Stanley E. Dunlap reports that Macon’s area economy should slowly, yet steadily, improve this year while the Warner Robins area is expected to slightly outpace the Macon growth in 2019. An analysis of Middle Georgia’s economy and a forecast for 2019 were presented Thursday as part of the Georgia Economic Outlook series hosted by the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.
Susan Percy and Patty Rasmussen report that the Atlanta Braves and The Home Depot are iconic brands firmly associated with the state of Georgia, thanks in large part to this year’s newest Georgia Trustees, John Schuerholz, vice-chair emeritus of the Atlanta Braves, and Frank Blake, retired chair and CEO of The Home Depot.
Michael E. Kanell reports that Worldpay is cutting 234 jobs in Atlanta, about one-third of its staff in the city, according to a filing with the state’s Department of Labor. The payments technology firm was once a rapidly growing part of Atlanta’s tech scene. It was acquired a year ago by Vantiv, a London-based firm.
David Allison reports that data center operator T5 is planning two new data center facilities in Douglas County west of Atlanta. T5 is seeking to rezone and combine 10 parcels totaling 80 acres at Trae Lane, Douglas Hill Road and Factory Shoals Road in Lithia Springs to develop two new 145,000-square-foot data center facilities with space for future restricted light industrial development, according to Douglas County.
Staff reports that a team of four economics majors at Georgia Southern University’s Parker College of Business recently took fourth place at TD Ameritrade’s thinkorswim Challenge, a real-world cash trading experience, after going head-to-head with 500 college teams from around the country.
Tony Adams reports that the U.S. Tax Cut and Jobs Act certainly had an impact on the earnings of Aflac’s quarterly financial report, as it has on the numbers of other companies benefiting from the major legislation that took effect in late 2017. That’s why, on paper at least, the fourth-quarter profit reported Thursday by the Columbus-based supplemental health and life insurer had an odd appearance.
Katie Nussbaum reports, General Dynamics, the parent company of Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., ended 2018 with an increase in both full-year and fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations. For the year, earnings increased 15.3 percent or $3.4 billion and for the quarter the increase topped 42.9 percent or $909 million, in what General Dynamics chairman and CEO Phebe Novakovic called a significant improvement against 2017, during the company’s 4Q earnings call on Wednesday.
Doug Walker reports that Georgia Power submitted a new Integrated Resource Plan to the Georgia Public Service Commission Thursday which calls for the decertification of Plant Hammond west of Rome. The utility has seen the end of Hammond coming for several years and the staff at the plant has dwindled down to just 40. A news release issued by the company does not include a specific timeline for the proposed decommissioning of the plant.
Andy Miller reports that once again, an annual tobacco control report gives Georgia failing grades for its anti-smoking efforts. The American Lung Association’s national report, released Wednesday, called on Georgia to increase its tax on a pack of cigarettes. At 37 cents, the levy is among the lowest in the country.
Gordon Jackson reports that it’s been 18 months since the St. Marys Airport was closed permanently for national security reasons, leaving Camden County without a municipal airport. Now, the Georgia Department of Transportation has started discussions to identify a location for a replacement. But there’s no guarantee the new airport will be in Camden County.
Maya T. Prabhu reports, in the era of #MeToo and a re-energized focus on women’s rights, Georgia’s female senators are joining forces in a renewed effort to approve an equal rights amendment to the U.S. Constitution. State Sens. Renee Unterman of Buford and Nan Orrock of Atlanta, a Republican and Democrat, respectively, have filed companion legislation in the Senate that would ratify the Equal Rights Amendment that was approved by Congress in the 1970s.
