes 10 Companies Committed to the Advancement of Women-Owned Businesses at 2019 LACE Awards

  November 15, 2019

  The Greater Women’s Business Council (GWBC), the largest provider of certification and development resources for women business enterprises (WBEs) in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, hosted its annual LACE (Ladies Achieving Continuous Excellence) Awards Gala on Nov. 8 at the St. Regis hotel in Atlanta.

• Emory President Claire E. Sterk Announces Retirement, Effective August 2020

  November 14, 2019

  President Claire E. Sterk has notified the Emory University Board of Trustees that she will be retiring as president, effective August 2020. The Board has accepted her retirement and will be launching a search for a successor.

• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Appoints Commissioner to Lead Newly Created Atlanta Department of Transportation

  November 14, 2019

  Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced the appointment of Josh Rowan to lead Atlanta’s newly formed Department of Transportation (ATLDOT). Josh Rowan is currently General Manager for the City of Atlanta’s Renew | TSPLOST Programs and has more than 24 years of experience delivering capital construction programs.

• Georgia Power Ranked #1 in Segment by J.D. Power for Business Customer Satisfaction

  November 14, 2019

  For the second year in a row, Georgia Power has been ranked number one for business customer satisfaction among Large Utilities in the South by J.D. Power in its 2019 Electric Utility Business Customer Satisfaction Study.

• Ted Williams, Warren Buffett & a Secret to Your Company’s Community Impact

  November 13, 2019

  One of goBeyondProfit's founding members was asked to serve on a panel of CEOs discussing best practices in Community Impact. Panelist Keith Reynolds Jennings kindly agreed to share his insights here for Georgia readers.

• University System of Georgia Enrollment Increases to Record High

  November 13, 2019

  The headcount enrollment for the 26 institutions of the University System of Georgia in Fall 2019 was 333,507, representing an increase of 1.5 percent (4,795 students) over the Fall 2018 enrollment of 328,712, according to USG’s Fall 2019 Semester Enrollment Report.

• Atlanta United Foundation Announces Grant to Expand ‘Mentoring through Soccer’ Program

  November 12, 2019

  The Atlanta United Foundation, an affiliate of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, announces a grant of $280,570 over three years in support of ‘Mentoring through Soccer,’ a joint youth program of the Latin American Association (LAA) and Soccer in the Streets (SITS).

• Mercer Board Approves New Names for Two Academic Units, Authorizes Major Construction Projects in Columbus and Atlanta

  November 11, 2019

  Mercer University’s Board of Trustees approved name changes for the College of Liberal Arts and Stetson School of Business and Economics and authorized work to begin on major health sciences facilities on the Atlanta and Columbus campuses.

• President Jimmy Carter Honored as 2019 Distinguished Conservationist at 26th Annual ecoBenefête

  November 11, 2019

  The Georgia Conservancy honored Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter as its 2019 Distinguished Conservationist at the Atlanta History Center on November 7th. The Distinguished Conservationist Award, bestowed at that Conservancy’s annual gala, ecoBenefête, recognizes President Carter’s profound and lasting impact on the conservation and protection of Georgia’s natural resources.

• H. J. Russell & Company Launches “We Build” to Further Define its Impact on and Legacy Connection With the Communities in Which it Builds, Manages and Develops

  November 07, 2019

  This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Russell’s incorporation. The company is responsible for playing a role in erecting or providing construction or program management services for some of the most iconic buildings that define the Atlanta skyline.

• Community Foundation Awards more than $1.9M to Nonprofits

  November 07, 2019

  In conjunction with the annual National Philanthropy Day celebration, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta announces awarding more than $1.9 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in the metro region.

• Georgia Receives Top Business Ranking for Record-Breaking Seventh Straight Year

  November 07, 2019

  Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that Georgia’s business climate has been named No. 1 in the nation by Site Selection Magazine, an internationally circulated business publication covering corporate real estate and economic development, for the seventh year in a row. Georgia is the only state that has received the distinction seven consecutive times in the history of Site Selection’s rankings.

• Bill Would Eliminate Taxes from Military Retirements

  November 07, 2019

  A group of Georgia state representatives are hoping to remove income tax from military retirements. One of the co-signers of HB-7 is newcomer Rep. Philip Singleton (R-Sharpsburg) who was sworn in as the newest state representative for Newnan’s District 71 less than a month ago. At his swearing in ceremony he announced his plans to form the House Veteran Caucus.

• For S&P 500 CEOs, Stock Awards Now Comprise More Than 50% of Total Compensation

  November 06, 2019

  A new report reveals that stock awards, which include restricted stock and performance-based shares, represented a record portion of CEO compensation in 2018. For S&P 500 CEOs, stock awards alone exceeded 50 percent for the first time. Moreover, they climbed to a record of nearly 40 percent for those in the Russell 3000.

• Atlanta Listed Among Top Tech Hotspots in CBRE’s Tech-30 Report, Posting Fifth-Highest Office Rent Growth

  November 05, 2019

  A new CBRE report ranks Atlanta the fifth fastest growing tech market with overall office rent growth of 12.6 percent between Q2 2017 and Q2 2019. The company’s annual Tech-30 report measures the tech industry’s impact on office rents in the 30 leading technology markets in the U.S. and Canada.

• Delta Increases Service between Atlanta, Key Regional Airports throughout Georgia

  November 05, 2019

  Delta is deepening its investment in communities throughout its hometown state of Georgia with more flying from Albany, Brunswick, Columbus and Valdosta to the airline's Atlanta hub. Each market will see one additional daily frequency to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport beginning next spring, increasing seat capacity to and from these Georgia communities by 35 percent in 2020.