May 2021 Features

• Georgia Secures AAA Bond Rating in 2021

  May 28, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced Georgia again secured the highest ratings of AAA with a stable outlook from each of the three main credit rating agencies: FitchRatings, Moody’s Investors Service, and S&P Global Ratings.

• Georgia State Research Shows Pandemic’s Impact on Student Achievement in Metro Atlanta

  May 28, 2021

  The pandemic took a heavy toll on the learning gains of metro Atlanta’s students, according to new research by Georgia State University’s Metro Atlanta Policy Lab for Education (MAPLE).

• Rich Foundation Awards $85,000 to Georgia Historical Society to Expand The Georgia Civil Rights Trail in Atlanta

  May 27, 2021

  The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) has announced that it has received a grant totaling $85,000 from the Rich Foundation to expand the Georgia Civil Rights Trail in Greater Atlanta.

• As Country Rebuilds from Pandemic, Beer Industry Releases New Study on its Economic Impact in Georgia

  May 27, 2021

  Today, the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association released their biennial Beer Serves America report on the economic importance of the nation's beer industry. Bars, restaurants, sporting events and concerts are critical to Georgia’s economy and the U.S. economy at large, particularly as the country looks to recover and safely reopen.

• State Purchases Economic Development Mega-Site in Bryan County

  May 26, 2021

  Governor Kemp announced the authorization to purchase a 2,284-acre economic development site in partnership between the State of Georgia and the Savannah Harbor-Interstate 16 Corridor Joint Development Authority (JDA). The strategic purchase of the Bryan County Mega-Site is the largest in state history.

• SBA Launches ‘Community Navigator Pilot’ Program Application

  May 26, 2021

  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it is accepting applications for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program. This new initiative, established by the American Rescue Plan, will leverage a community navigator approach to reach our nation’s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans.

• Georgia Power Announces $75 Million Investment in Racial Equity & Social Justice Efforts

  May 25, 2021

  Georgia Power today announced the company and the Georgia Power Foundation are committing to invest $15 million annually from 2021-2025, $75 million over the five-year period, to help advance racial equity and social justice efforts in Georgia.

• Jim Ellis Automotive Donates New Volkswagen Atlas to Gwinnett Technical College’s Automotive Technology Program

  May 24, 2021

  Jim Ellis Automotive Group and Volkswagen of America are honored to have donated a new Volkswagen Atlas to Gwinnett Technical College in support of the college’s Automotive Technology Program.

• Business Ownership Key for Economic Recovery in U.S. Cities, New Report Shows

  May 24, 2021

  The National League of Cities (NLC) and the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI) released today new guidance for U.S. cities to pursue equitable post-COVID economic recovery through the use of employee ownership.

• DeKalb Chamber Announces the Election of New Chair on the Board of Directors

  May 21, 2021

  The DeKalb Chamber Board of Directors is pleased to welcome the new Chair, Trevor Quander, to the 2021 Board of Directors. Quander has served on the DeKalb Chamber Board of Directors since 2015 and has chaired the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee and Membership Committee in the past. He also sits on the Georgia Downtown Association Board and is the vice chair and chair elect of the Regional Business Coalition Board.

• Race for Safe Place Benefits Children & Family Programs at Christian City

  May 21, 2021

  The Christian City Teen Board is hosting the second annual Race for Safe Place on June 12th. The 5K and 1-mile fun run/walk event will take place on the beautiful 500-acre Christian City campus in south Fulton County.

• Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Continued to Drop in April

  May 21, 2021

  The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced that Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped another 0.2 percentage points to reach 4.3 percent in April.

• Metro Atlanta Chamber Expands Backed by ATL Community with Addition of 14 Middle-Market Businesses Driving Growth in the Region

  May 20, 2021

  Powered by the Metro Atlanta Chamber, Backed by ATL today announces the addition of 14 high-potential middle-market companies representing a cross-section of metro Atlanta entrepreneurs – some of the most promising enterprises from a region that saw more than $2 billion in venture capital investment last year alone.

• Wellstar Health System Announces First-Of-Its-Kind Global Digital Health And Innovation Center

  May 20, 2021

  Building on a rich history of innovation and impact in healthcare delivery as one of the largest and most integrated health systems in Georgia, Wellstar Health System has launched Catalyst by Wellstar, a global digital health and innovation center.

• State Lawmaker Wants to Create Cyberforce in Georgia

  May 20, 2021

  While the gas shortage seems to be easing in most areas across the state following the ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, the concern about future attacks is still on the minds of many state officials. In fact, the incident has driven one state lawmaker to look into ways to address this in Georgia.

• Atlanta Police Department to Pilot Technology to Track and Reduce Gun Violence

  May 20, 2021

  The Atlanta Police Department, in partnership with the Atlanta Police Foundation, is conducting a test of new technology, ShotSpotter, that can detect the originating site of a gunshot in real time.

• FanDuel Group to Open Atlanta Technology Campus, Creating 900+ Jobs

  May 19, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that FanDuel Group, a leading sports-tech entertainment company, will invest more than $15 million in opening a technology campus in Atlanta, creating more than 900 jobs over the next five years. This new state-of-the-art facility will primarily focus on supporting the company’s product development, tech, and IT operations.

• Keith W. Demmings Appointed President & Named CEO Successor at Assurant

  May 19, 2021

  Assurant, Inc., announced that Alan B. Colberg, President and CEO of the company for the last seven years, plans to retire at the end of 2021. Keith W. Demmings has been appointed President of Assurant, effective immediately, and has been named to succeed Colberg as CEO and Director in January 2022.

• Partnership for Inclusive Innovation Awards Grant to First-of-its-Kind, Statewide Farm Ownership Program

  May 18, 2021

  Today, the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation announced a $250,000 grant for The Conservation Fund’s Georgia Working Farms Fund program – the first and only program in the U.S. to offer end-to-end support for next-generation farmers, including a path to farm ownership and access to established markets to sell their products.

• goBeyondProfit Invites Business Executives to CEO Conversation: Navigating Rising Expectations in Georgia

  May 17, 2021

  goBeyondProfit will host a CEO Conversation via Zoom this Thursday, May 20th at 2pm featuring a panel of prominent business executives discussing the recently released corporate generosity report: Navigating Rising Expectations in Georgia.

• Governor Kemp, State Labor Commissioner Announce Economic Recovery Plan

  May 14, 2021

  Governor Brian P. Kemp & Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced Georgia’s plan for reemployment and economic recovery. To address workforce shortages and boost a full economic recovery, state labor officials plan to end Georgia’s participation in federal pandemic unemployment programs, effective Saturday, June 26th.

• Mercer University to Conclude 2020-2021 Executive Forum with Presentations by Health Care Executive Shane Jackson

  May 13, 2021

  Mercer University’s Executive Forum, sponsored by BB&T, now Truist, concludes the 2020-2021 academic year with two presentations on May 19th by Jackson Healthcare President Shane Jackson.

• University Health Care System in Augusta Unanimously Approves Letter of Intent to Partner with Piedmont Healthcare

  May 13, 2021

  Piedmont Healthcare and University Health Care System in Augusta have signed a non-binding Letter-of-Intent, initiating a period of due diligence between the two organizations. Should the negotiations prove successful, University Health will become Piedmont’s regional “hub” for clinical services in the greater Augusta area.

• NFIB: Optimism High but Job Openings at Record Highs

  May 13, 2021

  Seeming to confirm concerns about workers being reluctant to re-enter the workforce, the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB) latest Small Business Optimism Index rose to 99.8% in April, up 1.6% from March. The index has increased nearly five points since the beginning of the year but nearly half of business owners report job openings going unfilled.

• Jim Ellis Automotive Group Celebrates 50 Years in Business

  May 12, 2021

  Jim Ellis Automotive Group – Atlanta’s largest family-owned and operated automotive group, is proudly celebrating its 50th year in business. Over the course of 50 incredible years, Jim Ellis Automotive Group has grown to become a trusted household name in the Atlanta area and throughout Georgia.