Today in BiS:
• The 2013 winners of Generation Next: Savannah’s Rising Stars of Business are featured in today’s edition of BiS. They include 21 individuals from a variety of professions who have made strong business and philanthropic impacts early in their careers. A reception to honor them will be held at 5:30 tonight at Vic’s on The River.
• Harold Yellin,the chairman of the Savannah Music Festival’s board of directors, says he likes organizations that make Savannah a better community and found “something infectious” about the music festival.
• A little company called Freedom Flask and owned by Guy Davidson has found a niche making and marketing wearable beverage flasks. The company has no employees but relies on independent contractors who handle various aspects of the business.
• Economist Kenneth Zapp cites elements of Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz’ argument that income inequality in our country threatens our economic and political future. Stiglitz believes the degree of inequality today demands our immediate action.
Gulfstream tax break flies through House
ATLANTA – Legislation flew through the House of Representatives Tuesday to extend for another two years of the sales-tax exemption on parts used to repair airplanes.
The House voted 169-3 for House Bill 164, sending it now to the Senate.
Rep. Alex Atwood, R-Brunswick, had the House clerk display a photo of an airplane during debate on the bill in which he pointed to the screen saying, “It doesn’t take long for an aircraft to come into the state of Georgia or to go out of the state of Georgia.”
Supporters say the tax exemption is designed to keep customers at the state’s 50 repair businesses from flying to another state for maintenance.
Rep. Ben Watson, R-Savannah, defended the tax break, noting that Gulfstream Aerospace had recently added more than 4,000 jobs.
“That’s like putting one Kia plant in the city of Savannah,” he said.
Magnolia Manor to cut ribbon for new wing
The Richmond Hill/Bryan County Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Hill Mayor Harold Fowler and representatives of Magnolia Manor on the Coast will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new assisted living wing at 10 a.m. on Friday.
Tours of the facility at 141 Timber Trail will be available and light refreshments will be served.
Magnolia Manor administrator Michelle Laidler said more than a year of intense preparations went into getting the new wing ready and receiving a state license.
Magnolia Manor on the Coast is a not-for-profit extension ministry caring for older adults across South Georgia.