GPA sees 20 percent hike in TEUs

SAVANNAH-Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced Monday the Port of Savannah experienced nearly 20-percent growth in 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) for calendar year 2010 with 2,826,308 TEUs, a record for the Authority.

Kuharik joining Platinum Properties

Amy Kuharik, a native of west Chatham County, has joined Platinum Properties Real Estate Group.

State unemployment pushes past 10 percent

ATLANTA-State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.2 percent in December, up two-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 10 percent in November.

Consider establishing a business retirement plan

If you're self-employed or you own a business, you've got a lot to think about: attracting new customers, maintaining cash flow, upgrading equipment and facilities - the list goes on and on. Yet, as busy as you are today, you can't forget about tomorrow - which means you need to have a solid retirement plan in place.

Open for business

Effingham Chamber of Commerce representatives help Linda Purnell cut the ribbon on the Old Church Market Restaurant. The restaurant, located in a former church, is at 120 N. Columbia Ave. in Rincon. Purnell said it had been a dream of her husband to have a restaurant, and when they saw this building available, she said, "it was so beautiful, we just had to open here." The Old Church Market Restaurant specializes in Southern style, self service, ...

Changes atop Citizens Bank

Longtime banker Harry H. Shearouse has been elected interim president and CEO of Citizens Bank of Effingham. The Springfield native, who has been chairman of the board at Citizens since 2003, helped organize the bank in 1997 and served as president/CEO for four years. Shearouse will succeed Michael Lee, who has accepted a position as senior vice president with Ameris Bank based in Moultrie. Both appointments are effective Jan. 10. "I am certainly familiar with the bank ...

Coastal Bank introduces text message banking

SAVANNAH-The Coastal Bank, headquartered in Savannah, recently launched new state-of-the-art mobile banking and Text Message Banking (TMB). The Coastal Bank is the first locally-owned financial institution to offer mobile banking and Text Message Banking to customers. With the addition of these secure mobile banking tools, The Coastal Bank's business and consumer banking customers can have an expanded range of options for "on the go" banking. Customers have the ability to perform money management tasks quickly and ...

Heritage Bank reaches agreement with FDIC

James M. Floyd Jr., president and chief executive officer of The Heritage Bank, announced Thursday that the bank has successfully completed discussions with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and has entered into a consent agreement with the regulatory agency. The Heritage Bank is headquartered in Hinesville and has a branch in Rincon. The agreement, mostly reflecting initiatives already implemented by the board of directors and bank management, is based on items identified in a periodic regulatory ...

Metro Savannah jobless rate rises to 8.9 percent

ATLANTA-The Georgia Department of Labor reported that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the metro Savannah area increased to 8.9 percent in November, up six-tenths of a percentage point from 8.3 percent in October. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in the area increased to 15,616, up 1,195 from 14,421. The jobless rate in the metro Savannah area in November 2009 was 8.1 percent. Preliminary figures for November show Effingham County's unemployment rate jumped to 8.2 ...

Two complete economic development education

The Board of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development announces Effingham County graduates from the 2010 Multi-Day Training Program in Region 12. 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 the ten counties of Coastal Georgia. The curriculum provides insights into the complexities of economic and community development on the local, regional, and state levels. Effingham County graduates at the ...

EFACEC delivers transformer

ATLANTA-The delivery of a 115 MVA/115 kV high capacity core-type transformer to a New Mexico wind farm this month is a signal of the new energy economy for several reasons: It is the first American-built transformer from EFACEC USA's new plant at the Effingham Industrial Park - the only plant of its kind in North America. It is the product of a revival of a U.S. industrial endeavor, which has created hundreds of high-tech, skilled manufacturing jobs ...

State employment law to be reviewed in seminar

Georgia employment law topics will be the theme of Georgia Southern University's "LAW 108: Georgia Employment Law" seminar in Savannah just after the holidays. Taught by an employment law attorney, the 90-minute, Jan. 11 seminar will review at-will and contract employment, negligent supervision/retention of employees, defamation in the context of employment references, and workplace privacy. The Tuesday evening program runs 6-7:30 p.m. at the Coastal Georgia Center. The seminar provides 1.5 recertification credit hours for PHR, SPHR ...

Ports notch another month of double-digit growth

Georgia Ports Authority's (GPA) Executive Director Curtis J. Foltz announced Monday the GPA experienced growth in November 2010, which is consistent with the double-digit growth rates that have been experienced since December 2009 "The Port of Savannah experienced moderate gains in November, following FY2011's very strong peak season," Foltz said. "We remain cautiously optimistic about future volumes through the ports and continue to prepare for larger vessels, currently calling on the U.S. East Coast." The Port of ...

Ports call on Atlanta business leaders

The Georgia Ports Authority, in partnership with the Georgia World Congress Center, the Supply Chain Leadership Council of the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Regional Business Coalition, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, and GeorgiaForward hosted a panel discussion regarding the impact of the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project (SHEP). The event brought more than 350 members of metro Atlanta's business, economic development and logistics industries. "Georgia's business leaders agree that it is imperative ...

PSC to hold final round of rate hike request

The Georgia Public Service Commission will hold the third and final round of hearings on Wednesday at 9 a.m. on the Georgia Power Company rate increase request. The hearings will continue on Thursday if needed and Friday if needed. All hearings will begin at 9 a.m. except the Dec. 2 session which, if needed, will begin at 1:30 p.m. All meetings will take place in Room 110 at 244 Washington Street, S.W., Atlanta. On Wednesday, the PSC ...

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).

Chamber sounds call for vendors to reserve space for Oktoberfest

The Effingham Chamber of Commerce is issuing a call for all area vendors interested in participating in this year's Effingham Oktoberfest to apply now.

SBDC holding startup workshop

A workshop entitled "Starting a Business" will be held July 21. It is a three-hour class that begins at 6 p.m.

Local Corps office to host course for contractors

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, will host a one-day "Construction Quality Management for Contractors" course on Aug. 17.

Motorcycle shop likes its view

Being back on Laurel Street in downtown Springfield is a welcome sight for Steve Harrell.

Tourists spent $21B in Georgia in 2010

Gov. Nathan Deal announced that domestic and international visitors spent $21 billion in Georgia in 2010, up 8.3 percent from 2009, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

Leading the way

The 2011 Leadership Effingham Class finished their year by presenting class group projects June 30 in the County Commission meeting room in Springfield.

Plan for the expected — but prepare for unexpected

To enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle, you'll need to have adequate financial resources in place. And that means you must plan for the expected - but prepare for the unexpected.

A home-grown choice at Madrac Farms