July 2026 Features

• Hannah's Story: Building a Better Future for Her Family

  July 21, 2026

  After entering Georgia's foster care system at age 11, Hannah spent seven years in care and experienced 17 different placements before aging out. As a young mother of three, she faced overwhelming challenges, balancing parenthood with unstable housing, unreliable transportation, and the daily struggle to provide for her family.

• Georgia Chamber Launches Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance

  July 21, 2026

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of the Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance, a new initiative designed to bring together business leaders, infrastructure providers, utilities, community stakeholders, and key industries to support Georgia’s continued leadership in the rapidly growing digital economy.

• Georgia Hospital Association Announces 2026-2027 Board of Trustees & New Board Chair Vicki Lewis

  July 20, 2026

  Coffee Regional Medical Center President and CEO Vicki Lewis, FACHE, was installed as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Hospital Association at the association’s Annual Meeting of the Assembly on July 9th.

• President Trump to Visit Georgia to Tout Affordability Agenda

  July 20, 2026

  President Donald Trump plans to visit Georgia this week to highlight tax breaks, grants to newborns and other policies aimed at affordability, a top concern ahead of the November elections. The president is scheduled to visit Wheeler High School in Marietta on Wednesday.

• Atlanta Delivers Historic FIFA World Cup 2026 from Kickoff to the Semifinal

  July 17, 2026

  Atlanta concluded an extraordinary FIFA World Cup 2026 hosting run on July 15th with a semifinal match-up between Argentina and England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, capping eight matches that showcased the city at its very best.

• Georgia Lottery Annual Profits for HOPE, Pre-K Exceed $1.54B

  July 17, 2026

  Governor Brian Kemp announced the Georgia Lottery Corp. raised $1,540,868,000 for education in fiscal year 2026, bringing the total transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account since inception in 1993 to more than $31.3 billion.

• Georgia Power Reaffirms Longstanding Commitment to Make Growth Work for Customers with Customer Protection Pledge

  July 16, 2026

  With new residents moving to the state and large-energy users like data centers and manufacturers choosing Georgia, Georgia Power continues to work to ensure that growth benefits all Georgia Power customers.

• CEO Confidence Slips in Q2 as Inflation and Economic Uncertainty Take Hold

  July 16, 2026

  Small and midsize business CEOs' confidence in the economy declined in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest CEO Confidence Index from Vistage, a CEO coaching and peer advisory organization.

• Top 8 Products Announced in Coolest Thing Made in Georgia Competition

  July 10, 2026

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced today the Top 8 finalists in the second annual Coolest Thing Made in Georgia competition, presented by Synovus, now merged with Pinnacle Financial Partners. After thousands of votes from across the country and around the world, only eight Georgia-made products remain in the bracket-style competition celebrating the innovation, craftsmanship, and manufacturing excellence that power Georgia's economy.

• Georgia Council for the Arts Awards 179 Organizations $1.3 Million in Grant Funding

  July 09, 2026

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development team specialized in empowering arts and culture, Georgia Council for the Arts, today announced that $1.3M in competitive grant funding will be distributed to recipients in 37 counties across the state through its fiscal year 2027 General Operating Support, Project, and Arts Education Program grants.

• Gov. Kemp Leads Economic Development Mission to Scotland and Ireland

  July 09, 2026

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that he and First Lady Marty Kemp are leading an international mission this week to foster economic relationships in Scotland and Ireland, including a meeting with Executive Chair Euisun Chung and other senior leadership from Hyundai Motor Group and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Prime Minister of Ireland.

• From Pennies to Protests, New Georgia Laws Alter Penalties, Programs and Protections

  July 07, 2026

  New state laws took effect Wednesday, bringing new mandates that will change life for Georgians in both obvious and unseen ways.

• Georgia Launches New Office of Education and Workforce Strategy

  July 07, 2026

  Effective, July 1, 2026, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) officially becomes the Governor's Office of Education and Workforce Strategy (GOEWS), marking a significant evolution in how Georgia coordinates education and workforce policy under one roof.

• Georgia Historical Society Elects Clyde Tuggle as Board Chair & Adds Riley Blount, BJ Green, & T. Dallas Smith to Board

  July 06, 2026

  The Georgia Historical Society is pleased to announce the election of three distinguished leaders to its Board of Curators: Riley Blount, BJ Green, and T. Dallas Smith, which were at the Society’s 187th Annual Meeting, held at the Georgia Historical Society headquarters in Savannah.

• ABAC Announces Tracy Lawrence as the Headliner for ‘Stage Lights & Rodeo Nights’

  July 01, 2026

  Country music legend Tracy Lawrence is coming to Tifton, and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is gearing up for an exciting weekend this November.