November 2024 Features

• A Tribute to the Life and Leadership of Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson

  November 25, 2024

  The Georgia Department of Labor mourns the passing of Commissioner Bruce Thompson, a visionary leader, devoted mentor, and dedicated public servant. While his entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence will be deeply missed, Commissioner Thompson’s greatest legacy lies in his ability to foster a culture of family and belonging for those who worked alongside him.

• 2.3M Georgians Expected to Travel for Thanksgiving

  November 22, 2024

  AAA expects record-setting travel numbers for Thanksgiving. Over 2.3 million Georgians are forecast to travel 50 miles or more for the holiday. That’s an all-time high for Thanksgiving and nearly 40,000 more travelers than last year.

• goBeyondProfit Honors Bernie Marcus’ Legacy of Generosity

  November 22, 2024

  As a Founding Ambassador for goBeyondProfit, Bernie Marcus issued both a challenge to fellow business leaders and offered a road map for leading with generosity across a lifetime.

• Economic Development Expert Tapped to Lead Georgia Transportation Alliance

  November 21, 2024

  The Georgia Transportation Alliance, an affiliate of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, selected Georgia economic development veteran Joseph Santoro to serve as the new Executive Director of the Georgia Transportation Alliance.

• 2025 Travel Outlook: Squaremouth Predicts Traveler's Destination and Spend Trends

  November 21, 2024

  From historic hurricanes, growing anti-tourism sentiments, frequent travel disruptions and ever-rising trip costs, 2024 has been a challenging year for travelers. Looking ahead into the new year, Squaremouth, the nation's leading travel insurance marketplace, reveals their top 3 biggest travel predictions for 2025.

• Paving the Way: An Update from Georgia Department of Transportation

  November 20, 2024

  At the recent On Topic Luncheon presented by Porter Steel, GDOT Commissioner Russell McMurry provided insights on Georgia’s transportation advancements for 2025. Speaking to an audience of over 160 business professionals, McMurry highlighted several key projects that emphasize infrastructure improvements across the region, particularly in Gwinnett County.

• Study: CEOs Optimistic Amid Uncertainty

  November 20, 2024

  Middle market companies are confident in their ability to navigate inflation and a potential recession, according to a survey by Moss Adams, one of the largest accounting, consulting and wealth management firms in the nation.

• TRMC Foundation Appoints Two New Board Members

  November 19, 2024

  The Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation’s board of directors recently announced the appointment of Heather Stripling and Dr. Rodney Tyson to the Foundation’s board of directors.

• State Medical Cannabis Registry Reaches 25,000

  November 19, 2024

  Georgia’s medical cannabis program has hit an important milestone. Enrollment in the registry of patients eligible to receive the drug hit 25,000 during the weekend. That growth means the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, the state agency that operates the program, is authorized to open additional dispensaries.

• Georgia Chamber Hosts the 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit

  November 18, 2024

  On November 13th, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit. The summit took place at the Georgia International Convention Center, with more than 250 people in attendance.

• TRMC Welcomes New Director to Develop Residency Programs

  November 14, 2024

  Tift Regional Medical Center announced that Kimberly Megow, MD, MBA, DIPLOMATE ABP, FAAP, FACHE will serve as the hospital’s new Director of Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Megow will be responsible for developing TRMC’s new internal medicine and OB/GYN residency programs.

• Board of Regents Elects New Chair and Vice Chair for 2025

  November 14, 2024

  The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia elected current Vice Chair T. Dallas Smith to a one-year term as the Board’s new chair and Regent David Dove to a one-year term as the Board’s vice chair.

• Georgia's Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.6% for Third Consecutive Month

  November 14, 2024

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's October unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.6 percent in September. The unemployment rate was five-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.

• Charlie Harper: 2024 Wasn’t As Close As Expected. 2026 Is a New Game Entirely

  November 14, 2024

  It wasn’t so close after all. Despite the insistence of many professional pundits and most major media outlets, the 2024 elections for President and control of Congress were called relatively early. By Wednesday morning, the word “mandate” was being used frequently as part of the instant analysis.

• Peach Bowl, Inc. Commits $2 Million for 2024-25 College Football Season

  November 13, 2024

  Peach Bowl, Inc., college football’s most charitable bowl organization, today announced a commitment of $2 million in donations for the 2024-25 college football season.

• Georgia Power’s CEO Kim Greene: We Are Here for Georgia. We are Here for You.

  November 13, 2024

  I can’t recall a time in my career, or maybe my life, when I’ve seen anything like Hurricane Helene. It was impossible to believe unless you saw it up close, and even then, it is difficult to describe — pictures simply don’t do it justice. I visited some of the hardest-hit areas in Georgia in the days following the storm, and what I saw broke my heart.

• Join Barbara Dooley in Supporting Georgia’s Foster Youth and Our Future Workforce

  November 12, 2024

  Barbara Dooley – a beloved Georgia philanthropist, community leader, and passionate advocate for foster youth – believes that education and confidence are the keys to unlocking the potential of these young adults.

• North Pole Express Tickets Available Nov. 12 at ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture

  November 11, 2024

  Children of all ages can ride the North Pole Express to see Santa Claus on Dec 4 - Dec. 7 and Dec. 11 – Dec. 14 at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture.

• Georgia Power’s First Battery Energy Storage System Reaches Commercial Operation

  November 11, 2024

  Georgia Power leaders joined elected officials from the Georgia Public Service Commission, Georgia legislature, and Talbot and Muscogee counties on Thursday to mark commercial operation of the company’s first “grid-connected” battery energy storage system.

• Wild Adventures Christmas Wild & Bright Returns

  November 08, 2024

  Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta announced its annual holiday event is making a return adding new attractions to the largest Christmas celebration in the region.

• Young GameChangers Conclude Program with Final Presentations in Valdosta

  November 07, 2024

  The GeorgiaForward Young GameChangers Program held its final presentations on Wednesday, Nov. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Rainwater Conference Center. This marked the culmination of months of dedicated effort by participants committed to enhancing Valdosta’s growth and community impact.

• Trump Carries Georgia Four Years After Losing Peach State

  November 06, 2024

  Former President Donald Trump won Georgia’s 16 electoral votes Tuesday, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris by a narrow margin, several national news outlets projected before 1 a.m. Wednesday.

• Georgia Property-Tax Relief Measures Headed to Easy Victories

  November 06, 2024

  Georgia voters were poised to overwhelmingly approve two tax-relief measures on the statewide ballot Tuesday night, while a third tax-related proposal held a smaller lead.

• Status Quo Prevails in Georgia Congressional Elections

  November 06, 2024

  The makeup of Georgia’s congressional delegation likely will remain unchanged, as voters were poised Tuesday night to reelect 13 of the 14 U.S. House lawmakers and choose Republican Brian Jack to succeed retiring GOP Rep. Drew Ferguson.

• Fox Theatre Awards $500,000 in Single-Year Grants to 12 Historic Theaters Across Georgia

  November 05, 2024

  The Fox Theatre is pleased to announce 12 grant recipients for its current year, totaling $500,000 in financial support. Through its nonprofit partnerships program Fox Gives, the Theatre is dedicated to strengthening communities and their iconic performing arts institutions while providing support through financial investments.