21 Apr 2025
Retail Demand Is Still Strong!
If you’ve been keeping tabs on recent retail news, chances are you’ve heard several retail brands, Big Lots, Forever 21, Joann Fabrics, Party City, and others, made headlines with closures. Although these closures raise concerns, the truth is that demand for retail space is still high!
26 Feb 2025
Building Stronger Communities: Key Housing Strategies for 2025 and Beyond
Did you know that in 2024, KB Advisory Group estimated that Georgia needs an additional 714,779 housing units to meet its current housing needs?
ESRI’s Business Analyst estimates that roughly 322,000 housing units were built in Georgia from 2010 to 2020.
25 Jan 2025
The Power of High-Quality Imagery: How to Tell and Sell Your Community
In economic development, the ability to effectively market your community can mean the difference between landing a transformative investment and being overlooked. Whether you’re showcasing industrial sites, community amenities, or the local lifestyle, high-quality imagery is your most valuable storytelling tool.
29 Oct 2024
The Rise of Restaurant Bankruptcies… What’s Next for Sit-Down Dining?
Why are so many long-standing national sit-down restaurants going into bankruptcy or closing?
As 2024 unfolds, the retail and dining landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Casual dining chains like Red Lobster and TGI Fridays are facing significant financial challenges and have recently announced bankruptcies and a series of mass closures. Other restaurants, such as Outback, Cracker Barrel, and Burger Fi, are closing underperforming stores.
24 Jun 2024
Community Visioning: A Case Study
Welcome to the final segment of our Community Visioning series! So far, we’ve discussed the importance of Community Visioning and Implementing Your Community Vision. In this final part, we will explore how grants can be utilized to help implement specific projects and goals, as was the case with the City of Whigham, and how that aligns with the community’s collective vision.