March 2023 Features

• This Week Is A Time To Reflect On What Is Next

  March 31, 2023

  As someone whose annual calendar is heavily anchored in the activities of the Georgia General Assembly, the annual declaration of Sine Die for adjournment is a bit of relief. In fact, it’s quite freeing. It’s time to consider what is next.

• Additional State Budget Decrease of $66 Million Will Hurt University System of Georgia Institutions

  March 31, 2023

  The Fiscal Year 2024 budget passed Wednesday by the General Assembly includes an additional $66 million decrease in state funding, a cut that will impact teaching budgets, staff and students across the state.

• Upsizing in Georgia: More Likely Than You Think

  March 28, 2023

  There’s no denying that work from home has amplified homeowners’ dream for more space – but high costs and inflation are making it hard to realize. New data reveals that upsizing from a condo to a single-family home is very much possible – and even profitable – in 20 of the 200 largest cities in the U.S.

• Georgia Business Leaders & Seniors Call on Biden Administration to Protect Medicare Advantage

  March 27, 2023

  Georgia business leaders and seniors today denounced the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposal to cut $3 billion of Medicare Advantage funding in 2024. More than 30 million Americans — nearly half of those who are eligible for Medicare — have chosen Medicare Advantage for high-quality, affordable health care coverage, including one million people in Georgia.

• Georgia Legislature To Depart Leaving Three Major Questions

  March 24, 2023

  The Georgia General Assembly is in its final official hours for 2023, with legislators prepared to gavel out “Sine Die” on March 29th. While this will end their 40 official business days in Atlanta for the year, it’s important to understand the real schedule of the legislature.

• Spring Travel Surges: AAA Survey Shows 41% of Georgians Plan to Travel for Spring Break

  March 23, 2023

  Travel bookings for 2023 are off to a very strong start and that is reflected in a new survey from AAA. According to the Auto Club Group, 87% of Georgians plan to travel this year. That’s significantly higher than 56% in 2022.

• Georgia Maintains Low Unemployment Rate for the Seventh Consecutive Month

  March 23, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's February unemployment rate was 3.1 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.1 percent in January. The unemployment rate has held at 3.1 percent for seven consecutive months and was five-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate of 3.6 percent.

• Georgia Ranks 8th for Best State to Start a Small Business

  March 22, 2023

  Capital on Tap, a business credit card expert, has conducted a new research study to determine the best and worst US states for starting a small business. The study analyzed eight factors including new firm survival rates, corporate tax rates, and the number of entrepreneurs per state to determine the viability of starting a small business in each state.

• C. Scott Votaw Named Executive Director of the Georgia Film Academy

  March 21, 2023

  The University System of Georgia has named C. Scott Votaw as executive director of the Georgia Film Academy.

• First Lady Marty Kemp Announces New Appointments to GRACE Commission

  March 20, 2023

  First Lady Marty Kemp announced Governor Brian Kemp signed an executive order increasing the membership of the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education (GRACE) Commission by two seats and appointing four new members to fill both the newly-created vacancies and two others.

• 36 Finalists Advance to Final Round of Flavor of Georgia Contest

  March 17, 2023

  Judges tasted their way through 124 products entered by 82 Georgia businesses in the first round of judging for the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ annual Flavor of Georgia food product contest on March 10, selecting 36 finalists who will compete in the final round of competition on March 28th.

• Georgia Students Learn About Careers in Construction, Design, & Energy at Construction Ready CareerExpo

  March 16, 2023

  Construction Ready held its annual CareerExpo March 9-10, 2023 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. More than 7,000 students from across Georgia attended the Expo, the state’s largest youth workforce development event for the construction industry.

• 2023 Georgia Logistics Summit Delivers Port, Logistics Strategies, Insights in Savannah

  March 13, 2023

  The Georgia Center of Innovation, a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), hosted more than 800 attendees at the 2023 Georgia Logistics Summit, where experts offered insights on the intersection of the economy, technology, and growth of Georgia’s ports.

• Georgia Legislature Working On Quality Of Life Issues

  March 10, 2023

  Forty days of the Georgia Legislature could easily be summed up by paraphrasing Charles Dickens. It is the longest time; it is the shortest time.

• AG Chris Carr Recognizes National Consumer Protection Week

  March 10, 2023

  Attorney General Chris Carr is recognizing March 5-11, 2023, as National Consumer Protection Week by highlighting the efforts of Georgia’s Consumer Protection Division and sharing important tips on how to avoid scams.

• Georgia Enters the New Year with All-Time High Job Numbers & Steady Unemployment Rate

  March 09, 2023

  Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's January unemployment rate was 3.1 percent, unchanged from a revised 3.1 percent in December. Job numbers reached another all-time high, increasing by almost 17,000 from December.

• Hyundai Supplier PHA to Create Over 400 Jobs in Chatham County

  March 06, 2023

  Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced that PHA, a global auto parts manufacturer that will supply the Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County, will create 402 new jobs and invest more than $67 million in a new facility in Chatham County.

• Georgia Small Business Owners Post Record Breaking Registration in 2023

  March 06, 2023

  Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced 26,520 new business formation filings for January 2023, an increase of 6,740 from the previous month of December 2022.

• Governor, First Lady Celebrate Georgia’s Creative Community with Arts & Humanities Awards

  March 03, 2023

  Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp announced the recipients of the 11th annual Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities to honor individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia in these fields.

• Southern Company Again is Top-ranked Utility on Forbes Magazine's Best Large Employers in America List

  March 03, 2023

  Southern Company has been named the top utility on Forbes magazine's Best Large Employers in America 2023 rankings. Of the 500 large employers ranked, Southern Company was No. 15 overall.

• Atlanta Fed President: Striking a Delicate Balance in Making Policy

  March 02, 2023

  "Even as some recent reports show underlying inflation moderating, I believe inflation remains too high. I want to reiterate that the Federal Open Market Committee is determined to put it on a sustainable path toward our objective of 2 percent, as measured by the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index."

• New Expense Management Survey from Center Reveals Uptick in Travel Spend Among SMEs Despite Inflation & Recession Concerns

  March 02, 2023

  Center released insights from its fourth annual Expense Management Trends survey, revealing that despite an uncertain economic environment, over a third of respondents (36%) plan to spend more than $250k annually on travel, with 16% expected to spend over $500k.