Georgia Banking Company (GBC ) is teaming up with Innovation Refunds (IR), a firm specializing in the federal Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and payroll tax refunds, to help businesses claim up to $26,000 per employee kept on payroll during COVID-19.
The ERC is a refundable tax credit that allows companies to claim payroll taxes paid during COVID-19 even if they have received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. In just one year, IR has helped thousands of businesses collect more than $1 billion in refunds, with an average refund of $375,000.
Richard Fairey, president and chief officer of GBC, president and chief operating officer of GBC, says: “GBC was built to support the growth of thriving Georgia businesses. As they continue to recover from the challenges of the pandemic, it is prudent for business owners to take advantage of relief opportunities such as the ERC program.
“Even during the pandemic, many businesses were unaware of the benefits available to them through ERC. Organizations should leverage the expertise of tax professionals like IR to take advantage of the opportunities afforded them by the Federal Government,” adds Fairey.
With more than 80 percent of businesses qualifying for the payroll tax refund through the ERC, GBC’s partnership with IR can help ensure companies do not leave money on the table. To see if your business qualifies for the ERC, visit GeorgiaBanking.com/employee-retention-credit.
GGC one of two top colleges for Hispanics in Georgia
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. GGC is one of just two University System of Georgia (USG) institutions in the state—and the largest—- that has achieved HSI status. The other selectee in Georgia is Dalton State College.
Sifuentes,
To achieve the HSI designation, eligible schools must be accredited two-or-four-year degree-granting institutions, enroll a significant number of students requiring needs-based federal assistance and maintain at least a 25 percent full-time Hispanic student enrollment.
The number of Hispanic students has steadily increased at GGC over the past several years. The school reported Hispanic enrollment at 26 percent as of fall 2021. Preliminary numbers, which are subject to verification by the USG later this fall, indicate that Hispanic student enrollment at GGC rose to 27 percent for fall 2022.
The designation is no surprise to Gaby Sifuentes, 19, of Buford. A sophomore who studies psychology at GGC, Sifuentes says she was attracted to the school because of feedback she received about its welcoming environment toward people who look like her. “I heard the Latino community at GGC was larger in number than most colleges,” she says. “So I thought, ‘Ok, maybe I’ll fit in.’”
Sifuentes has taken advantage of the resources GGC offers. As president of the schools’ Organization for Latin American Students (OLAS) and a member of GGC’s Hispanic Achievers Committed to Excellence in Results (HACER) living-learning community, Sifuentes participates in scholarship roundtables, leadership seminars and career presentations – all designed to support students in school and beyond.
GC&B wins national award for innovating in 2021
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful (GC&B) has been honored with a 2021 Innovation Award from the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, Keep America Beautiful.
Designed to salute the creation of innovative partnerships and programs that the mission of Keep America Beautiful promotes, this particular Innovation Award was bestowed upon the Lawrenceville-based nonprofit in part for its facilitation of the first-of-its-kind “Connecting People and Places: A Community Conversation About Litter” event. This was conceptualized in partnership with Keep America Beautiful in 2021 and realized in March 2022. The event engaged more than 1,000 people throughout the U.S. and Canada via livestream.
Schelly Marlatt, executive director of GC&B, says: “This is such an incredible recognition of our tireless work throughout Gwinnett County, and we are truly honored,” said. “Thank you, Keep America Beautiful, for what my team and I feel is truly a testament to what it means to put community first. So much more than just another trophy to add to our case, we hope it serves as a reflection of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our neighbors live in a clean, green, healthy and beautiful Gwinnett for generations to come.”
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