Two landmark events Wednesday morning weaved special tales of Atlanta’s history, present and future. The first was the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Norfolk Southern’s new corporate headquarters in Midtown as dignitaries welcomed Atlanta’s newest Fortune 500 company. The second was the unveiling of a memorial to Richard Jewell and law enforcement at Centennial Olympic Park
Tag: Gov. Nathan Deal
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Awards luncheon spotlights Georgia’s film industry success
Georgia’s film industry took top honors at Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential luncheon Jan. 22.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Exit Interview: Gov. Deal leaving office with “a lot to be proud of”
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Jan. 4, 2019
When Nathan Deal took the oath of office as Georgia’s 82nd governor on a snowy day in January 2011, the Great Recession had swollen the Peach State’s unemployment rate to 10.4 percent.
The state government’s “rainy-day” fund, reserves to use in case of emergency, was down to a dangerously low $116 million.
Posted inLatest News
Hapag-Lloyd America to invest $5.5 million, create 363 jobs in Gwinnett County expansion
A multinational transportation company said it plans to expand its footprint in Gwinnett County and add more than 360 jobs in the process.
Gov. Nathan Deal said Tuesday that Hapag-Lloyd America LLC said it will create 363 jobs and invest $5.5 million in an expansion of the Hapag-Lloyd Quality Service Center in Peachtree Corners.
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18 best, worst and most important trends in 2018 (Part 1)
By King Williams The following is a compilation of the 18 best, worst, and most important trends and developments emanating from within and throughout metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia for 2018. This list was compiled by me with input from people within SaportaReport and beyond. The list comes from a combination of hard […]
Posted inLatest News
Norfolk Southern officially announces new Atlanta headquarters
Atlanta will soon have a new Fortune 500 company headquarters – Norfolk Southern Corp.
The railroad company officially announced it is moving its corporate headquarters from Norfolk, Va. to Atlanta – a process that will take a couple of years to complete.
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‘The ATL’ board needs more visionaries and fewer political appointees
Atlanta is a city founded on transportation.
Railroads were the economic engines of Atlanta and the state. After the railroads, there were horsecars, streetcars, buses and pedestrian-filled streets that enabled the city’s growth.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Column: Andrew Young’s love song for Atlanta, past, present and future
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on Sept. 21, 2018
When former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young received Georgia Tech’s Ivan Allen Jr. Prize in Social Courage on Sept. 13, he turned it into a love song for Atlanta – past, present and future.
Posted inLatest News
Gov. Deal: ‘We’re not going to have our hearts broken’ if state doesn’t land Amazon HQ2
By Maria Saporta Despite recent media reports indicating that Amazon has picked northern Virginia for its second headquarters, Gov. Nathan Deal has not given up that the company may pick Georgia. Amazon selected Atlanta as one of 20 cities that were finalists to win Amazon’s second headquarters, which eventually could lead to 50,000 jobs and […]
Posted inLatest News
Norfolk Southern eyes moving HQ to downtown Atlanta’s Gulch
The Fortune 500 company looking to move its corporate headquarters to the Gulch in downtown Atlanta is Norfolk Southern Corp.
The railroad company ranked as No. 284 on the Fortune 500 list, currently is based in Norfolk, Va. It opened its current 21-story headquarters in Norfolk in 1988. The headquarters relocation could bring as many as 1,400 jobs to Atlanta.
Posted inLatest News
Wildlife sanctuary tour by Atlanta Audubon on deck as Gov. Deal calls for more bird habitats
The Atlanta Audubon Society’s tour of wildlife sanctuaries in DeKalb County in September aims to highlight local efforts to provide places for birds to rest, eat and drink, and encourage others to create sanctuaries. The society’s campaign for more natural habitats coincides with Georgia’s efforts to draw attention to the loss of habitat for birds.
Posted inColumns
Governor’s awards for arts, humanities celebrate state’s cultural sphere
The Governor’s Awards for the Arts and Humanities are a ray of hope in a season of social storms, reminding that arts can lift the human spirit even in the unlikely setting of the bustling Atlanta airport.
Posted inLatest News
At long last – Martin Luther King Jr. statue anchored on Georgia’s capitol grounds
A statue of Martin Luther King Jr. was unveiled Monday morning on the grounds of the State Capitol – exactly 54 years after the slain Civil Rights leader delivered his “I have a dream” speech during the March on Washington.
For Georgia, it was a moment of celebration.
Posted inLatest News
Deal names Gwinnett’s school superintendent to lead effort to improve school leadership
Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed Gwinnett County schools CEO/Superintendent Alvin Wilbanks to chair of a statewide committee to evaluate a proposed leadership academy for top educators. The committee is part of Deal’s ongoing efforts to have the state intervene in chronically failing schools.
Posted inLatest News
Gov. Deal creates commission to improve children’s mental health programs
Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday established a commission to evaluate Georgia’s approach to children’s mental health and recommend ways to improve it. The commission can pick up a study where a study completed in 2015 by a House committee left off.
Posted inLatest News
Two Atlanta charter schools win almost $600,000 in state innovation grants
Two charter schools in Atlanta have received a total of almost $600,000 in state grants to further creative ways to advance student achievement. The two schools are the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School and the Charles R. Drew Charter School.
Posted inATL Business Chronicle
Gov. Deal’s ‘religious liberty’ veto downplayed business influence
By Maria Saporta
As published in the Atlanta Business Chronicle on April 1, 2016
Even before the 2016 Georgia legislative session began, the business community at the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s annual meeting in December let it be known it would fight any religious liberty bill that could possibly cause discrimination.
And as various versions of a religious liberty bill were introduced, amended and ultimately passed both houses, the objections from business leaders, industries, organizations and major conventions grew even louder — with some saying they would boycott Georgia if the bill became law.
Posted inColumns
Execution of power: Even governor’s ally couldn’t alter outcome of Palmetto Pipeline
In the end, not even lobbyists who work with a firm led by the vice chairman of Gov. Nathan Deal’s transition team in 2010 were able to defend the Palmetto Pipeline. The pipeline company has suspended the project, and won’t say if it’s dead or merely delayed.
Posted inLatest News
Business leaders thank Gov. Nathan Deal for vetoing HB 757
Business leaders Monday were quick to applaud Gov. Nathan Deal’s decision to veto of HB 757, even though many expressed concern that the controversy over “religious freedom” legislation would not be going away.
“The Georgia Chamber agrees with Governor Deal’s thoughtful reasoning to veto HB757,” according to a statement from Hank Linginfelter, an executive with AGL Resources who is the 2016 chair of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
Posted inLatest News
Savannah port continues to mark record growth in container volume
The Port of Savannah continues a trend of record-breaking growth in handling containerized trade, the Georgia Ports Authority reported Monday.
