Feb 8, 2010 – Chattanooga Times Free Press   
Kia spark plug for revival
Mike Pare reports that the region 30 miles north of Columbus, Ga., wrestled with a virtual recession for decades, according to local retailers. But now, Georgia is predicting the nine-county region around the plant will have 20,000 new jobs by 2012.

Feb 8, 2010 – Atlanta Journal-Constitution   
Atlanta a fast-rising star in world of major exhibitions
Nedra Rhone reports that back in 2006, when the artistic showman Normand Latourelle wanted to bring his new extravaganza to Atlanta, there was a problem: The only space large enough for the equestrian arts production — the lot at Atlantic Station — was already occupied, not coincidentally, by Cirque du Soleil.

Feb 8, 2010 – Athens Banner-Herald   
Elbert citizens want say on plant
Joe VanHoose reports that Elbert County commissioners plan to vote tonight whether to allow a private company to build a controversial waste-to-energy incinerator near Elberton. If commissioners approve the proposal, GreenFirst LLC of Canton can move forward with state and federal permits to get the $330 million project off the ground.

Feb 8, 2010 – Georgia Trend   
Georgia Trend: The Game Changers
Tom Crawford repors that Abit Massey remembers how it was in the beginning. Fifty years ago, he was hired away from the state Department of Commerce to be the director of the Georgia Poultry Federation. As part of his job he would go to the state capitol occasionally to talk to lawmakers about matters affecting the state’s chicken producers. In other words, Massey, now a senior consultant for the federation, was a lobbyist, although it was technically a criminal activity at that time to engage in such a practice.

Feb 8, 2010 – Atlanta Business Chronicle   
Business panel drilling for budget savings
Dave Williams reports that automation, consolidation and preventive health care will be elements of a plan for state government cost-cutting that a committee of business leaders is due to recommend this month. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle appointed the seven-member task force on Jan. 11, the first day of the 2010 General Assembly session, and asked its members to suggest ways state agencies could reduce spending to help offset shrinking tax revenue without drastic cuts to essential services.

Feb 8, 2010 – Rome News-Tribune   
Swanns dive back into furniture business
Doug Walker reports that the growth of at-home businesses has been tremendous in recent years, but running a furniture store out of your home? Dale and Beth Swann are doing just that. They’re certainly no strangers to the furniture business having operated Jack Robbins Furniture in the Cotton Block of Broad Street for close to three decades.

Feb 8, 2010 – Cartersville Daily Tribune   
UPS inducts Cartersville man into 'Circle of Honor'
Matt Shinall reports that UPS, the world's largest package delivery service, transfers goods by many conveyances, the most identifiable of which may be their trademark trucks. Every year the corporation honors drivers for their dedication to safety. The Circle of Honor was created to identify those drivers that have completed 25 accident-free years. This year UPS inducted its largest group of drivers into the Circle of Honor -- 928 individuals joined the ranks of the now 4,793 safe drivers.

Feb 8, 2010 – Atlanta Journal-Constitution - COLUMN   
Metro Atlanta foreclosures skyrocket this month
Henry Unger writes, foreclosure notices in metro Atlanta jumped 27 percent in February, compared with January. They were up 34 percent when compared to a year ago, according to data just released from Equity Depot. “Residential foreclosures basically run across the board in every price range,” Barry Bramlett, president of Alpharetta-based Equity Depot, said in an e-mail.

Feb 8, 2010 – Macon Telegraph - COLUMN   
To alcoholic: Employment depends on seeking help
Marie G. McIntyre answers the following business questions: A young man employed with our company has admitted to having a drinking problem. Although “Robbie” performs his duties well and gets along with everyone, he has a lot of absences. His reasons include being sick to his stomach or injuring himself in a fall. He occasionally goes for long periods without missing a day, then suddenly he’ll be gone for quite a while.

Feb 8, 2010 – Augusta Chronicle - COLUMN   
Start small for social media success
Kelvin Collins, president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia and the CSRA Inc., writes, In 2010, many small business owners are increasing their use of social media to promote their business online through sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. Better Business Bureau recommends that small business owners ease into the waters thoughtfully when planning to launch a social media strategy; otherwise, they risk abandoning the ship in frustration.

Feb 7, 2010 – Macon Telegraph   Sunday
Cordele could become "inland port" city, create thousands of jobs
Travis Fain reports that a new “inland port” near Cordele, meant to cover hundreds of acres and handle thousands of massive containers a year, is awaiting word on federal funding that could push construction to start later this year, local officials said. Cargo would come in on trains from the port of Savannah, then be loaded onto trucks bound for the Gulf Coast and into Mississippi.

Feb 7, 2010 – Carrollton Times Georgian   
Loss of Fashion Star costs 70 jobs in Carrollton
Bennett Roland reports that after 38 years in business, Fashion Star Inc., a Carroll County maker of women’s apparel, has filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy, forcing it to lay off all 70 of its employees and liquidate its assets. “We just lost business over the years,” Fashion Star Chairman Robert Loftin said.

Feb 7, 2010 – Atlanta Journal-Constitution   
How big is too big for Delta?
Kelly Yamanouchi reports that as Delta Air Lines settles into its new role as world's largest carrier, it is coming up against a critical question: How big is too big? In recent months, Delta has sought approval for deals with competitors that would expand its market presence in New York, Australia and in Japan — and in some cases run into significant opposition.

Feb 7, 2010 – GlobalAtlanta.com   
State Freight and Logistics Plan to Be Completed in 12 Months
Hanna Griffiths reports that the Atlanta office of the transportation consulting agency Cambridge Systematics Inc. has been chosen to help create Georgia’s first statewide freight and logistics plan. The Cambridge, Mass.-based firm was asked on Feb. 4 to lead the collaborative effort of Georgia’s transportation department and the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics in Savannah to form a plan for dealing with the state’s transportation needs through 2050.

Feb 7, 2010 – Atlanta Journal-Constitution   
Economic outlook for 2010
Michael E. Kanell reports that, as Yogi Berra said, predictions are hard -- especially about the future. The last couple of years have been tough ones for economic forecasters, what with some dramatic changes -- most of them negative. We had the housing bubble burst, the financial sector meltdown, oil prices soaring and an economy in panicked retreat.

more headlines >