EventsSmart PlanPartnershipsNewsLog In
About
Membership & Benefits
Public Affairs
Foundation
Data Hub
Resources
Contact Us
Events
Partnerships
Log In

ATLANTA - The Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the state’s leading business advocacy and research organization, released the results of its annual Executive Insights Survey providing an overview of the state of Georgia’s economic environment and the issues top-of-mind for Georgia’s business leaders.

Each year, the Georgia Chamber partners with Deloitte Consulting LLP to reach over 1,000 executives from companies of every size and industry to gather critical data on the challenges and opportunities facing Georgia’s statewide business community. The 2024 survey findings represent the collective outlook of business leaders in every corner of the state, ensuring the data provides an accurate and comprehensive summary of the sentiment of the state’s leading executives.

The 2024 Executive Insights Survey focuses on several key areas:

  1. Economic Outlook: Georgia’s business leaders remain confident in the state’s economic outlook with 77% of respondents feeling optimistic or very optimistic about the forecast of Georgia’s economy whereas only 41% felt the same about the U.S. economy.
  1. Anticipated Growth: The state's executives anticipate continued growth in their companies throughout 2024 with 70% expecting an increase in capital expenditures, 85% expecting an increase in revenue and 70% expecting an increase in full-time employment.
  1. Continued Investment: Georgia businesses are expected to continue investment in research and development with 57% of executives reporting anticipated increases in spending on artificial intelligence technologies.
  1. Top Challenges: When asked about challenges, 62% of executives noted workforce shortages as their top concern. Many respondents cited enhancing compensation and providing increased flexibility in work arrangements as crucial to recruiting and retaining talent with 21% and 17% respectively.

A critical top challenge for retaining a competitive workforce is homeownership and access to workforce housing with 64% of executives noting a lack of housing as a major concern. This necessitates the implementation of comprehensive policy solutions to the housing crisis.

Another major concern included lawsuit abuse throughout the state. Among CEOs concerned about Georgia’s lawsuit environment, over half believe the problem will get worse over the next five years. Liability and lawsuit abuse outranked infrastructure, taxation and regulatory environment as business climate issues executives are most concerned about.

Lack of access to healthcare and affordable insurance is also a growing concern with 63% of respondents citing healthcare as a top issue impacting Georgia’s economic competitiveness.

“Georgia’s economy continues to prosper and experience record-breaking investment despite uncertainty in the national economic environment,” said Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber. “Results from this survey convey our state’s executives’ confidence in the outlook of Georgia’s business climate. We will use these insights to advocate for strategic policies that address the concerns most pressing to our future economic success.”

To view the results of the 2024 Executive Insights Survey and learn more about the state of Georgia’s business climate, click here.

###

Fitzgerald, GA – On Friday, April 12, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s newest affiliate, the Georgia Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneurial X-Perience (FLEX), will hold its second annual state finals competition at the Fitzgerald High School College and Career Academy.

Georgia FLEX is a fully immersive six-month entrepreneurial experience designed to engage high school students with business and community development projects, all while fostering the formation of new business start-ups, fully owned and operated by the students participating in the competition.

“The Georgia Chamber Foundation’s Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness is excited to join alongside Georgia FLEX to encourage entrepreneurship and community involvement among our state’s high school students,” said Chris Clark, president and CEO of the Georgia Chamber. “This innovative program develops critical workforce skills in Georgia’s young leaders and exposes the participants to the vital importance of small businesses in the economic landscape of their communities.”

Georgia FLEX joined the Georgia Chamber as its newest affiliate in 2023, partnering with the Chamber Foundation's Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness to expand the program into parts of north Georgia.

“The mission of Georgia FLEX to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders aligns closely with the Georgia Chamber as they pursue efforts to build the workforce of the future across our state,” said Melissa Dark, executive director of Georgia FLEX. “Our program has already experienced growth with five additional counties participating in the competition this year. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Georgia Chamber to leave a lasting impact on our state’s students, communities and economy.”

To learn more about Georgia FLEX and the Chamber Foundation’s Center for Workforce Preparedness, visit staging.gachamber.com.

###

ATLANTA – The Georgia General Assembly completed the 2024 Legislative Session in the early morning hours of Friday, March 29, passing several pieces of key legislation that bolster our state’s economy and further solidify Georgia’s designation as the ‘No.1 place for business.’

The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and its Government Affairs Council, an advocacy organization comprised of over 500 government affairs professionals from every industry in the state, tracked nearly 800 bills related to business, innovation, education, taxation and economic development over the course of the 2023-2024 biennium session. Georgia's statewide business community celebrates the passage of several critical policies that will contribute to the continued success of the Peach State’s pro-business environment.

The following bills passed the Georgia General Assembly and are available for consideration by Gov. Brian Kemp:

“The Chamber team, our investors and stakeholders across the state worked tirelessly to advocate on behalf of Georgia’s thriving business community,” said David Raynor, chief public affairs officer for the Georgia Chamber. “We join alongside our statewide partners and elected officials in celebrating the legislative victories of the 2024 Session including measures taken for meaningful tort reform, infrastructure investment, updates for occupational licensing and workforce development initiatives – all of which are significant for Georgia’s future prosperity. We thank Gov. Brian Kemp, Lieutenant Gov. Burt Jones, Speaker Jon Burns and the general assembly for their dedication to advancing a pro-business agenda throughout our state.”

To learn more about the Georgia Chamber’s Government Affairs Council and its advocacy efforts on behalf of Georgia businesses, communities and citizens, visit staging.gachamber.com.

###

ATLANTA - The Georgia Chamber’s Hub Chamber Council, a policy coalition featuring leadership from 11 of the state’s major Hub communities outside of metro Atlanta, has worked in close partnership with military installations across Georgia to advocate for the passage of significant reforms to the state’s licensing procedures for military spouses. On March 21, House Bill 880 passed the House of Representatives and now heads to the desk of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.

“Georgia is home to 11 military installations that contribute more than $19 billion in economic impact annually to our state,” said Georgia Chamber president and CEO Chris Clark. “The spouses of our active-duty service members deserve the opportunity to live, work, and raise their families here in Georgia without the burden of excessive wait times for their occupational licenses. We commend Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins) and the Georgia General Assembly for their efforts to see this legislation across the finish line.”

Currently, military spouses routinely lose six to nine months of income due to wait times associated with the transfer of occupational licenses. HB 880 brings Georgia into compliance with the “Federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act” by ensuring that qualified military spouses may obtain their Georgia occupational license within 30 days of application after receiving official orders of a permanent change of station.

"Georgia’s military spouses face a 21 percent unemployment rate compared to 3.7 percent for the general population, impacting the financial security of military families and the readiness of our active-duty military personnel,” said Barbara Rivera Holmes, president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Georgia Chamber Hub Council, many of whose members represent military communities. “The updates proposed by HB 880 strengthen Georgia as a military state and will directly benefit our state’s military families and the greater economy by providing a streamlined pathway to employment in some of Georgia’s highest-demand careers.”

To learn more about the Georgia Chamber’s Hub Council and its efforts to advocate for the citizens and businesses of our Hub communities, visit staging.gachamber.com/hub-council/.

###

ATLANTA - The Georgia Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Center for Talent and Workforce Preparedness, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education, awarded thirty-one rural school districts across the state with funds to support workforce preparedness programs.

The school districts that have been awarded grants are as follows: Appling, Banks, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Burke, Butts, Candler, Chattahoochee, Decatur, Early, Elbert, Emanuel, Irwin, Lamar, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, Marion, Meriwether, Oglethorpe, Pelham City, Pickens, Seminole, Sumter, Tattnall, Turner, Wayne, White, and Wilkes.

These selected school districts proposed initiatives that strengthen alignment with business and industry needs, expand awareness of post-secondary and high-demand career opportunities, and increase entrepreneurial and work-based learning opportunities for rural students.

“As the No. 1 state for business, there are unprecedented levels of opportunity for successful careers in all four corners of Georgia,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “It is up to us to meet the needs of both employers and Georgians by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to find success in our ever-growing workforce and keep Georgia the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

“The Georgia Chamber is excited to support these programs that offer students in our rural school districts opportunities to explore and become better prepared for careers across the state,” said Georgia Chamber President and CEO, Chris Clark. “We are appreciative of the partnership of Governor Kemp, the Georgia Department of Education, and Superintendent Richard Woods as our Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness continues to enable solutions that bolster our state’s education to career pipeline.”

The Georgia Chamber’s annual executive insights survey revealed that talent remains the number one issue facing our state’s businesses. Georgia’s business leaders continue to focus on engaging with local K-12 school systems to increase awareness of opportunities available post-graduation.

“Both early exposure to careers, and access to industry-recognized training and credentials, are vital to ensuring our students gain the skills needed to enter the workforce or pursue higher education,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “This partnership with the Georgia Chamber Foundation allows Georgia’s rural students to participate in workforce opportunities available in their local communities, equipping them for success in the classroom and beyond.”

To learn more about the Rural Talent and Workforce Preparedness Grants and the Georgia Chamber’s partnership with the Georgia Department of Education, visit staging.gachamber.com/foundation.

###

ATLANTA - The Georgia Chamber of Commerce Foundation released its 2024 State of Housing Report highlighting opportunities for Georgia’s leaders to implement strategic policies that encourage housing development and address the current workforce housing shortage.

Georgia CEOs report that a lack of housing availability is the second most important issue impacting the state’s ability to attract, develop, and retain a competitive workforce. Over the last five years, Georgia has witnessed record-breaking economic development with over 2,000 new or expanded site locations and 268,000 jobs added to the economy. Ensuring the state has a diverse housing stock will be vital in maintaining and growing our competitive advantage, our talent base, and Georgia's reputation as a talent hub.

“In the same five years we’ve experienced unprecedented economic growth in every corner of the state, housing inventory has decreased by over 60% making the dream of homeownership unattainable for nearly four million Georgians,” said Daniela Perry, vice president of the Georgia Chamber Foundation. “Homeownership is a proven method for elevating families into greater economic mobility, and we look forward to continuing our work with our state’s elected officials to increase access to this critical wealth generation tool.”

The Georgia Chamber recommends enacting state-level legislation that encourages local governments and employers to streamline housing development guidelines, incentivizes local governments to allow the construction of housing stock of all sizes, and expands programs that assist first-time homebuyers and increase financial stability.

To learn more about Georgia’s housing crisis and the Chamber’s advocacy efforts on behalf of the Peach State’s businesses, citizens, and communities, visit gachamber.com/state-of-housing.

###

ATLANTA - On Wednesday, January 10, the Georgia Chamber Foundation, the state’s leading economic research organization, announced the creation of its new Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness at the Chamber’s annual Eggs and Issues breakfast.

The Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness is dedicated to leading Georgia businesses and partners in attracting, developing, connecting, and retaining the talent needed to drive a highly skilled workforce with a strong work ethic. The Center is designed to better leverage the Chamber’s statewide network, partnerships, and capacity to directly help employers, educators, and community partners across Georgia build effective talent pipelines, and provide real-world experience and entrepreneurship training for the next generation.

“This new strategic initiative was created to lead the state through an unprecedented talent transformation,” said Daniela Perry, Vice President of the Georgia Chamber Foundation. “Talent continues to be the number one issue facing our members. The Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness aims to bridge the gap between employers across Georgia, community partners, and careers available in the Peach State.”

Along with its affiliates and existing partners - FLEX (Foundational Leadership and Entrepreneur X-Perience), Be Pro Be Proud Georgia, The National Civics Bee, and the Georgia College and State University Georgia Education Mentorship Program - the Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness will help businesses connect with their local K-12 school systems to provide early exposure to high-demand career opportunities and engage with college students through a highly competitive mentorship program.

Already, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Education, the Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness has awarded $3 million in grants to rural school districts for programs designed to strengthen alignment between business and industry needs and expand entrepreneurial and work-based learning opportunities for rural students.

“As the Chamber continues to focus on building the workforce of the future, we look forward to partnering with our newest affiliates and existing state partners to provide hands-on learning experiences to Georgia’s students,” said Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber. “Early exposure to career opportunities will play a vital role in ensuring the next generation of talent is successful as they enter the workforce.”

To learn more about the Center for Workforce and Talent Preparedness, visit gachamber.com/foundation.

###

ATLANTA - Today, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the state’s most influential business advocacy organization, announced the transition of its leadership with Pedro Cherry succeeding Neil L. Pruitt, Jr. as Chairman. Pruitt, Chairman and CEO of PruittHealth, served as the Chairman of the Georgia Chamber for 2023 and will continue to serve on the Executive Committee as the Immediate Past Chair.

Cherry serves as the President and CEO of Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas. Atlanta Gas Light is the largest distributor of natural gas in the southeast and delivers natural gas service to over 1.6 million Georgians each year.

“I am honored to serve the businesses, communities, and citizens of Georgia through my position as 2024 Chairman of the Chamber,” said Cherry. “This year, we will set ambitious goals and take innovative actions alongside our elected officials to build the infrastructure of the future, win the War for Talent, and secure the future economic prosperity of our great state.”

Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber, said, “Pedro has an exceptional history of servant-hearted leadership to our state. He understands the vital importance of strengthening our state’s critical infrastructure network and the role our energy distribution systems play in the overall health of Georgia’s economy. I look forward to working with Pedro and our state’s leaders to build the economy of the future.”

The 2024 Georgia Chamber Executive Committee took office this morning, January 10, at the Chamber’s annual Eggs & Issues Breakfast. The Executive Committee provides leadership through the development of pro-growth policy priorities, effective statewide advocacy, support for economic development initiatives, and quality investor services.

The full Georgia Chamber Executive Committee and their affiliations are as follows:

2024 Chairman | Pedro Cherry | President & CEO, Atlanta Gas Light & Chattanooga Gas

2024 Vice Chairman | Ed Elkins | Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer, Norfolk Southern Corporation

Foundation Chair | Stuart Countess | President & CEO, KIA Georgia

Immediate Past Chair | Neil L. Pruitt, Jr. | Chairman & CEO, PruittHealth 

Government Affairs Council Chair | Kevin Perry | President & CEO, Georgia Beverage Association

Political Affairs Council Chair | Stephanie Kindregan | Vice President, External Affairs, UnitedHealth Group

Operations Council Chair | Dan Krause | Senior Vice President, State Farm Insurance

At Large | Leonte Benton | President, T. Dallas Smith and Company 

At Large | Scott Steiner | President & CEO, Phoebe Putney Health System 

###

For Third Straight Year, Eight Diverse Businesses Selected to Receive One-Year Membership

ATLANTA, GA – The Georgia Chamber has announced the recipients for this year’s Small Diverse Business Program memberships. Eight diverse businesses – Chil & Co, Novae, SheLends, TGK Trucking LLC, Southern Crescent Veteran Services Inc., IBEX Experts, SEAS Community Partners, and Westbridge Solutions – will have the opportunity to take full advantage of a one-year membership to the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The program, launched in the fall of 2020 and sponsored by Fiserv, embodies the Chamber’s vision for promoting economic competitiveness through leadership programs with an intentional focus on inclusion as part of the state’s small business ecosystem.

"The Chamber is proud to work alongside our member corporations like Fiserv to create a more competitive business environment throughout the state," said Chris Clark, President and CEO of the Georgia Chamber. "Through our continued partnership with Fiserv and the Small Diverse Business Program, these eight companies will gain immediate access to the benefits of a Georgia Chamber membership including affordable healthcare benefits, training and HR programs, local and statewide events, and access to information from Georgia's largest and most influential business advocacy organization."

Fiserv, a leading global provider of payments and financial services technology solutions, sponsored the Small Diverse Business program by funding these eight Georgia Chamber memberships for the third year in a row. Fiserv has significant operations in Georgia and is a technology provider to thousands of small businesses across the state through its Clover® point-of-sale platform.

“The Georgia Chamber’s Small Diverse Business Program aligns with our commitment to serve as an advocate for diversity and inclusion across businesses of every size and throughout the communities we all call home,” said Vivian Greentree, Head of Global Corporate Citizenship at Fiserv. “By funding these memberships, we are providing eight businesses with access to a critical resource that can help position them for long-term success as they grow and give back in Georgia.”

The Small Diverse Business Program will continue with applications for the 2025 year opening this fall. Visit staging.gachamber.com/smalldiversebusiness to stay informed on when the next opportunities will be available. For more information on this program and other resources through the state’s largest business advocacy organization, visit the Chamber’s benefits page.

###

ATLANTA, GA, Nov. 17, 2023 – Today, the Georgia Chamber Foundation, the state’s leading economic research organization, announced the release of its Fourth Quarter Economic Report highlighting the strength of Georgia’s position in the global War for Talent.

“The Georgia Chamber Foundation’s Quarterly Economic Reports provide data and information that allow business and community leaders to make strategic decisions and better utilize investments to make a difference in communities across the state,” said Daniela Perry, Vice President of the Georgia Chamber Foundation. “As companies across the nation face unprecedented workforce shortages, Georgia is leading the way in developing innovative solutions to bolster our workforce, increase competitiveness, and ensure the economic prosperity of our state.”

The Fourth Quarter Report provides relevant data and statistics on every stage of Georgia’s talent pipeline as well as regional breakdowns. These tailored insights provide our state’s leaders and businesses with the information they need to identify comprehensive solutions that address the workforce shortage. The Georgia Chamber believes developing solutions for the full workforce pipeline will create resiliency in our economy, providing increased opportunity for Georgians for years to come.

For over 100 years, the Georgia Chamber of Commerce has existed to serve the state’s businesses, communities, and citizens. To read the Fourth Quarter Economic Report and learn more about the Chamber’s efforts to win the War for Talent, click here.

###