Category: Home

Sheridan Construction proudly announces the grand opening of its new office located at 1886 Lukken Industrial Dr. W. in LaGrange. The LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday to mark this significant milestone.

Sheridan Construction, an employee-owned company with a rich history spanning 77 years in Georgia, has been serving the LaGrange community for the past five years. Caleb Hutchinson, Project Director and West Georgia Market Leader, emphasized the unique employee ownership model that sets Sheridan apart. “Every individual employee at Sheridan Construction is an owner of the company because we are employee-owned,” Hutchinson stated. “They don’t have to invest anything except their time.”

The new office represents Sheridan’s continued commitment to the LaGrange community, where the company has completed several notable projects, including the award-winning Oakfuskee Conservation Center and the Impact 360 Student Housing project in Pine Mountain. Sheridan’s dedication to quality and community involvement was recently recognized with the 2024 Large Business of the Year award from the Chamber of Commerce.

“We are incredibly proud of our new office and the opportunities it brings to better serve our clients and the community,” said Hutchinson. “This new space will allow us to continue our tradition of excellence and community engagement.”

For more information about Sheridan Construction and its projects, please visit Sheridan Construction’s website.

Atlanta Beltline Partnership today announced Beth Chandler, Chief Legal Officer at Rollins, Inc., as its new board chair.  Chandler succeeds Kathy Farrell, Head of Commercial Real Estate at Truist, who completed a transformative two-year tenure (2023-2024) and continues to serve on the board. The organization also announced the addition of five new board members.

Under Farrell’s leadership, Atlanta Beltline Partnership accelerated philanthropic investments in Beltline implementation led by Atlanta Beltline, Inc.  As a result, 85% of the Beltline mainline trail corridor is currently finished or under construction. The Partnership’s fundraising also helps expand its donor-supported health and wellness, volunteer, and resident retention programs, which have been experiencing record levels of participation.

Chandler’s appointment as chair comes during this transformative moment, as the Beltline continues to advance high-impact initiatives requiring sustained philanthropic support. 

Key priorities include expanding the Legacy Resident Retention Program, the city’s largest anti-displacement initiative, and securing remaining contributions for the Bike Park at Westside Park and Enota Park, both of which are scheduled to begin construction in 2025.

“Atlanta Beltline Partnership has never been better positioned to connect communities and improve lives,” said Chandler. “Through our Advancing the Vision campaign, we’re focusing on critical projects that will ensure the Beltline remains accessible to long-time residents while creating new recreational opportunities for all Atlantans.” 

“We’re honored to welcome these outstanding leaders to the Atlanta Beltline Partnership Board of Directors,” said Rob Brawner, Executive Director of Atlanta Beltline Partnership. “Their diverse expertise and deep commitment to Atlanta’s communities will be invaluable as we continue to advance our vision of a more equitable, connected Atlanta.” 

Added Brawner: “The Beltline has seen unprecedented community engagement, with record participation in our run club, bike tours and volunteer programs. These initiatives, combined with ongoing fundraising efforts, continue to strengthen the Beltline’s role as a catalyst for inclusive growth and community connection.” 

The new board members include: 

Channing Henderson, Atlanta Beltline Partnership’s Trees Atlanta’s appointee to the board and Associate Vice President of Asset Preservation at The Integral Group, brings nearly 25 years of experience in private and public sector development. His expertise in capital improvement programs and construction management will support the Beltline’s ongoing development initiatives.

Brenda Hofmann, Senior Vice President and Chief of Internal Audit at The Coca-Cola Company, contributes extensive financial leadership experience and strategic planning expertise developed over her nearly 30-year career with the global beverage leader. 

Jim Irwin, President of New City Properties, offers significant real estate development expertise, having led over $1 billion in new investments nationwide, from the transformative Ponce City Market to the Fourth Ward offices, hotel, and residences on the Beltline, all of which have catalyzed billions of dollars in economic development. 

Conner Poe, Assistant Vice President of Government Relations at Norfolk Southern, brings valuable public policy and government relations experience, managing state and local activities across multiple states and overseeing significant corporate initiatives. 

Jini Davis Thornton, CEO of Envision Business Mgmt Group & Thank Me Later, contributes financial acumen and entrepreneurial insight, along with a demonstrated commitment to empowering communities through financial education and legacy planning.

These new board members join the organization as it continues to support the Atlanta Beltline project, which is transforming the city through a planned 22-mile loop of trails, transit, and parks, building economic development and housing along the way. The project connects 45 neighborhoods through multi-use trails, public art and economic development initiatives, as well as programs and initiatives for Atlantans and visitors alike.

The Quest for Meaning in Travel

How to Fulfill Traveler’s Quest for Meaningful Travel Do travelers need purpose in travel? Why do they need meaning, when travel is only an escape? It could be people want travel to add to their life fulfillment, not to be an escape but rather something that helps them feel their life is good and worthy….

For the first time in its history, the University of Georgia topped $600 million in research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2024. Its $628.1 million in expenditures represents a 10% increase year over year and yet another record high in R&D activity, marking the sixth consecutive year of growth for the university.

“The University of Georgia is embracing its role as one of America’s top public research universities, and I am grateful to everyone who is helping us advance this vital mission,” said President Jere W. Morehead. “I am proud of UGA’s extraordinary faculty, staff and students for setting new institutional records while translating their discoveries into tangible solutions that improve quality of life and create economic opportunities.”

Driven by new faculty hiring initiatives, increases in the number of endowed professorships, and continued infrastructure growth and improvement, the $57.2 million increase in R&D expenditures from fiscal years 2023 to 2024 was the largest in recent history. The university currently has 380 endowed professorships, a 40% increase over the past decade.

“The tremendous growth in our research enterprise over the past several years is a direct reflection of the exceptional quality of the UGA community,” said S. Jack Hu, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “In our laboratories and in communities across Georgia, we are committed to research that serves the citizens of our state, our nation and the world.”

Ongoing renovations to facilities on UGA’s Science and Ag Hill, including upgrades to Cedar Street Building C, were among multiple capital projects carried out in FY 2024. Completed early last fall, the work on this midcentury building (formerly the Chemistry Building) involved a complete demolition of the building’s interior and installation of state-of-the-art laboratory and support spaces.

Additionally, preliminary work began on the $100 million Medical Education and Research Building, which will serve UGA’s School of Medicine and expand the university’s capacity for biomedical research. The new School of Medicine is projected to generate between $1.8 and $2.3 billion in economic impact on the state by 2040.

Expanding the university’s research enterprise has led to continued growth in sponsored funding from both public and private sources. In FY 2024, UGA researchers brought nearly $321 million in research awards.

Federal research expenditures rose 15% in FY 2024 from $221.8 million to $255.1 million. This growth was driven by increases in expenditures for projects supported by several key federal agencies:

• U.S. Department of Commerce: 38.5%

• U.S. Department of Agriculture: 22.1%

• U.S. Department of the Interior: 21.1%

• U.S. Department of Energy: 19.3%

• U.S. Department of Defense: 16.6%

• National Institutes of Health: 11%

• National Science Foundation: 7.8%

New funding at UGA catalyzes discovery and research impact across a broad spectrum of crucial application areas. Projects range from efforts to increase crop yields for watermelon and cucumber and improvement of onion production to the conservation of animal populations and development of more sustainable cities and economies in Georgia and beyond.

The latter is a project led by principal investigator Jenna Jambeck, Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering in the College of Engineering, and co-principal investigators Jason Locklin (Franklin College of Arts and Sciences), Christina Fuller (College of Engineering) and Melissa Bilec (University of Pittsburgh). Propelled by a $5 million award, it aims to reimagine and transform the linear consumption model of raw material extraction, production, use and disposal into a circular economy that decouples economic growth from resource consumption.

College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Professor Bhabesh Dutta received $4.8 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) to manage anthracnose in watermelon and cucumber to improve long-term viability and profitability of those crops. Recent outbreaks of anthracnose, a fungal disease in plants, have threatened the viability of these and other crops with enormous economic importance to Georgia and beyond.

Dutta also received a $3.2 million USDA NIFA grant to find more effective production practices for organic onion growers in the southern United States, where short-day onions are primarily grown. The collaborative project with Texas A&M University will address key challenges of organic onion production such as sour and slippery skin caused by a group of soilborne bacteria.

Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources faculty members received nearly $6 million from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for projects intended to protect and conserve Georgia wildlife, including species such as black bears and northern bobwhites.

“UGA research and development continues to demonstrate the university’s commitment to recruiting world-class faculty, drawing substantial interest from federal funding agencies, and maintaining its status as an impactful leader in the state of Georgia and beyond,” said Chris King, interim vice president for research. “Our faculty and student researchers are moving innovative solutions from the lab to the real world and improving people’s lives.”

The University of Georgia ranks No. 1 among U.S. universities for the number of products brought to market based on its research, according to the annual survey by AUTM. UGA has ranked either first or second in this measure for nine consecutive years.

Research contributes to the university’s annual economic impact on the state of Georgia, which was estimated at $8.4 billion in 2024. The FY 2024 research expenditures will be used to determine the university’s 2025 ranking in the National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey. UGA’s FY 2023 expenditures of $570.9 million ranked 58th among 914 U.S. colleges and universities.

As urban areas become more crowded and homeownership slips further out of reach, the build-to-rent (BTR) market is stepping in to fill the gap. Nationwide, more than 110,000 single-family rentals are under construction, set to increase the BTR inventory by 53.5% once completed.  

Georgia’s Build-to-Rent Surge 

• With 9,872 new single-family rentals under construction across 56 communities—and an expected 86.9% boost in rental supply—Georgia is emerging as a key player alongside BTR leaders like Arizona and Texas. 

   

Atlanta Metro Leads the Way 

• The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell metro is at the center of the state’s BTR boom, with 6,800+ units underway—more than many U.S. states.  

• The Savannah metro comes next, but trails behind Atlanta, with 1,374 new rentals in development, set to double its current BTR inventory.  

• Smaller metros like LaGrange are seeing an impressive growth, with a projected 384% increase in rental supply. 

Smaller Cities with Biggest Growth 

• In Cartersville, 1,000 single-family homes for rent are on the way, translating to a 171% growth in rental supply. 

• McDonough gears up for an over 4x surge in houses for rent, adding around 800 new units. 

• 15 other cities (including Gainesville, Douglasville and Canton) are expected to at least double their BTR supply.

Here’s the link to the full study: www.point2homes.com

On Tuesday, the Georgia Historical Society unveiled a new historical marker about Grady Health System and its more than 130-year history. Dedicated in partnership with the Grady Health Foundation and the Correll Family Foundation, the marker is the newest addition to GHS’s Business History Initiative. GHS will also release free online educator resources aligned to the Georgia standards that help students explore how Grady Health System is a significant part of Georgia’s economy.

“There is no hospital in Atlanta that is more iconic than Grady,” said GHS President and CEO Dr. W. Todd Groce. “From its early years as a segregated facility—the so-called ‘Gradies’—to its vital role today in serving the underserved, Grady Health System has been a historic anchor for medical care and education not only in Atlanta, but the entire state. The Georgia Historical Society is honored to help bring its unique and important story to a wider audience.”

When Grady Health System was founded, urban populations and the threat of public health crises loomed large. In the 19th century, there was a movement in cities across the nation to establish charity hospitals to provide care for those who could not afford it. Grady Hospital became one of those institutions when it opened in 1892 through local efforts to provide medical care for low-income families in Atlanta.

“Grady has always been a vital part of Atlanta. It has long been a foundation of strength and an engine behind our city’s growth,” said Grady Health Foundation President Joselyn Baker. “There are few entities that make a greater difference than Grady does every day—saving and changing the lives of patients, training the next generation of doctors, and supporting our region’s economy.”

As will be detailed in the educator materials, Grady has overcome several financial challenges since its founding, most recently in the 2000s when a major fundraising campaign was led by Pete Correll and other civic leaders. Today, Grady Health System is Georgia’s largest hospital.

The marker dedication took place at Georgia Hall, the original site of Grady Hospital on Jesse Hill, Jr. Drive in Atlanta. Speakers included John Haupert, CEO, Grady Health System; Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO, Georgia Historical Society; Shan Cooper, Board Chair, Grady Health Foundation, Member, Grady Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, and Chairman Emeritus, Georgia Historical Society; and Elizabeth Correll Richards, Member, Grady Health Foundation Board of Directors, President, The Correll Family Foundation, and daughter of Pete Correll.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), in collaboration with Microsoft and Spotify, presents ReThink: The Special Series. This podcast series features 11 young adult college students who studied the readings and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Founder of The King Center, for four months. To advance their learning of the philosophy and methodology of Kingian Nonviolence, the students also participated in The King Center Institute’s intensive Nonviolence365® Online Masterclass. The students also used Microsoft Copilot as a creative collaborator along their journey to help distill these complex ideas into clear, engaging narratives for a modern audience. As a result, they created three episodes of the ReThink Podcast that analyze the contemporary issues resulting from the Triple Evils, as taught by Dr. King: racism, militarism, and poverty.

“This is a pivotal series at a pivotal time. Our nation and world are in dire need of lessons from my parents on how to love and listen to each other. College students voicing the lessons is significant because our strategy and work in tackling the Triple Evils must be cross-generational and engage youth and young adults in a myriad of ways. I am grateful for Microsoft and for their partnership with The King Center, which allowed us to capture these critical insights, voiced by a generation that is continuing the freedom struggle,” said CEO of The King Center, Dr. Bernice A. King.

In the inaugural episode, students, along with representatives from ZuCot Gallery in Atlanta and The Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, NY, explore the theme of racism through art and storytelling, linking it to Mrs. King’s utilization of Freedom Concerts to inspire change.

The second episode, featuring Dr. Joi Orr, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, examines poverty by considering the connections between environmental justice and systemic inequities.

In the final episode, the students explore militarism’s implications, from domestic violence to global conflict, and highlight Mrs. King’s dedication to nonviolence as a solution.

“The ReThink Podcast exemplifies the power of young leaders to drive meaningful change in our society.” says Ryan Gaspar, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Microsoft. “By providing a platform for these voices, we are not only honoring Mrs. Coretta Scott King’s legacy but also fostering the opportunity for powerful conversations that help deepen understanding and illuminate the wisdom that informs action. We look forward to seeing the incredible impact these young leaders will make.”

For more information about Rethink: The Special Series, visit The King Center’s website or Microsoft Unlocked.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) today announced the launch of a new Concessions Small Business Program. Approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Oct. 16, 2024, this innovative program is designed to educate, empower, and create opportunities for small businesses to operate at the Airport. The program consists of two distinct components to ensure clear progression and opportunities: Gateway to Growth – the ATL Airport Concessions Small Business Development Academy and SOAR ATL – The concessions small business program that will  support entrepreneurs in operating a business at ATL.

 

Having a rental property is quite a lucrative thing that generates a passive stream of income. However, the income that you receive this way usually isn’t that impressive. When it…

30 Affordable Destinations You Might Enjoy More

2025, The Year to Save Money on Travel! It’s 2025 and travelers have a lot of travel options on their travel menu including transportation, hotels, itineraries and tours to choose from. It’s time to find the perfect travel experience for your family or group. With the rise in the US dollar and the political strife…