August 2023 Features

• GPTC Breaks Ground on Transportation Training Center

  August 31, 2023

  The Georgia Piedmont Technical College history books will be adding August 30th as a red-letter day as more than 100 people came to celebrate the groundbreaking of the college’s future Regional Transportation Training Center in Stonecrest.

• New Coalition Takes Aim at Tort Reform in Georgia

  August 31, 2023

  A new nonprofit founded by three high-power lobbying firms is setting its sites on tort reform in Georgia. Competitive Georgia announced its formation Tuesday, the latest sign that business leaders are preparing a major push for the General Assembly to curb what they see as frivolous lawsuits that drive up the cost of doing business.

• Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs Announces $1 Million Grant from PayPal

  August 31, 2023

  The Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs announced a $1 million grant from PayPal Holdings, Inc. to launch the PayPal Retail Academy, which will provide a robust curriculum of innovative coaching, specialized tools, and valuable resources to help entrepreneurs based in Atlanta grow their businesses.

• Invest Atlanta Board Approves Financing for 570 Affordable Housing Units

  August 30, 2023

  Chaired by Mayor Andre Dickens, the Invest Atlanta Board of Directors at its August 2023 meeting approved financing for 570 affordable housing units across five developments in the city of Atlanta. Once constructed, the properties will offer both multifamily and single-family housing covering a range of area median income levels to support different housing needs.

• Edward Woody White Concludes a 40-Year Legacy of Leadership at the Fox Theatre

  August 29, 2023

  The Fox Theatre announces the departure of Woody White, the esteemed Chair of its Board of Directors, after 40 remarkable years of service to one of Atlanta's most treasured cultural institutions and 15 years as its Chair of the Board.

• Georgia DOT Celebrates Connected Vehicle Technology Integration

  August 29, 2023

  Georgia Department of Transportation recently held a ribbon cutting to celebrate Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything waivers granted by the Federal Communications Commission allowing Georgia DOT to integrate C-V2X technology across the state.

• Full Course is Closing the Learning Gap for Aspiring Restaurateurs

  August 28, 2023

  Full Course, the restaurant industry’s first and only incubator, accelerator, and investor in early-stage food brands, continues to innovate the industry with its one-of-a-kind training program for those looking to open a restaurant.

• Charlie Harper: Preparing For The Last Season Of College Football As We Know it

  August 28, 2023

  The weather says summer, but the calendar says fall. We know this because the University of Georgia Bulldogs are ready to suit up between the hedges in Athens to defend their National Championship. Or better said, Championships. Plural.

• The Battery Atlanta Celebrates Award-Winning ASW Distillery

  August 26, 2023

• TOUR Championship Launches Elevated 2024 Corporate Hospitality Program

  August 25, 2023

  On the eve of the 2023 TOUR Championship, tournament officials today launched the first four products in its comprehensive corporate hospitality program for the 2024 event, which feature myriad new and enhanced offerings that will further elevate the experience at the PGA TOUR’s season finale.

• Atlanta's Wylde Center Launches Public Phase of $2.89 Million Capital Campaign

  August 24, 2023

  Wylde Center, one of Greater Atlanta’s most engaging and educational collections of greenspaces, is celebrating its first quarter-century by launching the public phase of its 25th Anniversary Capital Campaign.

• City of Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools Announce Plan for Land Swap to Deliver Rapid Housing on Public Land

  August 23, 2023

  Mayor Andre Dickens and Atlanta Public Schools have announced plans to exchange two key pieces of publicly owned land to advance their shared affordable housing goals and better consolidate APS facilities.

• Georgia Named the Best State for Business Growth, According to New Research

  August 23, 2023

  New research has revealed the best states for business growth, with Georgia taking the top spot. Business consulting firm Venture Smarter analyzed data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics to discover the business growth rate in each state based on the number of establishments in December 2021 compared to December 2022.

• Experience Japan Like Never Before at JapanFest Atlanta

  August 22, 2023

  Come to JapanFest Atlanta, held September 16th Sat. and 17th Sun. at Gas South Convention Center, Duluth, GA. The theme of this year’s JapanFest is "Experience Japan," and it’s all about letting visitors become immersed in the traditions, natural beauty, and pop culture of Japan.

• Mercedes-Benz Stadium Revealed to Be the Cheapest Stadium for Food and Drink

  August 21, 2023

  Being an NFL fan isn’t always easy on our wallets with the average ticket to a game costing $107 per person. And when it comes to shelling out that money for food and drink, some NFL stadiums are more affordable than others.

• Johnny’s Hideaway Continues to Stand the Test of Time

  August 21, 2023

  While Atlanta sees record high temps this summer, Johnny’s Hideaway continues to heat up the city’s nightlife more than six decades after opening in 1979. The Buckhead nightclub continues to welcome new guests and loyal customers to dance the night away, thanks to a few secrets that keep this hot spot rocking since the disco era.

• Georgia Ranks Sixth for States that Dine Out the Most, with Chick-Fil-A Their Favorite Restaurant

  August 21, 2023

  Dining out is often seen as something to do when celebrating an event or seeking a fast meal after a long day, that’s why a new study has investigated which states enjoy dining out the most.

• Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark -The Coming Crisis in Healthcare: Workforce

  August 18, 2023

  Across Georgia and the country, we are experiencing a serious need for healthcare staff. Hospitals, senior care facilities, urgent care centers, local health clinics, and even imaging centers are facing long-term problems providing access to care for our citizens.

• Atlanta BeltLine Kicks-Off a Digital Smart Cities Initiative Connecting Communities through Technology

  August 17, 2023

  Atlanta BeltLine is kicking off its digital inclusion strategy and announcing the partners for the organization’s first smart cities demonstration project. Smart cities projects use digital technologies in urban areas in a strategic and inclusive manner to improve quality of life for residents.

• Arts & Entertainment Atlanta Announces Its Largest Grant Giving Cycle for Downtown Art Projects

  August 17, 2023

  Arts & Entertainment Atlanta, the leading neighborhood activation and economic development initiative for Downtown Atlanta - has officially opened applications for its fourth annual grant cycle to support local artists and arts organizations presenting work in Downtown Atlanta.

• Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Holds Firm, Remains Below National Average

  August 17, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's July unemployment rate remained steady at 3.2 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.2 percent in June. The unemployment rate is also three-tenths lower than the national average.

• Cherry Street Energy Signs Lease for Flagship HQ at Brickworks in Atlanta’s West Midtown

  August 16, 2023

  JLL Atlanta’s Tenant Representation Group today announces that Cherry Street Energy, an Atlanta-based solar energy company, is relocating its flagship headquarters to a 13,600-square-foot space at Brickworks, a mixed-use property located in West Midtown.

• Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson Returns Millions in Unremitted Funds to the Georgia State Treasury

  August 16, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson hosted a press conference yesterday to reveal the findings of a comprehensive internal audit, which uncovered $105,170,178.20 in unremitted funds that began accumulating in fiscal year 2014.

• 2023 LINK Participants Head to Montreal to Convene on Major Issues

  August 15, 2023

  More than 120 government, business, and civic leaders from metro Atlanta will visit the Montreal, Quebec region this week for the Atlanta Regional Commission’s 2023 LINK Trip.

• The Average Georgia Credit Score Increased 12 Points During COVID

  August 15, 2023

  When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in the United States at the beginning of 2020, quarantine and social distancing regulations caused consumer behaviors to change dramatically. As a result, many Americans were able to save money during the pandemic and able to improve their financial situations by increasing savings and paying down debt.