February 2022 Features

• DeKalb Commissioners Pass $1.5 Billion FY2022 Budget

  February 28, 2022

  The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 to approve CEO Michael Thurmond’s FY2022 budget which includes a 6.25 percent increase in compensation for eligible sworn public safety personnel, making the pandemic front-line pay permanent for these employees.

• Atlanta Emerges as the 5th-Most Active Real Estate Market in the Nation

  February 28, 2022

  According to a recently released Storage Cafe report, the Atlanta metropolitan area ranks fifth in the nation for the most activity in all sectors of real estate combined over the past ten years.

• Aarons Company to Acquire Brandsmart USA

  February 25, 2022

  The Aaron's Company, Inc., a leading technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and purchase solutions, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire BrandsMart U.S.A.

• Midtown Alliance Taps Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Matheson to Serve as Board Chair

  February 25, 2022

  Atlanta Botanical Garden president and CEO Mary Pat Matheson has been named the next board chair of the Midtown Alliance, a coalition of business and civic leaders that has a 40-year track record of improving Atlanta’s city center.

• Georgia Center of Innovation: Providing Support Wherever Your Business Needs Us

  February 25, 2022

  At the Georgia Center of Innovation, it’s our mission to help businesses clear the path to innovation and growth by meeting them where they are – providing expert advice, and helping them navigate resources tailored to the needs they are facing.

• Port of Savannah to Grow Capacity by 60%

  February 25, 2022

  At Savannah State of the Port, Griff Lynch, Georgia Ports Authority’s executive director, unveiled plans to expand the port’s container capacity by 60 percent. The enhancements will bring the Port of Savannah’s annual capacity from 6 million twenty-foot equivalent container units to 9.5 million TEUs by 2025.

• Georgia Chamber Announces Release of Annual Rural Renaissance Report

  February 24, 2022

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announces the release of the 2022 Rural Renaissance Report following a meeting of the Rural Prosperity Council in Tifton. The report is part of continued efforts to elevate Georgia's 140 rural counties through recommendations highlighting strategies and innovative solutions.

• Announcing the Recipients of the 2022 Georgia Titan 100

  February 23, 2022

  Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP are pleased to announce the 2022 Georgia Titan 100. The Titan 100 program recognizes Georgia’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives.

• Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. Supports Creation of 250 Affordable Housing Units

  February 23, 2022

  Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. has contributed $2 million towards Skyline Apartments – 250 units of affordable housing set to rise at 1090 Hank Aaron Drive in south Atlanta. The financial closing, which took place on February 18th, puts ABI at 53% of its affordable housing goal of 5,600 units in the BeltLine TAD as outlined in the 2005 founding legislation.

• ATL Comic Convention And Fandemic Tour Form Strategic Partnership to Provide Ultimate Fan Experiences

  February 23, 2022

• Kennesaw State Hosts Area Chamber of Commerce Leaders in First Georgia Summit

  February 22, 2022

  The Office of Economic Development and Community Engagement is hosting the first Chamber Summit at Kennesaw State University on Feb. 23.

• Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark: Winning the War for Talent: Higher Education

  February 22, 2022

  No other issue so dominates boardroom and shipping docks as the lack of skilled workers. In the next three years Georgia will need to fill 122,000 healthcare positions, 27,000 manufacturing jobs will be open and 13,000 construction workers will be needed.

• Hartsfield-Jackson 2021 Passenger Numbers Nearly Double Prior Year

  February 22, 2022

  Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport announced the release of the 2021 traffic report. According to the report, ATL served more than 75 million passengers in 2021, a significant increase of 76 percent from the 42.9 million passengers served in 2020.

• New Master’s in Supply Chain Management at Georgia State Addresses Needs of Dynamic and Growing Sector

  February 22, 2022

  Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business will introduce a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management (MS-SCM) in fall 2022. The program will equip graduates with the advanced analytical and managerial skills required to drive performance and effect positive change in the increasingly complex discipline.

• Small Business Owners are Bullish on 2022 Despite Rising Costs & Staffing Concerns

  February 22, 2022

  UpSwell Marketing, a direct marketing agency specializing in helping small businesses grow their customer base, just released the results of their annual business sentiment survey.

• College Football Events Run by Peach Bowl, Inc. Continue to Deliver for Atlanta

  February 18, 2022

  Peach Bowl, Inc. events continue to be an economic boost and positive impact on the Atlanta community and the college football industry after a successful 2021 saw three games return impressive numbers for attendance, TV viewership, economic impact, charitable donations and team payouts.

• Georgia Center of Innovation’s AgTech Focus Reaching New Audiences

  February 18, 2022

  The Georgia Center of Innovation’s Director of AgTech Chris Chammoun has been featured multiple times in recent media interviews as this key industry sector experiences growth in the state.

• Metro Atlanta Chamber Celebrates One Year of DEI Progress With Inaugural Assessment Results

  February 17, 2022

  Today, one year after the launch of ATL Action for Racial Equity, the Metro Atlanta Chamber announced results of the inaugural diversity, equity and inclusion assessment created in partnership with Kanarys, Inc. MAC designed the multi-year AARE plan as a catalyst to address the ongoing effects of systemic racism impacting the Black community.

• Georgia Sees Record-Breaking Job Creation From Economic Development Projects in First Half of FY22

  February 17, 2022

  Economic development projects secured in every region of the State of Georgia resulted in record-breaking job creation for the first half of the fiscal year. These 160 locations or expansions supported by GDEcD’s Global Commerce division will result in the creation of nearly 24,400 jobs and $9.8 billion investment in the state.

• MARTA Seeks New Members For Its Riders’ Advisory Council

  February 16, 2022

  The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is seeking people to serve on its Riders’ Advisory Council (RAC), an all-volunteer group that provides feedback on improving the overall transit experience for customers. The inaugural council members are stepping down in May following a two-year term.

• Board of Regents Announces Sole Finalist for University System of Georgia Chancellor

  February 16, 2022

  The Board of Regents voted to name former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue the sole finalist for the position of chancellor of the University System of Georgia (USG).

• Georgia Announces Record Year for International Trade

  February 16, 2022

  Governor Brian P. Kemp joined the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) in announcing that the State of Georgia achieved a record-breaking year for international trade. In 2021, Georgia’s total trade reached $166.11 billion across 223 countries and territories.

• Intuit QuickBooks & Mailchimp Award $100,000 to 20 Atlanta-Area Small Businesses in Collaboration With The Georgia Restaurant Association

  February 15, 2022

  Intuit, the global technology platform that makes TurboTax, QuickBooks, Mint, Credit Karma, and Mailchimp, announced the recipients of its QuickBooks Restaurant Relief Initiative grant program.

• RAISE Forum Seeks Post-Revenue Southern Startup Applicants

  February 15, 2022

  The 14th semi-annual RAISE (Retention and Advanced Investment for the Southeast at Emory) Forum is scheduled for Friday, May 10. Supported by The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, this invitation-only event connects startups and top-tier investors from across the Southeast to foster collaboration within the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and ensure the best startups can stay local.

• Mayor Andre Dickens Announces $10.4 Million of New Grant Funds to Support Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

  February 14, 2022

  Mayor Andre Dickens today announced the relaunch of the Resurgence Grant Fund, a program originally launched in 2020 to help Atlanta small businesses recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.