December 2023 Features

• Georgia Farm Bureau members will ‘Dig In’ to Agriculture at Annual Convention

  December 27, 2023

  Georgia Farm Bureau members will gather on Jekyll Island Dec. 3-5 for the organization’s 86th annual convention. Attendees will be ‘Diggin’ In’ to agriculture issues and advocacy as they participate in event activities.

• Anticipation Builds for Top Restaurants, Must-Visit Septs and Unique Eateries Opening in 2024

  December 22, 2023

  New restaurants, gaming spots and unique experiences have made the hot list of openings in 2024. From West Midtown to the Eastside Atlanta BeltLine, from Peachtree City to Marietta, metro Atlanta will soon welcome unique options to keep guests fed and entertained.

• goBeyondProfit - The Business Case for a Generosity Reboot

  December 22, 2023

  If you pay close attention, you will hear a growing disagreement between companies, employees, and the communities they serve. While they are bound together by a mutual interest in meaningful engagement, employees and community-serving nonprofits are begging for a relationship reboot.

• Explore Georgia Announces Most Anticipated Hotel Openings for 2024

  December 22, 2023

  The Peach State is preparing to ring in the new year with a host of new hotel options that offer more than just a good night’s sleep. From a mountaintop golf resort to a lovingly restored historic mansion, here is a sampling of the new accommodations travelers can look forward to in Georgia come 2024.

• Atlanta Ranks as the 4th Most Instagrammable City for an Unforgettable New Year's Eve Celebration

  December 22, 2023

  A new study has revealed the most Instagrammable cities in the US for New Year’s Eve, with Atlanta coming in at #4

• Gas South’s $1M Commitment to the Fostering Success Act, Inc. Ensures Georgia's Foster Youth Aren't Forgotten

  December 21, 2023

  Leading natural gas provider Gas South is dedicating $1 million to Fostering Success Act, Inc., a visionary initiative that empowers every Georgian, including businesses, to redirect a portion of their state income tax toward the critical needs of foster youth.

• Georgia’s Unemployment Holds Steady for the Holidays

  December 21, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's November unemployment rate was 3.4 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.4 percent for the third consecutive month. The unemployment rate was three-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.

• Georgia Named Among the States Where Small Businesses are Set to Boom in 2024

  December 21, 2023

  Business ideas and information site The Small Business Blog analyzed search data from Google Keyword Planner for more than 100 terms related to the term ‘side hustle’ and ‘small business’ - the peach state placed #7.

• Peach Bowl, Inc. Commits in Charitable Giving $5.7M for the 2023-24 College Football Season

  December 20, 2023

  Peach Bowl, Inc., which operates the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Aflac Kickoff Game and the Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge golf tournament, announced a commitment of $5.75 million in charitable donations for the 2023-24 college football season.

• Top Tips for Ensuring Business Wellbeing in 2024, from Jade Alexander- Esteves, of Moneypenny and VoiceNation in Atlanta

  December 20, 2023

  Moneypenny and VoiceNation recognised for their people strategy, and the leadership team firmly believes that employee wellbeing and satisfaction is central to achieving business success in 2024 and beyond.

• GDEcD: 50 Years of International Presence

  December 20, 2023

  Fifty years ago, state leadership under then-Governor Jimmy Carter began to establish Georgia’s physical presence abroad, kickstarting the state’s trajectory to becoming a global hub for business and innovation.

• Christmas Begins After All The Christmas Stuff is Done

  December 20, 2023

  We’re almost there. The end of the year is in sight. We’re locked in on Christmas, when most of the country slows down or stops altogether for a much needed break. Productivity will be at its annual low.

• Pipedream Partners with Curiosity Lab to Launch World’s First Underground Logistics Network in Peachtree Corners

  December 19, 2023

  Peachtree Corners – one of the nation’s first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G – launched the world’s first below-ground autonomous robot delivery system with Pipedream, the underground logistics network that is revolutionizing the way goods are delivered.

• Gov. Kemp Announces State Employee Retention Pay Supplement, New School Safety Funding

  December 19, 2023

  Governor Brian Kemp – joined by First Lady Marty Kemp, Speaker Jon Burns, Chairman Matt Hatchett of the House Appropriations Committee, announced a state employee retention pay supplement of $1,000 for each of the roughly 112,000 state employees and 196,000 educators and school support staff across the state.

• AT&T & Compudopt Donate 110 Laptops to Georgia Foster Kids & Those Aging Out of Foster Care

  December 18, 2023

  AT&T together with Compudopt took a step toward bridging the digital divide for 110 former and current children in the state’s foster care system today with a Christmas donation of laptops to at-risk youth.

• Georgia’s Energy System – A Model for America

  December 18, 2023

  We start our cars and barely think about the complex systems under the hood. The same with flipping on a light switch. We just take for granted that the electricity will work. We enjoy reliable and affordable electric service here in Georgia thanks to careful planning and market-based management of a diversified energy system.

• Fox Theatre Boasts 2023 Historic Chart-Topping Success

  December 15, 2023

  Atlanta's premier entertainment venue, The Fox Theatre, proudly announces its recent achievements and nominations as the year draws to a close. These accomplishments, placing this historic entertainment powerhouse in the top three of the industry's most respected publications, underscore the Fox Theatre's enduring success and essential role in the entertainment world.

• goBeyondProfit CEO Interviews: Heath Fountain, CEO of Colony Bank (Part 2)

  December 15, 2023

  In part 2 of our interview with Colony Bank and its CEO Heath Fountain we explore intentional leadership practices that effectively communicate strategic priorities to a dispersed workforce. With 40+ offices across the state, Colony Bank implements these practices daily.

• Signia by Hilton Atlanta Unveils Elevated Culinary Concepts

  December 14, 2023

  Signia by Hilton Atlanta, Atlanta’s largest downtown, ground-up hotel development project in 40 years, has unveiled details on the property’s eight food and beverage offerings centered around Georgia's rich Southern history.

• Hartsfield-Jackson Prepares to Host 3.3M Passengers Over Holiday Travel Period

  December 14, 2023

  In preparation for a busy winter holiday travel season, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials are providing tips to passengers to better navigate the Airport’s increased traffic volume. Additionally, the Airport is announcing the completion of the Main Security Checkpoint construction project.

• GDOT Outlines Need for Major Hike in Highway Funding

  December 14, 2023

  Georgia will need to spend at least $81 billion on transportation improvements by 2050 to keep people and freight moving on highways that otherwise will becoming increasingly congested, state Commissioner of Transportation Russell McMurry warned Wednesday.

• Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance Receives $100,000 Grant from Chick-fil-A, Inc.

  December 13, 2023

  Aerotropolis Atlanta Alliance, Inc is a Metro Atlanta nonprofit dedicated to serving as a catalyst for regional economic competitiveness for the area surrounding Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Board of Directors is excited to announce the organization has received a generous $100,000 grant from Chick-fil-A, Inc., one of its Legacy investors.

• Governors Kemp, Ivey Announce Agreement in Long-running Chattahoochee River Water Lawsuit

  December 13, 2023

  Governor Brian P. Kemp of Georgia and Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama announced that they have reached an agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers expected to end a lawsuit brought by Alabama while assuring both states’ citizens who live and work in the Mid- and Lower Chattahoochee River Basin of sufficient minimum water flows during times of drought.

• Georgia Chamber CEO Chris Clark: It’s Time for Washington to Reverse Course on Interest Rates

  December 13, 2023

  It’s no surprise to anyone who has filled up their tank, been to the grocery store, or applied for a loan that sky-high inflation and increasing interest rates are placing an undue financial burden on citizens across the country and constraints on business investments.

• Georgia’s Economy is Headed for a “Soft Landing” but Could Still Hit Some Speed Bumps

  December 12, 2023

  Georgia’s post-COVID economic expansion is expected to slow but continue, with GDP increasing by 1.1% in 2024, according to economic forecasters at the University of Georgia Selig Center for Economic Growth.