Business news for Friday, September 3rd, 2010
Sep 3, 2010 - Brunswick NewsGolden Isles poised for tourists' arrival
Shanessa Fakour reports that Labor Day weekend should bring the usual surge of visitors to the Golden Isles for the traditional last weekend of summer, with a passing hurricane not causing even a ripple to disrupt plans. The Hampton Inn, 2204 Demere Road, St. Simons Island, generally fills all of its rooms at Labor Day, and this weekend is no different, Richard Bullard, general manager, said.
Sep 3, 2010 - Savannah Morning News
Georgia Ports Authority: Harbor deepening hits critical stage
Mary Carr Mayle reports, with a final decision on harbor deepening now pushed to next August, the project designed to take the Savannah River channel from 42 to 48 feet is fast running out of wiggle room to benefit from the big ships already beginning to call on East Coast ports. That was the urgent message Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz had for about 40 area business leaders gathered Thursday at the Coastal Georgia Center for an update on the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project. "I'm not an alarmist by nature, but we are now at a critical stage in this process," Foltz said.
Sep 3, 2010 - Cordele Dispatch
SWGAU opens new office
Becky Crissman reports that Southwest Georgia United, in conjunction with the Crisp/Dooly Joint Development Authority officially opened the doors for their new facility Wednesday. After a brief ribbon cutting ceremony outside the facility, attendees were invited to tour the new office facility located at the Southwest Georgia Business Development Center.
Sep 3, 2010 - GlobalAtlanta.com
State Department Seeks Mentors for Global Entrepreneurs
Staff reports that the U.S. State Department is looking for members of the U.S. business community to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs in developing countries. The E-Mentor Corps is directed by the State Department's Global Entrepreneurship Program and managed by ImagineNations Network, an entrepreneurship website.
Sep 3, 2010 - Macon Telegraph
Timco Aviation to add 130 jobs
Mike Stucka reports that Timco Aviation Services said Thursday it would nearly double its Macon work force, adding 130 jobs in the next year to its facility at Middle Georgia Regional Airport. Company and government officials, including Gov. Sonny Perdue, announced the Macon facility would begin working on Boeing 767 wide-body jets, with about 100 people hired by Jan. 1 and another 30 working by the middle of next year.
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Sep 3, 2010 - Newnan Times-Herald
New job incentives may be available in Coweta
Jeff Bishop reports that the Coweta County Development Authority has approved what could amount to a set of increased incentives for companies to locate in Newnan. The incentives are actually made possible by the shutdown of Rite Aid's Newnan distribution center operations, explained Greg Wright, president of the development authority. Those job losses are tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau, and if the county plays its cards right, it could open up some new opportunities, Wright said.
Sep 3, 2010 - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer to stop printing Macon Telegraph
Larry Gierer reports that as of Oct. 25, the Macon Telegraph and other Telegraph products will no longer be printed at the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Because of this change, approximately 20 positions in the production and mailroom will be lost. Severance packages are being discussed for those affected. Macon, like Columbus a McClatchy newspaper, will be printed by Gannett Offset in Atlanta. The Ledger-Enquirer began printing the Telegraph 16 months ago.
Sep 3, 2010 - Atlanta Business Chronicle
Coke/CCE deal: John Brock on what it means for Atlanta
Maria Saporta reports that the good news for Atlanta is the headquarters for the new Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. is staying put. The not-so-good news is that once it completes its $13 billion transaction with The Coca-Cola Co., CCE will go from 70,000 employees to 13,000 employees. And CCE’s workforce in Atlanta will go from 3,500 employees to about 100.
Sep 3, 2010 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Q&A with Howard Atkins, Wells Fargo chief financial officer
J. Scott Trubey rdports that the second-largest bank doing business in metro Atlanta is is about to undergo its biggest transition yet. Next month, Wachovia branches and its famous tower in Atlantic Station will be rebranded under its corporate parent, Wells Fargo & Co. Metro Atlanta is among the final major markets to be converted to Wells Fargo. In consolidation, job losses are the norm. In this merger, however, Wells Fargo is hiring in Georgia.
Sep 3, 2010 - Atlanta Business Chronicle
Zep acquires Waterbury
Staff reports that Zep Inc.’s subsidiary Amrep Inc. on Thursday completed its deal to buy Waterbury Companies Inc., which makes air care delivery systems and products for facility maintenance, for $66 million in cash. Amrep will add Waterbury’s TimeMist, TimeWick, Microbemax and Touch Less Control brands to its existing brand portfolio, which currently includes Misty, Next Dimension and I-Chem.
Sep 3, 2010 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fiserv aims to make passing hat a thing of the past
J. Scott Trubey reports that Fiserv, a Wisconsin-based financial services and tech company with major Atlanta operations, has launched a person-to-person (P2P) payment system tailor-made for the iPhone set. Called ZashPay, it works similarly to a PayPal account, but funds are distributed directly from bank to bank.
Sep 3, 2010 - Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau wins major award
Larry Gierer reports that the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau received the Al Burris Award for Creative Expression Wednesday at the 2010 Governor’s Conference on Tourism. “It was a nice surprise,” said Peter Bowden, the CVB’s president/CEO who accepted the award. The CVB was recognized for its creative and innovative “Key to Successful Meetings” campaign. Bowden said the campaign was aimed at getting more conventions, group reunions, etc. to town.
Sep 3, 2010 - Atlanta Business Chronicle
Hartsfield parking lot goes ticketless
Staff reports that parking at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s west economy lot just went ticketless. Credit card in/out, an automated ticketless system is now available in the west economy lot, letting customers insert a credit card into the card reader when entering the lot and then swipe the same credit card to exit without the need of a ticket.
Sep 3, 2010 - Augusta Chronicle
Mortgage rates fall for 10th time in 11 weeks
LaTina Emerson reports that record-low mortgage rates have homeowners and potential home buyers flocking to their local banks. On Thursday, mortgage rates fell to the lowest levels in decades for the 10th time in 11 weeks. The average rate for a 30-year fixed loan was 4.32 percent. The 15-year fixed loan hit 3.83 percent. Rates were even lower in Augusta.
Sep 3, 2010 - Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia Power a top economic developer
Staff reports that Georgia Power Co. is among the best utilities for economic development, according to Site Selection magazine. Site Selection magazine also named Alabama Power, another unit of Atlanta-based Southern Co. (NYSE: SO), to its annual Top Utilities in Economic Development.
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Sep 3, 2010 - Atlanta Business Chronicle
Georgia bank exec Coxon to chair RMA
Staff reports that State Bank of Georgia President and CEO David R. Coxon was named chairman of The Risk Management Association (RMA). His one-year term began Sept. 1. An active member of RMA since the early 1980s, Coxon formerly was chair of RMA's Community Bank Council.
Sep 3, 2010 - Atlanta Business Chronicle
Advanced Disposal expands in Atlanta
Staff reports that Advanced Disposal Services Inc. acquired 300 commercial customers from Ball Ground, Ga.-based Metro Hauling Services. Financial terms were not disclosed. Metro Hauling Services provides solid waste collection services to businesses throughout metro Atlanta.
Sep 3, 2010 - Marietta Daily Journal
WellStar CEO fired
Jon Gillooly reports that WellStar Health System's Board of Trustees fired Dr. Greg Simone "effective immediately" from his position as WellStar president and CEO in a surprise move late Thursday. "It was just time for a change," said lawyer Randall Bentley, chairman of the 18-member board. Bentley refused to explain why Simone was fired.
Sep 3, 2010 - Athens Banner-Herald
UGA's Grady College honors Morris Publishing CEO
Staff reports that Chairman and CEO of Morris Publishing Co. William S. Morris III was formally honored Thursday by E. Culpepper Clark, dean of the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, as part of the inaugural class of the Grady Fellowship during a meeting with community leaders at the Athens Banner-Herald.
Sep 3, 2010 - Newnan Times-Herald
Yokogawa donates $40,000 to WGTC Foundation
Staff reports that West Georgia Technical College will be receiving a $40,000 gift from Yokogawa Corporation of America. The money is going to the West Georgia Technical College Foundation, in support of its major gifts campaign, Invest in the Next Generation. That campaign includes major funding for a WGTC campus in Coweta County.
