Georgia Trend Daily – Aug. 22, 2019
Aug. 22, 2019 Savannah Morning News
Georgia universities contribute billions to economy in 2018
Katie Nussbaum reports that the University System of Georgia contributed more than $17 billion to the Georgia economy during the fiscal year 2018, according to the annual economic impact report released this week by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. The system’s 26 institutions brought in $17.7 billion during FY 18, an increase of 5% over the previous fiscal year.
Aug. 22, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Economic Development Around the State
Christy Simo reports that online retailer Wayfair is opening an $8-million customer support facility in Athens that will create 500 jobs. Wayfair also operates warehouse and distribution center facilities in McDonough and Savannah.
Aug. 22, 2019 Georgia Dept. of Labor
Atlanta sets record in July
Staff reports that Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Atlanta set records in July for both the size of its labor force and number of employed residents. “July was another solid month for Georgia,” Butler said. “The state numbers were strong and many of our local communities added to their labor force, which was badly needed. Many areas of the state also increased the number of employed residents. Georgia continues to head in the right direction.”
Aug. 22, 2019 Atlanta Business Chronicle
Covington-based financial services company to acquire financial group for $40.3 million
Brendan Ward reports that Community First Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq: CFBI), the parent company of Newton Federal Bank, has agreed to buy the parent company of Affinity Bank, ABB Financial Group Inc., for $40.3 million. Newton Federal Bank, which is based in Covington, Ga., opened in 1928 and has a reported $305 million in assets. Atlanta-based Affinity Bank opened in 2001 and has a reported $308 million in assets.
Aug. 22, 2019 Rome News-Tribune
Floyd Medical Center loses open heart surgery appeal
Doug Walker reports that Floyd Medical Center has lost its appeal of a Department of Community Health decision to deny the hospital a certificate of need to provide open heart surgical services. The decision comes after 19 days of hearings on the appeal between mid-December 2018 and the last week of February this year.
Aug. 22, 2019 11 Alive
What does the Pinewood Studios exit mean for the future of Georgia film?
Joe Henke and Ryan Dennis report that as the Georgia film industry exploded, Pinewood Studios in Fayette County became the second largest production facility in the U.S – until Wednesday. The Pinewood Group announced it has sold its share of the Georgia facility. The two groups involved in this sale said this is a business decision not connected to Georgia’s new stricter “Heartbeat” abortion law, which has led to calls for production companies to boycott our state.
Aug. 22, 2019 Georgia Trend – Exclusive!
Eatonton Arts
Randy Southerland reports, sometimes all it takes to make a big impact in a small town is getting the right people in a room together. In 2011, the right locals came together and formed the Eatonton-Putnam Tourism, Arts and Heritage Partnership, which has since evolved into the Briar Patch Arts Council.
Aug. 22, 2019 Gwinnett Daily Post
Gwinnett Health System to change name after Aug. 28 merger with Northside
Taylor Denman reports that two massive health systems in metro Atlanta announced the launch date of their imminent merger. Northside Hospital and Gwinnett Health System will merge on Aug. 28, according to a statement from the Northside Hospital communications team. The merger will increase the capacity of the health system and alter names of the Gwinnett Medical Center hospitals.
Aug. 22, 2019 GPB
Atlanta Reaches $50 Million Goal To Provide Housing For Homeless Population
Kaley LeFevre reports that the city of Atlanta has met its goal of $50 million for the Home First Initiative to end homelessness, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced Wednesday. The money will be used to build 550 units of permanent, supportive housing for those in need. The units will also be part of larger affordable housing structures.
Aug. 22, 2019 Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Jolt: In 2018, deaths out-numbered births in nearly half of Georgia’s 159 counties
Jim Galloway, Greg Bluestein and Tamar Hallerman report that earlier this month, Brant Frost V, the second-vice chairman of the Georgia GOP, created a stir by claiming that his party had a secret weapon: Republicans make more babies. Charlie Hayslett focuses on rural Georgia’s economic tailspin on his blog, Trouble in God’s Country. Hayslett took Frost’s statement as a challenge, and found that – though the Republican’s cure may be suspect – his diagnosis of the problem is dead-on accurate.
