September 2026 Features

• Tybee Seafood Fest to Debut, Bringing Weeklong Celebration of Coastal Flavor & Island Culture

  September 30, 2026

  The inaugural Tybee Seafood Fest will take place November 8–15, 2026, bringing a weeklong celebration of fresh seafood, local restaurants, live entertainment, and community to Tybee Island.

• Elevate Savannah to Host 4th Annual Leadership Awards Dinner Honoring Helen Downing, Dr. Shirley James & Dr. Jermaine Whirl

  September 30, 2026

  Elevate Savannah, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building long-term, life-changing relationships with youth and equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community, will host its 4th Annual Elevate Savannah Leadership Awards Dinner on October 15th.

• Shan Cooper and Doug Hertz Named 2027 Georgia Trustees

  September 30, 2026

  The Georgia Historical Society announced today that Shan Cooper, trailblazing businesswoman and civic leader, and Doug Hertz, leading businessman and philanthropist, have been named the 2027 Georgia Trustees. It is the highest honor the State of Georgia can confer.

• SCCPSS Graduation Rate Rises in 2026, Three Schools Achieve 100%

  September 29, 2026

  Georgia's high-school seniors recorded another historic-high graduation rate in 2026. The four-year graduation rate for the state rose to 88.5% — up from 87.2% in 2026, and an all-time high since the state began using the adjusted cohort calculation first required in 2011 by federal law.

• From Foster Care to a Future in Aviation: Marcus' Story

  September 29, 2026

  Marcus entered Georgia’s foster care system without knowing what his future would hold. After aging out, he struggled to find the right direction in college. Then he discovered aviation maintenance.

• Banana Ball Comes Home: Savannah Invited to Join Citywide Playoff Weekend

  September 28, 2026

  Banana Ball is coming home, and Savannah is ready to celebrate. As the Savannah Bananas return to their hometown for the inaugural Banana Ball Championship League Playoffs, residents and visitors alike are invited to join in four days of community-wide festivities from October 1-4.

• In Georgia’s Race for Governor, Focus Shifts to Farms

  September 28, 2026

  Pledging to fight for farmers, Republican Rick Jackson unveiled his plan to support Georgia’s agricultural industry as the sector gets squeezed by rising prices for diesel, fertilizer and other essentials. Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms fired back, with her campaign saying that she had already met with farmers and unveiled her own plan.

• Georgia Power Furthers Partnership with Statewide Nonprofit to Make Georgia State Parks More Accessible and Enjoyable

  September 28, 2026

  Georgia Power, the state’s leading electric utility serving customers in all but four Georgia counties, is proud to continue its longstanding partnership with Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites (Friends) – a nonprofit organization with a mission to serve, support, and celebrate Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites.

• Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity Announces 2026 Hard Hat Heroes Campaign and Kickoff Event

  September 25, 2026

  Coastal Empire Habitat for Humanity invites community leaders, and local supporters to the official kickoff celebration for the 2026 Hard Hat Heroes Campaign.

• Georgia Remains No. 1 for Business

  September 24, 2026

  Governor Brian Kemp, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, announced that the state has again secured the No. 1 state for business ranking by Area Development magazine for an unprecedented 13th year in a row, demonstrating an unmatched consistency in creating a successful, business-friendly environment.

• Chatham Literacy Moonshot Calls on Business Community to Become Literacy Champions

  September 24, 2026

  That message took center stage this week as the Chatham Education Alliance hosted its inaugural Moonshot Literacy Summit, bringing together educators, business leaders, community organizations, and advocates around an ambitious goal: 95% of Chatham County third graders reading on grade level by 2031. Currently, approximately 53% are reading on grade level.

• United Way of the Coastal Empire Announces 2026-27 Board of Directors

  September 23, 2026

  United Way of the Coastal Empire has welcomed a new slate of community leaders to its 2026-27 board of directors, bringing together representatives from businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and community organizations across Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty and Long counties.

• Bryan County Chamber of Commerce Announces New Chief Executive Officer

  September 23, 2026

  The Bryan County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Christopher McDonald as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 21st.

• TCSG Foundation Raises More Than $700,000 at Inaugural Pathways to Graduation Gala

  September 23, 2026

  The Technical College System of Georgia Foundation raised more than $700,000 at its inaugural Pathways to Graduation Gala, bringing together business, education, and community leaders in support of students across Georgia’s 22 technical colleges.

• New goBeyondProfit Research: Generosity Is the Human Edge 
Companies Need as AI Reshapes the Workplace

  September 22, 2026

  AI is reshaping the workplace, and executives and employees are asking the same question: will it come at the cost of human connection? New data shows they share this concern about AI’s impact on company culture.

• Record-Setting Chamber Business Expo to Showcase More Than 80 Local Businesses

  September 21, 2026

  The Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce's annual Business Expo and Business Connection returns Thursday, September 24th, bringing together businesses of all sizes and industries for an afternoon focused on creating opportunities for local companies to succeed.

• 2026 Georgia Manufacturing Summit Brings Nearly 300 Industry Leaders Together for Education, Connections and Business

  September 21, 2026

  Nearly 300 manufacturing leaders, suppliers and industry professionals came together September 15 for the 2026 Georgia Manufacturing Summit, hosted by the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance (GMA) at the Cobb Galleria Centre.

• Goodwill Southeast Georgia Invests $25,000 in Local Technical College Partnerships

  September 18, 2026

  Goodwill Southeast Georgia is strengthening workforce development across the region with a combined $25,000 investment supporting Savannah Technical College, Ogeechee Technical College, and Coastal Pines Technical College through its Change Round-Up for Education campaign, a customer-supported initiative.

• From Banana Ball to Azalea Days: Visit Savannah Prepares Businesses for What’s Ahead

  September 18, 2026

  More than 200 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce hospitality members gathered at the historic Savannah Theatre for the recent Visit Savannah Opportunity Summit, learning how local businesses can capitalize on upcoming marketing opportunities tied to the region’s biggest events and seasonal campaigns.

• Georgia Hospitals Generate $145 Billion in Statewide Economic Impact

  September 18, 2026

  The Georgia Hospital Association released its latest economic impact report, showing that Georgia hospitals generate $145 billion in economic activity across the state. The report, compiled using independent third-party modeling and based on 2024 data, reflects an $8 billion, or 5.8%, increase over the previous year.

• Georgia Sets New Records for Labor Force and Employment as Unemployment Falls to 3.2%

  September 18, 2026

  The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Georgia reached new all-time highs in both its labor force (5,490,319) and employment (5,314,822) in August, and that the state's unemployment rate declined to 3.2%.

• Savannah State University Establishes John Lewis School of Public Policy and Social Sciences

  September 17, 2026

  Savannah State University announced the establishment of a new School of Public Policy and Social Sciences, expanding the university’s academic portfolio and strengthening its commitment to preparing students for careers and leadership in public service, policy, government and community impact.

• GPA’s Workforce Housing Investment Tops $2M

  September 17, 2026

  The Georgia Ports Authority’s Workforce Housing Initiative has helped 230 Savannah-area families repair, purchase or build homes since its launch in September 2023.

• Former Southern Co. CEO Tom Fanning Named Sole Finalist for USG Chancellor

  September 17, 2026

  Following a comprehensive national search, the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia voted today to name TomFanning as the sole finalist for chancellor of the University System of Georgia.

• U.S. Chamber Foundation Chooses Savannah as Host for Child Care Summit

  September 16, 2026

  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation held a statewide child care summit in Savannah last week, with attendees from every corner of Georgia. The summit featured leaders from chambers of commerce, educational institutions, private child care providers, and other interested stakeholders.