Moody’s Investors Service has reduced the credit outlook of Southern Co. from stable to negative as a result of Southern’s decision to purchase AGL Resources. Moody’s affirmed Southern’s current ratings, but expects to reduce ratings if the AGL deal goes through as announced.
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Posted inLatest News, Main Slider, Maria Saporta
Southern Co. acquiring AGL Resources in $12 billion deal
Atlanta’s two largest utilities – the Southern Co. and AGL Resources – are becoming one.
Southern Co. announced Monday morning that it is acquiring AGL Resources in a $12 billion transaction – one that will create a leading electric and gas utility in the nation.
Posted inLatest News, Main Slider, Maria Saporta
Atlanta reaches milestone – 100 million square feet in Better Buildings Challenge
Thanks to several new partners, the City of Atlanta’s Better Buildings Challenge has passed a milestone – 100 million square feet.
That means owners of buildings totaling 100 million square feet have agreed to reduce energy and water consumption by 20 percent by 2020 – using 2010 as a baseline.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Atlanta groups to spearhead Gates-funded effort to save kids
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on August 14, 2015
Several Atlanta public health organizations are leading an effort sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to curb infant mortality around the world.
Gates is funding the initiative – Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) – with a $75 million grant for the first three years. The intention is for the program to be in place for 20 years. As it steps up its operations around the world, it is estimated that it could cost about $50 million a year. That would total $1 billion – as large a gift as the Gates have ever made.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Camp Twin Lakes busy investing newly raised funds
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on July 31, 2015
In the ongoing push by Rotary International to eradicate polio around the It only took Camp Twin Lakes 11 months to meet (and exceed) its $2.9 million campaign goal, and now the nonprofit is busy investing those funds to make improvements at its various facilities.
One project that is about to come online is a home for adults with developmental disabilities. It will be located at Camp Rutledge near Madison, Ga.
Posted inLatest News, Main Slider, Maria Saporta
Four superior journalists to be inducted into the 2015 APC Hall of Fame
The Atlanta Press Club on Friday is announcing four inductees into the 2015 Hall of Fame – all outstanding journalists who have played an important role in Georgia.
The four journalists – Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Hank Klibanoff, Denis O’Hayer and Dick Pettys – will be recognized for their work at a dinner on Nov. 5 at the InterContinental Buckhead.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Atlanta Rotarians funding final push to eradicate polio
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on July 24, 2015
In the ongoing push by Rotary International to eradicate polio around the world, Atlanta Rotarian Wilton Looney is challenging the local club to intensify its support.
Looney, whose wife Martha suffers from polio, has donated $918,000 to the cause–previously challenging the Rotary Club of Atlanta to match his gifts. Now he’s getting some help.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
G-P’s Jim Hannan to lead 2015-2016 Arts Center campaign
By Maria Saporta
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on June 12, 2015
It probably was a good thing that Jim Hannan, president and CEO of Georgia-Pacific, was out of town on June 9 when the Woodruff Arts Center held its victory celebration of the 2014-2015 annual corporate campaign.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy will receive 2015 Four Pillar Award
By Maria Saporta
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on June 5, 2015
The recipient of the Council for Quality Growth’s 2015 Four Pillar Award will be Dan Cathy, president and CEO of Chick-fil-A Inc.
The Four Pillar Award event, which will be held on Oct. 1 at the Georgia World Congress Center, will have a special twist. The night will shine a spotlight on the Westside community just across Northside Drive from the GWCC and the new Atlanta Falcons football stadium.
Posted inLatest News, Main Slider
Mayor Kasim Reed: Atlanta can be a gateway to Cuba
Atlanta can become the business gateway to Cuba, Mayor Kasim Reed said Friday morning after his quarterly meeting of the Atlanta Committee for Progress – a high-level group of business and civic advisors.
That is why Reed will be joining Ambassador Charles Shapiro, the president of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, on a business-oriented trip to Cuba from June 27 to July 1.
Posted inColumns, Guest Column, Main Slider
Southern Co. inching forward on many climate solutions – without admitting there’s a problem
By Guest Columnist COLLEEN KIERNAN, director of the Sierra Club Georgia Chapter
It’s the fourth Wednesday in May. That means I’m on my way to the 2015 Annual Southern Company Stockholders Meeting in Callaway Gardens.
A lot of corporations annual shareholder meetings are beyond dull, often lasting less than 10 minutes. Other times, when shareholder activists engage, they become a venue for street theater and other lively actions, lasting late into the evening.
Posted inLatest News, Main Slider
Atlanta BeltLine Partnership closes out $12.5 million campaign for Westside Trail
A gift of nearly $600,000 from Delta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson and his wife, Susan, helped close out the $12.5 million campaign to fund the Atlanta BeltLine’s Westside Trail.
The private fundraising campaign was crucial in securing an $18 million TIGER V grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is accelerating construction on the Westside Trail by two to three years.
Posted inLatest News
Leadership Atlanta names 83 to 2016 class
By Maria Saporta Leadership Atlanta has selected another high-level group of people to be part of its upcoming 2016 class – with 83 leaders from education, law, business, religion, nonprofits, technology, media, healthcare, politics and government. The all share a common desire – to move Atlanta forward by delving into some of the city’s thorniest […]
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Blank, Cathy explore collaboration on Westside revitalization
By Maria Saporta
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on April 3, 2015
Two of Atlanta’s wealthiest business leaders and most generous philanthropists are focusing their efforts to help revitalize the Westside communities near the new Atlanta Falcons stadium west of Northside Drive.
Those two executives are Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons and co-founder of The Home Depot Inc.; and Dan Cathy, the CEO of Chick-fil-A.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Families First, Dad’s Garage get prestigious award, $75,000 grants
By Maria Saporta
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on March 27, 2015
Two Atlanta nonprofits – Families First and Dad’s Garage Theatre – have been selected to receive the prestigious “Managing for Excellence” Award from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
The Award, sponsored by the Boston Consulting Group, is extra special this year because the two winning nonprofits each will receive a record $75,000 unrestricted grant along with the recognition. Previous years, the award came with a $25,000 grant.
Posted inDavid Pendered, Latest News, Main Slider
Mayor Reed’s office responds to report on proposed sustainability ordinance
Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s administration has what it describes as, “serious concerns over the accuracy of claims made,” in a March 24 report of an Atlanta City Council committee meeting on the administration’s proposed sustainability program for commercial buildings. The following is the complete text of a column produced by Denise Quarles, director of the city’s Office of Sustainability, in response to the story:
Posted inDavid Pendered, Latest News, Main Slider
Atlanta’s leading commercial real estate players blindsided by Mayor Reed’s sustainability plan
Major real estate interests in Atlanta, including Cousins Properties, Inc. and the Atlanta Hotel Council, said Tuesday they were blindsided by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed’s proposed water and energy sustainability program.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Points of Light names Hoover to succeed Michelle Nunn as CEO
By Maria Saporta
Published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on February 27, 2015
The Atlanta-based Points of Light — the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service — has named Tracy Hoover as its new CEO.
Neil Bush, who chairs the Points of Light board, announced that Hoover would be succeeding Michelle Nunn in that role. Hoover has served as president of the nonprofit for the past 18 months while Nunn was on a leave of absence to run as Georgia’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
Posted inDavid Pendered, Latest News, Main Slider
Atlanta Jazz Festival: Flag flap more symbolic than significant
A tussle over banners for the Atlanta Jazz Festival may be emerging between the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Atlanta City Councilmember Joyce Sheperd.
Compared to other issues percolating in Atlanta City Hall, the banner flap may be more symbolic than significant.
Posted inDavid Pendered, Latest News, Main Slider
Fort McPherson wins ARC grant to update area master plan as Tyler Perry studio deal unfolds
As Tyler Perry prepares to purchase most of Fort McPherson, the Atlanta Regional Commission on Wednesday provided a $60,000 grant to update a 2004 master plan for the surrounding area.
