Georgia Trend Daily – May 15, 2019
May 16, 2019 WSB Radio, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Coca-Cola widened its lead versus Pepsi in cola wars last year, report says
Matt Kempner reports that Coca-Cola Co. widened its lead against archrival PepsiCo last year in their decadeslong battle for U.S. soda drinkers, according to a closely watched report. In a positive sign for both companies, though, U.S. volumes of carbonated soft drinks barely dipped in 2018 after more than a decade of steeper declines, industry tracker Beverage Digest reported Wednesday.
May 16, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Economy: An Optimistic Outlook
Jeffrey Humphreys reports that the economic outlook for the Augusta metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is favorable for the remainder of this year. Employment is expected to increase by 5,400 jobs. The 2.2 percent pace of job growth is the highest anticipated for any of Georgia’s MSAs and is tied with Gainesville’s.
May 16, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Study: Georgia’s shortcomings threaten to undermine economic growth
Michael E. Kanell reports that despite decades of sometimes spectacular growth, Georgia cannot afford to ignore some dangerous trends often masked by good economic news, a study by the global consulting firm McKinsey & Company warns. The growth propelled Georgia to become the ninth-largest state economy by 2017, up from 17th in 1977.
May 16, 2019 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Goat Farm releases first images of massive redevelopment
Amy Wenk reports that the Goat Farm Arts Center on Wednesday released the first images of an ambitious redevelopment planned for the artist community in West Midtown. Atlanta Business Chronicle in March was first to report new ideas were emerging for the complex.
May 16, 2019 Gwinnett Daily Post
Ga. labor, economic development officials highlight workforce shortages to Gwinnett Chamber
Curt Yeomans reports that Georgia has a lot of available jobs, but not enough people in the workforce to fill them, the state’s labor commissioner told Gwinnett business leaders on Wednesday. Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler and Georgia Department of Economic Development Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Ben Hames delivered a workforce update at the Gwinnett Chamber’s monthly On Topic series.
May 16, 2019 GlobalAtlanta.com
‘Fintech Factor’ Examines How Metro Communities Can Benefit From Growing Industry
Trevor Williams reports that Atlanta’s role as a payments juggernaut has been cemented for decades, but it’s only now that the story is starting to resonate globally and attract firms from a broader slice of the fintech sphere. That was the assessment of company executives and payments experts at the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce’s “Fintech Factor” event April 25, which served as the company’s annual international roundtable.
May 16, 2019 Savannah Morning News
JCB awarded Canadian government contracts
Staff reports that JCB has been awarded contracts with the Canadian Army, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Blanc Sablon Airport to deliver a total of 10 large excavators and wheel-loading shovels valued at more than CAD 2.5 million, the company announced Wednesday. The Canadian Army has taken delivery of six JCB JS130 tracked excavators and two JCB 220X tracked excavators.
May 16, 2019 Savannah Morning News
Gulfstream G550 sets new record
Staff reports that Gulfstream G550 recently established a new city-pair speed record, connecting Shanghai with Seattle in 10 hours and 29 minutes, bringing the number of records the jet has earned to 55, Savannah-based Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced this week. The aircraft departed Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 2:09 p.m. local time on April 19 and arrived at Seattle’s King County International Airport-Boeing Field, at 9:38 a.m. local time, completing the 5,123-nautical-mile/9,487-kilometer flight at an average speed of Mach 0.85.
May 16, 2019 Georgia Health News
Georgia moves up in key rating of hospital safety
Andy Miller reports that more than one-third of Georgia hospitals scored an “A’’ in the latest safety ratings by the Leapfrog Group. That puts Georgia No. 15 among states for its percentage of hospitals getting an “A’’ from Leapfrog, up from 17th place in the ratings last fall.
May 16, 2019 Albany Herald
Certificate of need extension refiled for Lee Medical Center
Staff reports that Lee County commissioners announced Wednesday that a request to extend the Lee County Medical Center’s certificate of need (CON) has been resubmitted to the Georgia Department of Community Health. Originally filed in February, the department asked that the application be resubmitted closer to the CON’s May 2019 deadline to demonstrate a change in the new hospital’s circumstances.
May 16, 2019 University of Georgia
UGA startup gateway generates $531M in economic value
Allyson Mann reports, the University of Georgia’s startup program generates economic value of more than half a billion dollars annually, according to a new analysis. Startup companies created through Innovation Gateway, the university’s arm for research commercialization, have an economic impact of $531 million across the United States, including $322 million in the state of Georgia.
May 16, 2019 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Average salary is up to $100K for graduates of new program coming to Columbus State
Mark Rice reports that as early as the fall 2019 semester, Columbus State University will start offering a new program to prepare students for a lucrative career field with a promising job outlook. The University System of Georgia Board of Regents has approved CSU’s plan to establish bachelor’s and master’s degrees in robotics engineering.
May 16, 2019 Brunswick News
Sea Island files motion to dismiss in wetlands case
Wes Wolfe reports that in response to allegations made April 17 — that the company violated its permits, and the Clean Water Act, in the process of filling nearly a half-acre of wetlands adjacent to the Inn at Sea Island on St. Simons Island — Sea Island Acquisition filed a motion May 9 requesting the federal court completely dismiss the complaint. Glynn Environmental Coalition and the Center for a Sustainable Coast argued in their complaint that Sea Island obtained permits to fill these wetlands under the assertion it would build a commercial structure on the 0.49 acres, and as such it would qualify under a nationwide permit instead of individual permitting, which would have involved more perceived time, effort and money.
May 16, 2019 WABE 90.1
What Is Sovereign Immunity? A Closer Look At One Of Gov. Kemp’s Vetoes
Emma Hurt reports that among the list of legislations Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed recently? HB 311, which would have waived some instances of sovereign immunity. That’s the principle that prevents anyone from suing branches of the government directly. WABE’s Emma Hurt spoke with lawyer Don Samuel about it.
May 16, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia 2020: Gillibrand treks to Atlanta to target ‘heartbeat’ bill
Greg Bluestein reports that Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand will headline an Atlanta event on Thursday, where she plans to join a group of women leaders to assail the “horrific” anti-abortion measure that Gov. Brian Kemp recently signed into law. Gillibrand, a U.S. senator from New York, is among a string of White House hopefuls who have criticized House Bill 481, which seeks to outlaw most abortions as soon as six weeks.
