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.

Farmers could get income tax break for conserving land

Would you be surprised to learn Congress has made it possible for you to pay no federal income tax for the next 16 years?

Savannah Tech, Workforce Development to hold town hall

SAVANNAH-Savannah Technical College will host one of several statewide town hall meetings on the development of a Soft Skills curriculum for middle and high school students as a part of a broader initiative of the Governor's Office of Workforce Development, led by Director Melvin Everson. The purpose of the meetings is to unite Georgia as it works to establish an effective set of soft skills to ensure that the emerging workforce is prepared to achieve ...

DOT seeks review, comments at local meetings

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) will be presenting the Draft FY 2012 -2015 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for public review and comment.

Concerted Services applies for weatherization grant

Moving forward with a goal to invest in lives and transform communities, Concerted Services, Inc. is applying for a weatherization grant with the Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service. The purpose of this submission is to meet more housing needs in Southeast Georgia. According to the grant's notice of funding, a statement of activities must be made available to the public.

GSU course preps HR pros for national exam

Starting Sept. 6, this fall's 12-week Certificate in Professional HR Management class in Savannah provides an in-depth study of key areas in human resources.

Heritage parent reports net loss

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

State helps citizens claim $6.2M more in disputed claims

ATLANTA-In the first six months of 2011, Insurance Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens' said his department has helped thousands of Georgians settle disputes with their insurance companies in the first six months of 2011. Without his help, Hudgens said, policyholders might not have seen the $6.2 million of insurance claims that was returned.

GSU launching OSHA seminar series

Georgia Southern University will launch a series of workplace health and safety training seminars in Savannah and Statesboro this summer and fall.

SBDC holding business startup workshop

A workshop entitled "Starting a Business" will be held on Aug. 18. It is a three hour class that begins at 6 p.m.

Directory pays off for Chamber

Karen Tanksley, publisher of the Effingham Herald, presented Effingham County Chamber President Brooke Graham with a check for more than $1,200 to the Chamber last week.

Ports, Panama Canal renew their alliances

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and the Georgia Ports Authority, which owns and operates the Port of Savannah, renewed their ties Wednesday with the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The MOU, renewable for five years, was first signed in July 2003 and aims to unify efforts to encourage mutual economic benefits.

Jobless rate inches higher for June 2011

ATLANTA – State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Savannah increased to 9.5 percent in June, up 1.0 percent from a revised 8.5 percent in May. The jobless rate in metro Savannah in June a year ago was 8.8 percent.

Farm Service Agency issues crop insurance reminder

Hobby Stripling, state executive director of Georgia's USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), reminds producers of the need for insurance coverage for crops in order to be eligible for the agency's disaster assistance programs. Producers must purchase at least catastrophic (CAT) level of insurance for all insurable crops and/or FSA's Noninsured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) coverage for non insurable crops to be eligible.

Coastal Bank approved to offer new mortgage, down payment assistance programs

The Coastal Bank has been officially approved for two new mortgage loan and down payment assistance programs specifically designed to help low to moderate income mortgage customers.

More double-digit growth for the ports in FY2011

Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced Monday that the GPA handled more than 2.9 million TEUs (20-foot Equivalent Unit containers) at the Port of Savannah, more than 465,000 automobiles and machinery units at the Port of Brunswick and nearly 2.2 million breakbulk tons for all terminals in fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011).