September 2026 Features

• New goBeyondProfit Research: Generosity Is the Human Edge 
Companies Need as AI Reshapes the Workplace

  September 22, 2026

  AI is reshaping the workplace, and executives and employees are asking the same question: will it come at the cost of human connection? New data shows they share this concern about AI’s impact on company culture.

• 2026 Georgia Manufacturing Summit Brings Nearly 300 Industry Leaders Together for Education, Connections and Business

  September 21, 2026

  Nearly 300 manufacturing leaders, suppliers and industry professionals came together September 15 for the 2026 Georgia Manufacturing Summit, hosted by the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance (GMA) at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

• Georgia Hospitals Generate $145 Billion in Statewide Economic Impact

  September 18, 2026

  The Georgia Hospital Association released its latest economic impact report, showing that Georgia hospitals generate $145 billion in economic activity across the state. The report, compiled using independent third-party modeling and based on 2024 data, reflects an $8 billion, or 5.8%, increase over the previous year.

• Georgia Sets New Records for Labor Force and Employment as Unemployment Falls to 3.2%

  September 18, 2026

  The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Georgia reached new all-time highs in both its labor force (5,490,319) and employment (5,314,822) in August, and that the state's unemployment rate declined to 3.2%.

• Former Southern Co. CEO Tom Fanning Named Sole Finalist for USG Chancellor

  September 17, 2026

  Following a comprehensive national search, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia voted today to name TomFanning as the sole finalist for chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

• The Coca-Cola System: A 140-Year Legacy that Continues to Deliver for America

  September 16, 2026

  For 140 years, as consumer tastes have evolved, The Coca-Cola Company has expanded from one iconic beverage into a portfolio of approximately 200 brands across sparkling soft drinks, waters and hydration, coffee and tea, juices, dairy and plant-based drinks for every taste, occasion and generation.

• Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance Launches Statewide Campaign Highlighting Benefits of Responsible Data Center Development

  September 15, 2026

  The Georgia Chamber’s Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance announced the launch of a six-figure statewide advertising campaign aimed at educating Georgians about the benefits that responsible data center development can bring to communities across the state.

• Growth in Income and Sales Taxes Boosts State Coffers in August

  September 14, 2026

  Georgia collected nearly $2.5 billion in net tax revenue in August, a 3.5% increase from August 2025, extending the overall year-over-year gains recorded in July.

• Georgia Awarded $500 Million in Water Infrastructure Grants

  September 11, 2026

  Governor Brian Kemp announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the state $499,385,000 to help communities impacted by Hurricane Helene strengthen the resilience of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure and respond to water-related emergencies.

• Jason Shepherd: I Read the Deal. Georgia Should Back the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Rail Merger

  September 11, 2026

  As an attorney, I always read the fine print before signing off.  And as a political practitioner, I know how often promises pass through Washington without making it home to Georgia.  So, when Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern agreed to merge into America’s first coast-to-coast railroad, my instinct was one that I’ve drilled into my students at Kennesaw State: read the deal before you decide.

• Georgia Chamber of Commerce Endorses Rick Jackson for Georgia Governor

  September 10, 2026

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Free Enterprise Fund announced today its endorsement of Rick Jackson for the next Governor of Georgia, citing his extensive business experience, understanding of Georgia’s economy, and commitment to maintaining the state’s strong economic momentum.

• Golden Isles Development Authority Builds on Momentum Through Strategic Investment, Business Growth, and Workforce Progress

  September 09, 2026

  The Golden Isles Development Authority has released its 2026 Year in Review, highlighting another year of strategic progress as the organization attracted investment, supported existing industries, strengthened workforce initiatives, and advanced key development sites across Brunswick and Glynn County.

• Mayors Across Georgia Sharpen Leadership Skills at Mayors Leadership Academy

  September 09, 2026

  More than 50 mayors gathered on the University of Georgia’s campus last month for the second offering of the immersive Mayors Leadership Academy, presented by the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute, operated in partnership between GMA and UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.

• Governor Kemp Announces Another Record-Breaking Year for Economic Development Investments

  September 08, 2026

  Governor Brian Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, announced a new record in Fiscal Year 2026 with roughly $35.2 billion in project investments.

• Georgia DOT Earns Top Honors in 2026 America’s Transportation Awards

  September 02, 2026

  The Georgia Department of Transportation won two awards in the 2026 America's Transportation Awards during the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials annual conference.

• Georgia Ports Generates $181B in Economic Impact Annually, Supports 605,000 Jobs

  September 01, 2026

  Georgia’s ports support 605,616 full- and part-time jobs at Peach State businesses, yielding $44 billion in annual income, according to the latest study from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.