Economic Development Features

Despite the economic gloom that has enve-loped much of the nation in the early months of 2008, economic development leaders in southwest Georgia remain upbeat – and they have reason to be. This 25-county, still mostly-rural region has had more…

What a difference a year makes. This time last year, the talk in southeast Georgia was all about residential development. Houses were going up faster than kudzu covers the ground and selling just as quickly. Jump forward a year and…

The director of the Selig Center for Economic Research at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business reports on some key Georgia industries. New Home Construction Georgia’s housing downturn will deepen considerably, with existing home sales declining through the…

Accelerating Improvements: Congestion along the Georgia 400 corridor, which links Atlanta to its northern suburbs, has long been a headache for commuters. But gridlock there has also been a hindrance to growth, especially that of the more than 4,000 businesses…

Even if we manage to dodge a recession in 2008, the extended housing downturn, the broadened credit crunch and elevated energy prices will work to slow retail sales growth. The sharp housing downturn will do the most damage to households’…

ASTA To Burke: Georgia’s international corporate community continues to grow. As 2007 was winding down, there came the announcement that the Malaysian manufacturer ASTA Inc. would locate its first U.S. plant in Burke County near Waynesboro. ASTA produces a number…

Last year, Delta’s successful emergence from bankruptcy eliminated one of the headwinds restraining Georgia economic growth, but in 2008 high fuel costs and a possible merger cloud the outlook for Atlanta’s largest employer. Meanwhile, other airlines, especially AirTran, will continue…

Georgia’s Got Game: Since 2005, an emerging sector of the Georgia economy has tiptoed its way to importance, barely getting a glance from trend watchers. “It’s very, very low under the radar,” says Georgia Department of Economic Development Deputy Commissioner…

Two years ago, insurers posted their best underwriting performance in 57 years. They did that by emphasizing premium growth over market share. Last year, the industry’s re-focus on fundamental underwriting standards was sorely tested. Insurers flinched and premiums declined, but…