December 2025 Features

• Savannah Downtown Business Association to Host January Networking Luncheon on the State of Business in the Region

  December 19, 2025

  The Savannah Downtown Business Association invites members and guests to attend its January 2026 Networking Luncheon on Wednesday, January 21st, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at The Pirates House in downtown Savannah. The luncheon will feature an engaging and informative conversation on The State of Business in the Region.

• goBeyondProfit CEO Interviews: Riley Blount, President of AT&T Georgia

  December 19, 2025

  In part 3 of our interview with Riley Blount, President of AT&T Georgia, she discusses why going beyond profit is just good business and AT&T’s billion dollar investments in connecting Georgians to greater possibilities.

• City of Savannah, Chatham County, SEDA, and CHSA Launch Housing United

  December 17, 2025

  Today, leaders from the City of Savannah, Chatham County, the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), and the Community Housing Services Agency (CHSA) announced the official launch of Housing United, a new collaborative effort housed within CHSA and designed to accelerate and expand affordable housing across Chatham County.

• Stuart Wallace of HunterMaclean: Understanding the 1031 Like-Kind Exchange: A Practical Guide for Real Estate Investors Part One – The Basics

  December 17, 2025

  Real estate investors continually look for strategies to maximize after-tax returns and preserve capital. One of the most effective tools available to achieve these ends is the Section 1031 like-kind exchange. This provision of the Internal Revenue Code allows an investor to sell investment or business-use real property and reinvest the proceeds into qualifying replacement property while deferring recognition of capital gains.

• Civic Roundtable Launches with the Georgia Technology Authority, Continuing its Expansion Across the US

  December 17, 2025

  Civic Roundtable, the government operations platform connecting public servants with the people and answers they need to achieve their mission, today announced a new partnership with the Georgia Technology Authority.

• United Way Announces 2026 Woman of the Year Honoree Swann Seiler

  December 16, 2025

  United Way of the Coastal Empire announced that the 2026 Women Who Rule event will honor community leader and United Way supporter Swann Seiler as the 2026 United Way Woman of the Year. The annual luncheon will be held Wednesday, March 4th, at the Savannah Convention Center.

• Atlanta Fed Board of Directors Announces Search for Next Bank President

  December 16, 2025

  The board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta announces the initiation of its search for the Bank's next president and chief executive officer. Gregory Haile, chair of the Atlanta Fed board of directors, will chair the search committee, which will include all six of the Atlanta Fed's Class B and C directors.

• Savannah City Council Approves 2026 Budget

  December 12, 2025

  The Savannah City Council has officially approved the City’s 2026 Budget, marking a major milestone in advancing the priorities outlined in GPS, the City of Savannah’s strategic plan.

• goBeyondProfit CEO Interviews: Riley Blount, President of AT&T Georgia

  December 12, 2025

  In part 2 of our interview with Riley Blount, President of AT&T Georgia, she shares how AT&T is helping to tackle the digital divide in communities all across the state.

• Georgia’s Economy, Like the Nation’s, Will Hold Steady in 2026

  December 11, 2025

  Georgia’s economy will see growth slowing to about 1.5% in 2026. That slow rate of growth, along with some economic headwinds facing the nation, will keep the risk of a recession at an elevated level next year.

• Four Georgia Engineering Institutions Join Mercer University as Academic Members of Statewide Aerospace & Defense Alliance

  December 11, 2025

  The Georgia Aerospace & Defense Alliance announced yesterday the Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University and Georgia Southern University have joined Mercer University as academic members of the statewide Alliance, marking a major expansion of Georgia’s unified approach to aerospace and defense workforce development.

• TEDxSavannah Announces “Shaping the Future” Theme, Issues Call for Speakers for 15th Annual Event on Friday, May 15th

  December 10, 2025

  TEDxSavannah, an independently organized celebration of ideas worth spreading based on the international TED talk phenomenon, will return in 2026 with an exciting showcase featuring a diverse group of local speakers exploring the theme of Shaping the Future. The TEDxSavannah speaker application and ticket link are currently live at tedxsavannah.com.

• Stipulated Agreement Reached to Help Keep Electricity Affordable & Meet Future Energy Demand in Georgia

  December 10, 2025

  Good news for Georgia families and businesses: Georgia Power has reached an agreement with the Public Interest Advocacy Staff of the Georgia Public Service Commission that, if approved, will help lower energy costs—all while meeting growing electricity demand across the state.

• Gracie Shepherd Saas of HunterMaclean: Are You in the Sandwich Generation? Start This Important Conversation with Your Parents.

  December 09, 2025

  Research suggests that one in four U.S. adults are members of the “sandwich generation” (those currently providing care or support to both aging parents and children). If you are one of the roughly 59 million adults in that position, it is crucial that you know whether or not your parents have an estate plan in place. While the final decisions within their estate plan rest with them, creating a comprehensive estate plan is an absolute necessity, regardless of when it is done.

• Georgia Cities Foundation Awards Placemaking Grants to Nine Communities

  December 09, 2025

  The Georgia Cities Foundation has awarded $15,000 in 2025 Placemaking Grants to nine Georgia communities, supporting more than $65,000 in public space enhancements across the state.

• SBAC Recognizes Outstanding Entrepreneurs and Partners at 2025 Holiday Luncheon

  December 08, 2025

  The Small Business Assistance Corporation brought the region’s business community together on December 3rd for its Annual Holiday Awards Luncheon at the Savannah Golf Club, celebrating a year defined by momentum, collaboration, and measurable impact.

• Cleve Fann: Georgia’s Growth Drives Jobs & Investment Powered By Reliable & Affordable Energy

  December 08, 2025

  Through the third quarter of 2025, economic development activities have resulted in $3.4 billion in investment and more than 12,000 jobs across Georgia. This growth presents exciting opportunities for communities to revitalize their downtowns, improve public school performance, enhance public infrastructure, and more.

• Vietnam Now Port of Savannah’s Fastest Growing Trade Partner

  December 05, 2025

  Vietnam is emerging as the Port of Savannah’s fastest-growing trade partner, propelled by increased manufacturing and a strong push to expand the country’s logistics backbone.

• goBeyondProfit CEO Interviews: Riley Blount, President of AT&T Georgia

  December 05, 2025

  AT&T Georgia and its President, Riley Blount, were recently awarded the goBeyondProfit Champion Award for their commitment to connecting more Georgians to greater possibility – demonstrating that purpose and profit are intrinsically linked.

• Twelve HunterMaclean Attorneys Honored as 2025 Georgia Trend Legal Elite

  December 04, 2025

  HunterMaclean, a leading business law firm with offices in Savannah and St. Simons Island, is honored to announce that twelve attorneys were recently recognized as 2025 Legal Elite by Georgia Trend.

• Georgia’s 2026 High Demand Career List gets Green Light from State Workforce Development Board

  December 04, 2025

  Georgia’s High Demand Career List for 2026 – a strategic blueprint for workforce development in the Peach State- has officially been approved for implementation by the State Workforce Development Board. The HDCL reflects collaborations among multiple state agencies to advance Governor Brian Kemp’s Top State for Talent initiative.

• AG Chris Carr Warns of Holiday Scams

  December 04, 2025

  Attorney General Chris Carr’s Consumer Protection Division is encouraging Georgians to shop safely this holiday season and look out for scams that could hurt their wallet or lead to identity theft.

• Byrd Cookie Company Joins Georgia’s Iconic Companies with Business History Initiative Marker

  December 03, 2025

  The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) will dedicate a new historical marker on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., recognizing Byrd Cookie Company as the newest honoree of the Georgia Business History Initiative and commemorating more than a century of contributions to Georgia’s commercial and community life.

• Shop Local with Georgia’s Small Business Exporters

  December 03, 2025

  This holiday season, celebrate the spirit with Georgia’s small business community by choosing gifts made right here in the Peach State, including a few that are also shipped to customers around the world. Small businesses make up more than 80% of Georgia exporters, and their creativity and innovation shine especially bright during the holidays.

• Georgia Farm Bureau to Hold Annual Convention

  December 03, 2025

  Georgia Farm Bureau members will gather on Jekyll Island Dec. 7-9 for the organization’s 88th annual convention. The convention theme, “Rise and Thrive,” emphasizes Georgia farmers’ resiliency in the year since Hurricane Helene and how the organization has led the charge to support their recovery.