Georgia Chamber gets a state of the ports update

ATLANTA - Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Doug J. Marchand and Chief Operating Officer Curtis J. Foltz addressed business leaders at the Georgia Chamber's Cornerstone Luncheon on Wednesday to announce the importance of Georgia's deepwater ports to the metro Atlanta area.

Should you add ‘munis’ to investment portfolio?

It's election season. Although you won't be selecting either a new president or a new Congress, you may well have the opportunity to vote on something that can affect your city or state: municipal bonds. However, just because you vote to give your state or local government permission to issue municipal bonds doesn't mean you have to invest in them. But should you?

Cotton commission nomination meetings to be held next month

MACON - Georgia cotton producers have the opportunity to nominate fellow producers to fill two positions that will soon expire on the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Cotton. The Georgia Cotton Commission is producer funded, organized for the purpose of coordinating research, promotion and educational programs to benefit the cotton industry.

Stimulus funds to help reforest Georgia land

The Georgia Forestry Commission has embarked on a reforestation project made possible by funding from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The first of five grants totaling $9.7 million will provide for the planting of seedlings in a suburban Atlanta forest.

Small businesses big in Georgia

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Small businesses will play an important role in the economic future of Georgia.

Welcoming Odyssey Health Care

The Effingham Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday for Odyssey Health Care. Odyssey is the largest hospice provider in the U.S. There are 13 employees at the Rincon branch.

Effingham Women in Business

Georgia Southern University to host Fair Labor Standards Act seminar

Should hourly-pay employees be paid for time spent traveling, attending training, taking a break at work or putting on protective clothing? Which types of travel and training are considered work?

Keep inflation in mind when investing

As an investor, you're always aware of the potential effects of market volatility on your portfolio. But you also need to pay attention to another factor that could impact your investments' return - inflation.

Verizon-Alltel merger seen as benefit for both

Alltel customers will be able to hear Verizon now in the wake of Verizon's acquisition of its former cell carrier competitor.

Search soon to start for new Chamber director

The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce will begin a search for a new director soon. The position has been vacant for nearly two months since Ken Stoner resigned in July. Stoner spent nearly two and a half years as director. "We hope to start advertising and interviewing for the director position shortly," Chamber President Alice Deforest said. The Chamber's industrial relations group is continuing to make visits to local industries, DeForest said. "We're starting to ...

Lessons from a bear market

If you invest for many years, you'll eventually encounter both bull and bear markets. Although you obviously prefer seeing the bull, you may actually learn more from the bear - and when it's "hibernating," you can put these lessons to good use in making investment moves for the future.

Georgia-Pacific earns SFI’s President’s Award

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Georgia-Pacific LLC has been recognized for its outstanding efforts in increasing understanding of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative fiber sourcing program and how it supports family forest owners across North America.

Metro jobless rate plummets

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Labor reported that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the metro Savannah area declined to 8.5 percent in August, down 1.4 percentage point from a revised 9.9 percent in July. The reduction in the rate is primarily due to work force shrinkage.

A new turn for megasite

POOLER - The long-awaited and much-anticipated announcement Monday at the sprawling megasite off I-16 and I-95 is expected to have far-reaching effects, state and local officials said.

Brooks to serve another term on hospital authority

Ronnie H. Brooks has been re-appointed to serve as the Rincon representative on the Effingham County Hospital Authority. Authority members chose Brooks from three candidates submitted by the Rincon City Council.

HeritageBank of the South to offer stock re-buy

ALBANY-Heritage Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBOS), the holding company for HeritageBank of the South, announced that its board of directors has approved a new stock repurchase program.

After a big year, wrecker owner says ‘thanks’

It's been a good year for Greg Smithey and Smithey's Wrecker Service, so much so he couldn't wait to express his thanks to his customers.

HeritageBank of the South approves stock repurchase

ALBANY-Heritage Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBOS), the holding company for HeritageBank of the South, announced that its board of directors has approved a new stock repurchase program. The program authorizes the company to repurchase up to approximately 5 percent of its outstanding common stock, or approximately 435,000 shares.

A gift for the new hospital

Vince Exley, of the Georgia Salzburger Society, presented a framed print to Norma Jean Morgan, CEO Effingham Health System, for the new hospital.

Great Dane job fair draws a crowd in the thousands

A job fair expected to attract 1,500 people to Ogeechee Technical College Wednesday, had already processed that many applicants by noon. By 6 p.m., 3,500 people had filled out employment applications to be part of Great Dane's initial workforce when its 450,000-square-foot manufacturing plant opens in Statesboro early next year.

State jobless rate dips under 10 percent

ATLANTA-Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 9.9 percent in November, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 10.2 percent in October. The one-month decline is the largest in 34 years. The jobless rate was 10.4 percent in November a year ago.

Verizon brings 4G LTE service to Rincon

More Verizon Wireless customers in more areas of the Savannah metropolitan area can take advantage of Verizon Wireless' 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network.

Citizens of Georgia Power bake up holiday help

With the help of local contractors (Airco Industrial, The Mcgraley Company, TOPSSCO Sales and Service, Citizens of Georgia Power, Action Insulation, Industrial Technical Coatings, White Electric and Alstom Power), employees at Georgia Power's Plant McIntosh in Rincon will be donating $6,370 to help families in the community. For more than 20 years, the employees at Plant McIntosh have supported the Effingham County Empty Stocking Fund with their annual Baked Goods Auction. On-site security officer, Buford ...

Business after hours

The Effingham Chamber of Commerce and Reiser and Reiser ushered in the holidays during a recent business after hours in Guyton.

Dickey graduates from Georgia Academy

Brian Dickey of Georgia Power graduated from the Georgia Academy for Economic Development, taking part in the Region 12 multi-day training program. Class participants represented a number of professional and non-professional economic development fields, including elected officials, public servants, business leaders, educators, and social service providers from Coastal Georgia. The curriculum provides insights into the complexities of economic and community development on the local, regional and state levels. Created in 1993 by then-Governor Zell Miller's ...

‘Last Mile’ closer to completion

ATLANTA-The Port of Savannah's long-anticipated "last mile" project - the Jimmy Deloach (Parkway) Connector - moved closer to reality Friday as the Georgia Department of Transportation awarded a $73 million contract for its construction.

Chamber to hold Eggs and Issues breakfast Dec. 8

The Effingham Chamber of Commerce announces its annual Eggs and Issues Breakfast, scheduled for Dec. 8 at 7:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Rincon.

IDA renews Henry’s contract as CEO with glowing review

Members of the Effingham Industrial Development Authority have given CEO John Henry a positive evaluation and renewed his contract.

Jobless rate in Coastal Georgia falls to 9.5 percent

ATLANTA-The Georgia Department of Labor announced Monday that the preliminary unemployment rate in the Coastal Georgia area decreased to 9.5 percent in October, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 9.8 percent in September. The jobless rate in the Coastal Georgia area in October a year ago was 9.3 percent.