Latest from Perkins & WIll
Activating Atlanta Through Wayfinding & Placemaking
Event days in Atlanta transform our city. Downtown becomes a shared civic experience, with streets humming with movement and anticipation as residents and visitors flow between venues, public spaces, and cultural destinations. The vitality of Downtown extends far beyond major events. On any given day, students, workers, tourists, conventioneers, and locals move through the district,…
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Perkins & WIll is a premier, global interdisciplinary architecture and design firm founded in 1935, known for its focus on sustainability, resilience, health, and social purpose. With over 2,500 professionals across more than 30 studios, they provide services in architecture, interior design, and urban planning.
More on Small Business
Georgia CEOs Have Entered a New Phase of Growth: Here’s What Matters Most
Georgia’s economy has long been recognized for its strength, and while growth has moderated in 2026, the state continues to offer businesses opportunities that many other regions would welcome. The conversation has shifted from simply growing to growing strategically. Economic forecasts suggest Georgia will continue to experience positive, although slower, growth through the remainder of…
Mid-Year Check-In: Georgia’s Economic Performance and What It Means for Business
Georgia’s economy is holding strong as 2026 progresses. Record employment levels, continued population growth, and sustained business investment have positioned Georgia well despite broader economic uncertainty. The Georgia Department of Labor reported that the state’s labor force hit a record 5.46 million workers this spring, and employment surpassed 5.27 million, an all-time high. Georgia’s unemployment…
What Georgia Manufacturers Need to Know in 2026
Georgia’s manufacturing sector remains one of the state’s strongest economic drivers, supporting more than 430,000 jobs and contributing billions to the economy, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. As manufacturers navigate 2026, three issues stand above the rest. First, workforce development continues to be a major concern. Manufacturers across Georgia report ongoing challenges finding…
What Georgia Manufacturers Need to Know Now
Manufacturing has long been one of the cornerstones of Georgia’s economy. From aerospace and automotive production to food processing, logistics, advanced materials, and industrial equipment, manufacturers across the state help drive economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen Georgia’s position as a national business leader, yet manufacturers are navigating a rapidly changing environment. Workforce shortages, evolving…
Closing the Skills Gap: How Georgia Businesses Are Building the Workforce of Tomorrow
Georgia’s economic momentum continues to outpace much of the country. From advanced manufacturing and logistics to technology and life sciences, companies are expanding, relocating, and investing across the state. Yet alongside this growth is a persistent and widely acknowledged challenge: a widening gap between the skills employers need and the workforce available to meet that…
Engineering Leadership Driving Georgia Forward
The Georgia Business Council will feature Meg Pirkle, P.E., Chief Engineer of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), as the keynote speaker for its upcoming Executive Breakfast Series on May 6, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The program will highlight the leadership perspective and practical experience that have defined Pirkle’s decades-long career in…
Georgia Business Council Launches New Digital Platform to Strengthen Business Engagement and Economic Impact
The Georgia Business Council has officially launched a new website, marking a significant step forward in how the organization connects with businesses, policymakers, and stakeholders across the state. The new platform, available at www.georgiacouncil.org, reflects a broader commitment to accessibility, transparency, and engagement in Georgia’s evolving economic landscape. For more than five decades, the Georgia…
The Hidden Risk in Your Supply Chain Isn’t Cost. It’s Concentration
For most organizations, supply chain conversations begin and end with cost. What are we paying? Where can we reduce? How do we negotiate better terms? Those questions matter. But they are not the most important ones. The more significant risk, and the one that is often overlooked, is concentration. On paper, supplier consolidation looks smart.…
Building a Technology Enterprise That Evolves with the Times
For nearly three decades, Kanchana Raman has been building and reshaping her technology company in response to constant industry disruption. As founder of the Avion Networks, she has navigated the transition from traditional telecommunications infrastructure to advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence solutions, all while scaling a business that now operates across multiple industries. Raman describes her entrepreneurial path as…
2026 Financial Summit: Strengthening Small Business for a Changing Economy
Small businesses are the backbone of Georgia’s economy. Yet despite their impact, many businesses face financial challenges early on. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 20 percent of businesses fail within their first year and nearly 50 percent do not survive past five years. The 2026 Financial Summit, taking place on April…
From Participation to Prosperity: Why Women-Owned Businesses Matter to Georgia’s Long-Term Economic Stability
Women’s History Month provides an opportunity to move beyond celebration and toward analysis. Georgia’s economy is strong and diversified. Long-term economic stability, however, depends on how broadly opportunity is translated into scalable business growth. Women-owned businesses play a central role in that equation. Nationally, women-owned firms generate approximately $2.1 trillion in annual receipts and employ…
Women Driving Georgia’s Economic Growth: The Business Case for Expanding Opportunity
March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect not only on progress made, but on the economic opportunities that still require attention. In Georgia, women-owned businesses are a major force in the state’s economic landscape. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey, Georgia is home to more than 44,000 women-owned employer firms,…
Beyond Credentials: Building Capacity That Competes
Credentials can open doors. Capacity secures opportunity. In today’s supplier ecosystem, many small and diverse-owned businesses pursue nationally recognized credentials to enhance visibility and credibility in corporate procurement environments. These credentials often serve as an entry point into broader conversations. But credentials alone do not close contracts. Corporations are managing increasingly complex supply chains. They…
From Civil Rights to Corporate Boardrooms: The Business of Legacy
Black History Month has long served as a time to reflect on the courage, sacrifice, and leadership that shaped our nation. In Georgia, that history is inseparable from economic progress. While marches and legislation reshaped the social and political landscape, another transformation was unfolding quietly but powerfully: Black entrepreneurs were building institutions, creating jobs, and…
Black History Month and the Small Business Growth Imperative in Georgia
Black History Month is often framed through culture, leadership, and social progress. In the business community, it also provides a practical opportunity to examine economic participation, small business growth, and market access. For Georgia’s economy, the conversation is not only about recognition. It is about expansion of opportunity through enterprise. Small businesses remain one of…
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