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.

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.

Verizon to expand area 4G service

Verizon Wireless has announced that it is expanding the world's first large-scale 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in Savannah on Dec. 15. As of November 17, Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network is available in 179 markets across the country and supports 16 4G LTE-enabled devices.

Mill keeps humming right along after 25 years

From his office overlooking the vast parking lot at Georgia-Pacific's Savannah River Mill, Kelly Wolff has the job he's always wanted.

Schnitzel Shack bridges the continents in Effingham

Schnitzel Shack has become a welcome addition to the Effingham County community.

Ports’ business remains on a rising tide

Business at the Savannah ports continues to be strong, Effingham Industrial Development Authority members learned Thursday morning, and ports officials expect the growth to continue.

Despite third quarter loss, AgSouth says it’s still strong

AgSouth Farm Credit CEO Bill Spigener recently announced that the customer-owned cooperative had net earnings of $9.3 million during the third quarter of 2011. Year-to-date earnings total nearly $26.4 million and were below 2010 earnings by approximately $3 million.

Snooks to open doors as auction house

The doors of the old Snooks grocery store will open again Nov. 15 and customers are expected to file in, hoping for good deals.

HeritageBank reports quarterly net income of $1.7M

ALBANY-Heritage Financial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBOS), the holding company for HeritageBank of the South, announced unaudited financial results for the quarter ending Sept. 30. Key aspects of the Company's results for the third quarter of 2011 include:

Coastal Bank dialing up Operation Phone Home

The Coastal Bank has launched a community-wide initiative to raise money for the USO's Operation Phone Home, which provides pre-paid phone cards to deployed military personnel to call loved ones while away from their families this holiday season.

Steady first quarter growth for Georgia Ports

Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced today the ports saw a growth rate of 5.0 percent in the first quarter of FY2012, moving 6.5 million tons of freight. Over the same period in FY2011, the port moved 6.2 million tons of cargo.

Industry tees it up

The annual Local Industry Appreciation golf outing was held last Friday at Lost Plantation Golf Course.

Gulfstream soaring

Business is soaring at Gulfstream Aerospace, and along with it, so is its employment rolls.

A new vision for Effingham Eye Care

Effingham Eye Care and Optical opened its new home on Highway 21 South recently as Drs. Kerry and Sarah Freeman cut the ribbon on their new building.

DeLoach named manager of Coastal Bank’s Rincon branch

The Coastal Bank announces the hire of Jamie DeLoach as branch manager at the Rincon office.