July 2026 Features

• InternSAV Celebrates a Standout Summer

  July 23, 2026

  InternSAV wrapped up its 2026 season on a high note this week, closing what organizers believe was the program’s most successful year to date.

• Georgia Power to Serve OpenAI Project in Effingham County

  July 23, 2026

  As Georgia continues to grow and attract new investment and jobs, Georgia Power continues to work to ensure that growth benefits all Georgia Power customers. Yesterday, AI research and deployment company OpenAI announced its plans for a new project in Effingham County – which will be served by Georgia Power. The project is expected to create thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in new investment for the local community.

• Startup Savannah Welcomes 15 Founders to Fall 2026 SPARK Accelerator

  July 22, 2026

  Startup Savannah officially welcomed 15 entrepreneurs into its Fall 2026 SPARK Savannah accelerator during a kickoff mixer held Tuesday. Supported by a generous contribution from Comcast, the intensive 12-week program is designed to help founders transform promising business ideas into sustainable, growth-ready companies.

• Georgia Chamber Announces Top 2 Finalists in 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Georgia Competition

  July 22, 2026

  Today, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the Top 2 finalists in the second annual Coolest Thing Made in Georgia competition, presented by Synovus, now merged with Pinnacle Financial Partners.

• Chronic Absenteeism Hits Another Post-Pandemic Low in Georgia, as Efforts to Reduce Absence Rates Continue

  July 22, 2026

  Chronic absenteeism in Georgia's public schools again declined during the 2025-2026 school year, reaching a new post-pandemic low and continuing a five-year trend of improvement.

• Hannah's Story: Building a Better Future for Her Family

  July 21, 2026

  After entering Georgia's foster care system at age 11, Hannah spent seven years in care and experienced 17 different placements before aging out. As a young mother of three, she faced overwhelming challenges, balancing parenthood with unstable housing, unreliable transportation, and the daily struggle to provide for her family.

• Georgia Chamber Launches Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance

  July 21, 2026

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of the Georgia Digital Infrastructure Alliance, a new initiative designed to bring together business leaders, infrastructure providers, utilities, community stakeholders, and key industries to support Georgia’s continued leadership in the rapidly growing digital economy.

• Leadership Effingham Graduates Set the Table for Greater Community Impact

  July 20, 2026

  The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the 2025–2026 Leadership Effingham class during its Commencement Luncheon and Celebration on June 24th. The 16-member cohort concluded a year of learning, relationship-building, and community exploration by reflecting on the experience and presenting Friendsgiving: Leaders Set the Table, its class-designed community initiative.

• Georgia Hospital Association Announces 2026-2027 Board of Trustees & New Board Chair Vicki Lewis

  July 20, 2026

  Coffee Regional Medical Center President and CEO Vicki Lewis, FACHE, was installed as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Hospital Association at the association’s Annual Meeting of the Assembly on July 9th.

• President Trump to Visit Georgia to Tout Affordability Agenda

  July 20, 2026

  President Donald Trump plans to visit Georgia this week to highlight tax breaks, grants to newborns and other policies aimed at affordability, a top concern ahead of the November elections. The president is scheduled to visit Wheeler High School in Marietta on Wednesday.

• Gulfstream Completes Installation of Largest Rooftop Solar Portfolio in Chatham County

  July 17, 2026

  Gulfstream announced the successful completion of the latest solar installation at its Savannah-based Research and Development Campus, creating the largest rooftop solar portfolio in Chatham County.

• Atlanta Delivers Historic FIFA World Cup 2026 from Kickoff to the Semifinal

  July 17, 2026

  Atlanta concluded an extraordinary FIFA World Cup 2026 hosting run on July 15th with a semifinal match-up between Argentina and England at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, capping eight matches that showcased the city at its very best.

• Georgia Lottery Annual Profits for HOPE, Pre-K Exceed $1.54B

  July 17, 2026

  Governor Brian Kemp announced the Georgia Lottery Corp. raised $1,540,868,000 for education in fiscal year 2026, bringing the total transferred to the State Treasury’s Lottery for Education Account since inception in 1993 to more than $31.3 billion.

• Georgia Power Reaffirms Longstanding Commitment to Make Growth Work for Customers with Customer Protection Pledge

  July 16, 2026

  With new residents moving to the state and large-energy users like data centers and manufacturers choosing Georgia, Georgia Power continues to work to ensure that growth benefits all Georgia Power customers.

• CEO Confidence Slips in Q2 as Inflation and Economic Uncertainty Take Hold

  July 16, 2026

  Small and midsize business CEOs' confidence in the economy declined in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest CEO Confidence Index from Vistage, a CEO coaching and peer advisory organization.

• New Podcast Episode Features Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, Tybee Island Marine Science Center and Business Expo Tips

  July 14, 2026

  The latest episode of Savannah Chamber Connect brings together business leadership, community engagement, and coastal stewardship through conversations that spotlight the people and organizations shaping the Savannah region.

• Savannah State University to Host Signature Mid-Year Economic Outlook Featuring Federal Reserve Economist

  July 13, 2026

  Savannah State University’s College of Business Administration will host Dr. David E. Altig, executive vice president and chief economic adviser for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, for the Second Annual Mid-Year Economic Outlook, one of the university's premier signature events connecting higher education, business and public policy.

• Kevin Price Starts as President of Georgia Ports

  July 10, 2026

  Kevin Price has officially stepped into his position as President of the Georgia Ports Authority on July 1st.. “I’m excited for our employees and all our stakeholders because Kevin is the perfect candidate to take GPA and our Team to the next level,” said CEO Griff Lynch.

• Top 8 Products Announced in Coolest Thing Made in Georgia Competition

  July 10, 2026

  The Georgia Chamber of Commerce announced today the Top 8 finalists in the second annual Coolest Thing Made in Georgia competition, presented by Synovus, now merged with Pinnacle Financial Partners. After thousands of votes from across the country and around the world, only eight Georgia-made products remain in the bracket-style competition celebrating the innovation, craftsmanship, and manufacturing excellence that power Georgia's economy.

• Georgia Southern Q1 2026 Economic Monitor: Savannah Metro Area Growth Stalled

  July 09, 2026

  Economic growth in the Savannah metro area economy slowed substantially in the first quarter of 2026, according to Georgia Southern University’s newly released Q1 2026 Economic Monitor.

• Savannah Earns Top-Tier Ranking in Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards

  July 09, 2026

  Savannah has once again earned national recognition as one of America's premier travel destinations, ranking No. 3 in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2026.

• Georgia Council for the Arts Awards 179 Organizations $1.3 Million in Grant Funding

  July 09, 2026

  The Georgia Department of Economic Development team specialized in empowering arts and culture, Georgia Council for the Arts, today announced that $1.3M in competitive grant funding will be distributed to recipients in 37 counties across the state through its fiscal year 2027 General Operating Support, Project, and Arts Education Program grants.

• Gov. Kemp Leads Economic Development Mission to Scotland and Ireland

  July 09, 2026

  Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that he and First Lady Marty Kemp are leading an international mission this week to foster economic relationships in Scotland and Ireland, including a meeting with Executive Chair Euisun Chung and other senior leadership from Hyundai Motor Group and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Prime Minister of Ireland.

• Savannah’s Brampton Road Connector Opens July 16th

  July 08, 2026

  The Georgia Department of Transportation will open a high-volume freight corridor in Savannah July 16th, streamlining the flow of goods at one of the fastest growing ports in the U.S. The $126 million Brampton Road Connector is a new four-lane highway linking Garden City Terminal’s Gate 3 directly to the interstate system, removing at-grade rail crossings and truck traffic from local neighborhoods.

• From Pennies to Protests, New Georgia Laws Alter Penalties, Programs and Protections

  July 07, 2026

  New state laws took effect Wednesday, bringing new mandates that will change life for Georgians in both obvious and unseen ways.