October 2020 Features

• Craft Bank Opens First De Novo Bank Inside Atlanta’s Perimeter in Over a Decade

  October 30, 2020

  Craft Bank, a newly chartered full-service commercial bank in Atlanta, announced today that it is open and serving businesses and individuals throughout Metro Atlanta. Craft Bank received the first de novo bank charter approval to operate inside the Atlanta perimeter market in over 13 years.

• Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark: The Future of Energy

  October 30, 2020

  I recently participated in the Energy Forward virtual forum produced by Gas South and Cobb EMC. The discussion was eye opening and the take-away clear. Energy plays a more critical role than ever in site selection decisions and job growth. In many ways, energy investments are actually creating and supporting a “New Georgia Economy.”

• Holiday Travel Season Approaching; Pandemic Remains a Concern, Yet Confidence is Growing

  October 30, 2020

  Georgians are cautiously developing plans for the holiday travel season. A new AAA survey determined that the pandemic, flexibility of parents working from home and virtual school for students are key influencers regarding how comfortable people feel about traveling in the coming months.

• Georgia Power's Paul Bowers to Retire, Succession Plan Announced

  October 29, 2020

  Georgia Power today announced that Chris Womack has been elected by the Georgia Power Board of Directors to succeed Paul Bowers as the company's chairman, president and CEO. Bowers' retirement is scheduled to coincide with Vogtle Unit 3 fuel load, which is expected in April 2021.

• Topgolf, Callaway Golf Announce Blockbuster Merger to Create Golf Industry Giant

  October 29, 2020

  Callaway and Topgolf Entertainment Group today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive merger agreement.

• State’s Public-Private Partnership Provides Immediate Care to Georgians During COVID-19 Crisis

  October 28, 2020

  It was Tuesday morning, March 24. While most Georgians were still learning about a deadly new virus that just landed on American shores, the South Georgia town of Albany had suddenly become the world’s fourth largest epicenter of Covid-19 patients.

• Ressler Gertz Family Foundation and Hawks Investing $40M in Atlanta

  October 28, 2020

  The Ressler Gertz Family Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Hawks Principal Owners Tony Ressler and Jami Gertz, in partnership with the Atlanta Hawks, announced a long-term, comprehensive plan to provide financial, marketing and educational resources to Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the city of Atlanta.

• Bank OZK Names Terri Bunten Guthrie Division President for Metro Atlanta

  October 27, 2020

  Bank OZK has named Terri Bunten Guthrie as Metro Atlanta Division President. Guthrie is responsible for Community Banking for Bank OZK’s twelve offices in Metro Atlanta.

• Georgia International Trade Office Earns Unprecedented Fourth U.S. Department of Commerce Award for Export Services

  October 26, 2020

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development today announced that its International Trade division has earned a President’s “E Star” Award for Export Service from the U.S. Department of Commerce in recognition of “continuing significant contributions to an increase in U.S. exports.

• Invest Atlanta Recognized for Economic Development Excellence

  October 23, 2020

  Invest Atlanta won three Excellence in Economic Development Awards at the 2020 Economic Development Council (IEDC) Annual Conference.

• Georgia Ports Authority Holds First Virtual State of the Port

  October 23, 2020

  In its first-ever virtual State of the Port Address, co-hosts Griff Lynch and Will McKnight took the Georgia Ports Authority’s online audience for an on-terminal view of infrastructure advancements the Authority is making to accommodate record container growth.

• Chick-fil-A Sauces Coming to Stores in Georgia

  October 23, 2020

  Chick-fil-A announced that bottles of its signature sauces will soon be available for purchase at retailers nationwide, with 100% of the royalties Chick-fil-A, Inc. receives from third-party retail sales supporting scholarships for Chick-fil-A restaurant Team Members.

• AT&T Provides Empowerment Opportunities to Drive Economic Mobility and Social Equity with #BelieveAtlanta Initiative

  October 22, 2020

  AT&T is passionate about the strength and success of Atlanta, and through Believe Atlanta, AT&T employees in Atlanta are collaborating with community leaders to provide economic empowerment opportunities for the traditionally underserved – challenging the wealth gap that currently exists in our city and driving a more equitable society.

• Gov. Kemp Names Brian Marlowe Leader of Rural Strike Team

  October 22, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp joined Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Commissioner Pat Wilson during an event in the North Wing of the State Capitol to name Tift County Development Authority President and CEO Brian Marlowe as the new Deputy Commissioner for Rural Georgia.

• Georgia Council for the Arts Awards 77 Organizations More than $585,000 in Grant Funding

  October 22, 2020

  Georgia Council for the Arts, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, today announced the recipients of the Vibrant Communities and Cultural Facilities grant awards for fiscal year 2021.

• Gas South to Acquire Infinite Energy

  October 21, 2020

  Gas South will acquire Florida-based Infinite Energy in a deal announced today by the two companies. The acquisition is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of 2020.

• Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ Integration of WorkSource Atlanta and Invest Atlanta Approved by City Council

  October 21, 2020

  Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ plan to improve economic mobility and job opportunities for Atlantans by integrating WorkSource Atlanta—the City’s workforce development arm—into Invest Atlanta—the City’s economic development arm—was unanimously adopted by the Atlanta City Council.

• Delta’s Blocked Middle Seats, Filtered Air & Safety Tips Bring Comfort & Joy to Holiday Travel

  October 21, 2020

  If it’s been a while since you’ve traveled, Delta is ready to take you to your loved ones safely. That’s why the airline is offering these tips – the four C’s of holiday travel – to help flyers navigate the winter travel season with comfort and joy:

• CEO Confidence Up Sharply Heading into Q4

  October 21, 2020

  The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence in collaboration with The Business Council rose sharply in the final month of Q3, after a moderate increase in the first month of Q3. The measure stands at 64, up from 45. (A reading above 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses.)

• Georgia Tech Celebrates the Largest, Most Diverse Transfer Class in Institute History

  October 20, 2020

  This year, Tech welcomed 1,146 new transfer students from 224 different colleges, including 39 Georgia colleges, and 76 community colleges. This new class topped the Institute’s record transfer enrollment numbers with 230 more students than last year, and includes 120 more in-state students and 12% more underrepresented minority students.

• 40 West 12th Reaches Peak with Tower Topping Out, Celebrates Presentation Gallery Opening

  October 20, 2020

  Rising as one of the three towers at 1105 West Peachtree, the $530 million mixed-use development under construction in Midtown Atlanta, 40 West 12th celebrates its topping out and the opening of its presentation gallery this month.

• Superintendent Woods: We Must Reimagine K-12 Education in Georgia

  October 20, 2020

  Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia's students, families, and educators have risen to meet this unprecedented moment.

• Georgia Public Policy Foundation: For Millions, Healthcare Waivers Offer Hope

  October 19, 2020

  Georgians received a dose of good news Thursday, as Gov. Brian Kemp announced federal approval of his plans to increase healthcare access and affordability. Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, joined Kemp to put the Trump administration’s official seal of approval on the pair of “waivers” – one to allow for a new, more cost-effective way to cover some of Georgia’s working poor, and another to extricate Georgia from some of the strictures of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

• GDEcD Announces 2020 Georgia ‘GEAR Award’ Winners

  October 19, 2020

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced the five companies who earned 2020 Georgia Emerging Automotive Recognition (GEAR) Awards.

• Gov. Kemp, CMS Administrator Verma Announce Approval of Georgia Healthcare Reform Package

  October 16, 2020

  Governor Brian P. Kemp joined Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to announce federal approval of Georgia's healthcare reform package.