September 21, 2020
ICYMI: Georgia's Strong Economic Recovery
Governor Kemp: Georgia Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.6%, Beats National Average
Jackson Progress-Argus: Georgia unemployment rate falls substantially in August
"Unemployment in Georgia fell by 2 percentage points last month to 5.6%, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday. That’s well below the national unemployment rate for August of 8.4% and less than half the 12.6% state jobless rate back in April."
Wall Street Journal: Georgia's Pandemic Progress
"Remember when the national press corps portrayed Georgia Governor Brian Kemp as a villain for reopening the state’s economy too soon? Well, more than a few states would like to be in the Peach State’s pandemic and fiscal position now."
Georgia Named Top State for Business for 7th Straight Year
Area Development Magazine: 2020 Top States for Doing Business Showcase Their Pro-Business Environments
"The pandemic has created massive upheaval in employment, and as the nation recovers, it’s likely that many workers will wind up in different places or even entirely different occupations. A key to recovery is the ability to get workers trained or retrained quickly and efficiently — something that has always been important, and now is more so than ever.
Georgia ranks first in this category, and its Quick Start program has years of experience creating customized job-training programs that are free to qualified companies. Linked to the Technical College System of Georgia, the program is so highly regarded that a number of other states have used it as a model."
CBS Atlanta: Georgia Named ‘Top State For Doing Business’ For 7th Consecutive Year.
Georgia Records Strong Start to Fiscal Year in Jobs, Investment, State Revenues
Early County News: Kemp: August net tax revenues up 7.7 percent
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia hangs onto savings despite fears of massive shortfall
"Three months ago state officials were concerned all the work done to build up the government’s financial reserve since the Great Recession would be quickly wiped out by the COVID-19 downturn. But that hasn’t happened.
Tax collections — which were expected to plummet by $1 billion or more in only a few months — came in stronger than expected. And most of the $2.8 billion in savings the state had built up by the beginning of 2020 remains in reserve."
Georgia Department of Economic Development: Job Creation Up In First Two Months of Fiscal Year.
Georgia Maintains Top Bond Rating, Announces Jobs and Investment from Top Companies
Newnan Times-Herald: HelloFresh facility to create 750 new jobs in Coweta
S&P Global Ratings: Georgia Maintains AAA bond rating
“Consistent with its strong management practices, the state has taken proactive measures to align its budget to the changing economic landscape and does not rely on extraordinary federal aid or significant one-time measures for budgetary balance in fiscal 2021. … In our opinion, Georgia’s economy should be among the more resilient given its level of employment diversification that mirrors the nation…"
WSB-TV: Home Depot opening 3 new facilities in metro Atlanta creating 1,000 new jobs
Fox 5 Atlanta: Papa John's picks Atlanta to be home of new global headquarters.