Remembering an Atlanta Visionary
Tom Cousins, who passed in July at 93, was a great man and good friend to my family. My father Neely Young partnered with Cousins to start Southern Publishing Company, and later the three of us owned Georgia Trend –…
Author: Ben Young
Looking Back, Planning Ahead
This year we celebrate our 40th Anniversary. It’s incredible to think of the legacy Georgia Trend has established over those four decades. Originally modeled after Florida Trend, the magazine soon became – under a succession of canny Georgia owners – something uniquely…
Legacy Leaders
This month, Georgia Trend celebrates 40 years as the magazine that covers business, politics and economic development statewide. To mark those four decades, we reached out to some influential people throughout the state who have been around to witness…
In Memoriam: Tom Cousins
A titan of Atlanta. That's the best way I can think of to describe Atlanta native Tom Cousins, who passed away Tuesday. He was a great partner and friend to my…
Revived Theaters Boost Downtowns
Georgia’s arts community is in many respects the secret sauce that keeps this state so cool. Fine art has taken a beating through digitalization of everything, and people are starting to notice. There’s a reason why directors are abandoning CGI…
Creating a Beloved Community
It’s hard to imagine a more powerful affordable housing effort than Atlanta’s Westside Future Fund. With over $100 million in philanthropic investment and impact funds to date, it could provide a model for similar initiatives, but it’s also difficult to…
The Importance of Literacy
As summer begins, consider all the books you may read – whether by the pool, at home or on vacation – and remember how lucky you are to be able to read them. In Georgia, recent data shows some 36%…
The Importance of Startups
As we look at small business this month, it’s important to note the the contribution of startups and Georgia’s startup-friendly ecosystem. Startups comprised some 8.9% of all firms in the U.S. in 2021 – the highest share since the Great Recession. Startups and…
Deportations Will Hurt Farmers
This issue’s Economic Yearbook showcases Georgia’s premier economic development projects region by region, the fruits of decades of hard work on the part of the state’s business and community leaders to make it the national destination for employers, jobs and…
Helping Homeless Young People
Recent support for ending homelessness in Georgia, such as Atlanta’s $50 million Homeless Opportunity Bond and Gov. Brian Kemp’s pledge of $62 million to address housing insecurity, is encouraging, touching a subject dear to my heart – homeless kids. In…
A Big Boost for Rural Georgia
Rural Georgia remains a focus for economic development. There is opportunity for many of our 159 counties to become more competitive with better infrastructure and broader residential development. In December 2024, the state announced $9.3 million for six counties, the…
Helping Hurricane Victims
As we begin 2025, the year of Georgia Trend’s 40th anniversary, it is inspiring to look at some of the state’s jaw-dropping accomplishments over the last four decades. It is equally inspiring to see what takes place under the radar, helping…
Giving Healthcare a Boost
This issue contains our Top Hospitals ranking and our feature on the current state of Georgia’s hospitals. Like many other states, we see a pattern of closures in rural areas that threatens the health and economy of all of Georgia.…
Fixing America’s Housing Problems
I’m glad to see the election is bringing affordable housing issues into focus. While both parties are late in the game with their potential solutions, there may be time to find a way out of the dilemma at the root…
Celebrating Georgia’s Hispanics
Celebrated each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates generations of Hispanic Americans and features many events and tributes in Georgia honoring the accomplishments of our…
Improving Georgia’s Schools
It’s a tough time for the education world. While Georgia made strides in making up for pandemic loss in math and reading from 2022 to 2023, full recovery will likely take another year or two. That’s according to the Education Recovery Scorecard,…
Broadband Boost Connects Rural Areas
Georgia’s broadband infrastructure is seeing dramatic improvements due to a combination of federal investment and bipartisan local leadership bringing the dollars home. The results could see Georgia enhancing its status as a technology hub, with more data centers, fiber manufacturing,…
Financial Education
Starting this school year, Georgia students will be required to take a half-credit financial literacy (Finlit) course during the last two years of high school. Frankly, many adults could also benefit from this. But what is “Finlit” exactly? It’s not…
Preserving Georgia’s Land
I was in St. Simons recently at Barbara Jean’s restaurant, having the shrimp salad sandwich and crab bisque I always get when I visit, when a printed flyer caught my eye. A certain percentage of proceeds from my meal…
Help for Small Businesses
Small business ownership is an American dream that should be shared by all, and large entities often have an interest in increasing their interaction with their vendors that are owned by women and minorities to level the playing field. A…
Help for Entrepreneurs
As we see frequently in our profiles of different parts of the state, small business is the backbone of Georgia’s economy. Following are some of the resources available to help Georgians start and grow their own small businesses – and…
The Cybersecurity Landscape
Since the opening of Augusta’s Georgia Cyber Center in 2018, the state has become a leader in the cybersecurity sector, hatching dozens of startups and expanding several existing companies. In the past few years, local cyberattacks have shown the clear…
AI’s Broad Effect
This month’s issue features an excellent article by Phillipa Maister about artificial intelligence (AI). It’s amazing how quickly this technology has embedded itself into our daily lives. It has crept up a bit in the sense that we often don’t…
2024 Georgia Legislative Guide
Legislators will attend to a full plate of lawmaking this year and probably want to make a fast start after scrambling to come up with new district maps in time for the session. Gov. Brian Kemp is requesting $1.5…
A True Mental Health Advocate
Many first ladies played prominent roles in their husbands’ presidencies, but few did their own thing quite like Georgia’s own Rosalynn Carter. Her independent approach influenced and empowered a generation of women, inspiring them to fight for equality. Mrs. Carter…
Event Recap: Georgia Chamber Eggs & Issues
Gov. Brian Kemp shared plans to spend some of the $5 billion surplus in state coffers at the Georgia Chamber Eggs and Issues event. His 2024-2025 budget will include the following: $1.5 billion to Georgia Department of Transportation, including a…
Solar Industry Shining in Georgia
As I write this, Georgia was just named the Top State for Doing Business by Area Development magazine for the 10th consecutive year. What an exciting time to be in Georgia – our reputation for good business seems to grow exponentially.…
Addressing Food Insecurity
Post-pandemic hunger endures in Georgia, and this is a good time to consider helping those in need. According to Feeding Georgia, a network of food banks around the state, there are more than 1.5 million people facing hunger in Georgia,…
Turning the Page on Early Literacy
There has been a flurry of activity on childhood literacy, since this year’s passage of two bills – SB 211 and HB 528 – to address an issue that worsened during the pandemic. “Early literacy is a generational problem, not…
Legal Reforms in Georgia
As Georgia enjoys runaway success in economic development, now is the time for spirited debate over the role of law and policy in achieving and maintaining that reputation. Recently Gov. Brian Kemp announced he would pursue tort reform in 2024;…
Why We Need Turner Classic Movies
I hope nothing happens to Turner Classic Movies. Executive changes at the cable network had me and others worrying that Warner Bros. Discovery was ready to shut it down. It might seem merely a quaint outpost for old-school fans like…
Murky Issue?
This is the conclusion I’ve reached after years of studying the issue, and I hope it’s not too late for me to weigh in. I more or less had decided that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division would likely rule against…
Tackling the “Summer Slide”
By now we’re entering a part of the summer where laziness has perhaps taken hold. It’s perfectly understandable and hearkens back to a time when businesses would shut down half the week in many Georgia communities. For parents, it can…
From the Publisher: Georgia Music on My Mind
Georgia has such a rich musical heritage – from Johnny Mercer to CeeLo Green, there is no denying the wellspring of talent that has originated here or its societal influence. Consider titans like Otis Redding, James Brown and Ray Charles,…
From the Publisher: Let’s End Wishful Recycling
It was great to read this month’s “Catching Up” with Novelis CEO Steve Fisher (page 90). As far as the processing end of recycling goes, business is booming. In addition to Novelis, many other recycling companies are based in or…
From the Publisher: Unrivaled Inspiration
I was sad to hear that former President Jimmy Carter was entering hospice. But these days the sadness of concern for someone’s health is lessened by the many reappraisals and reappreciations that come with the news of impending loss. It…
From the Publisher: Transforming Trails and Transit
It’s exciting to read about the transformative projects taking place throughout Georgia in this month’s issue. The BeltLine section on page 90 was particularly interesting because of the impact it’s had on Atlanta and the potential to replicate it in…
From the Publisher: Diversity is Fundamental
Soon it will be spring, and I can’t wait. One of my favorite pastimes is to have my coffee outside in the morning and watch the creatures descend upon our habitat. First the cardinals and finches start fluttering around the…
2023 Legislative Guide: Focus on Funding
This year’s legislative session convened Jan. 9 and will likely adjourn the end of March. This should be a laid-back session following last year’s elections, but it is also an opportunity for new lawmakers on both sides of the aisle…
From the Publisher: New Industrial Revolution
The first issue of the new year contains a feature on the energy sector and how Georgia utility companies are faring with the federal government’s transformative investment in advancing clean energy. It’s already a big year for clean energy in…
From the Publisher: Education Wishlist
I wrote last month about homelessness and housing, and how reducing millage rates and property taxes could negatively affect funding for government services. Getting into the impact on how the funding of our public schools would also be adversely affected…
From the Publisher: The Homelessness Puzzle
I know how fortunate I am, with a loving family, a terrific job and a great home. I also know not everyone has what I have. Our inaugural Georgia 500 issue, which debuts this month, contains an excellent section on…
From the Publisher: Island Appreciation
Cumberland Island National Seashore is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. It’s a truly beautiful place, a spiritual jewel in the network of Georgia’s wonderful barrier islands. Cumberland Island is one of Georgia’s largest and most cherished protected spaces. Home…
From the Publisher: A Welcome Turning Point
Treatment of mental health is truly at a turning point here in Georgia. It’s about time, and there is much to celebrate. On page 20 in this month’s issue, you will find an excellent feature on the transformation of Georgia’s…
From the Publisher: Welcoming the World – Again
How exciting to learn that Atlanta will be a host city for the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup! It reestablishes the state capital as a world-class venue, much like the 1996 Olympics and three Super Bowls did. It also enhances…
From the Publisher: Learning from Austin
The recent LINK Trip to Austin was huge, in more than one way. Organized by the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the trip included some 120 Metro Atlanta leaders traveling to learn urban solutions from other cities. This may have been…
From the Publisher: Rural Georgia Opportunities
Having been ranked the best state in the country in which to do business by multiple national media outlets for nearly a decade, Georgia appears to have the market cornered in the corporate recruitment department. One unlikely reason: rural opportunities.…
From the Publisher: Overcoming Challenges
This month we feature our Small Business Guide. There are so many small businesses throughout the state that it’s hard to keep up with them month to month. The guide is a great way to catch up with the leaders,…
From the Publisher: Past Ideas Inform the Future
My son has been studying the Renaissance, and as I watched the Super Bowl in February, noticing the plethora of electric car ads, I thought of some similarities between that era and our own post-modern age. Specifically, it occurred to…
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