This week, we’re going to break away from our usual format in BiS. Instead of a cover story on a local business or issue and profiles of a Savannah executive and a business, we’re going to offer a summary of some of the business stories that have been making news during 2012.

For the Georgia Ports Authority, the best piece of news for 2012 came in October when U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy signed off on the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project.

  Gulfstream Aerospace’s two newest products, the large-cabin, mid-range G280 and the ultra high-speed, ultra-long-range flagship G650, won certification from the Federal Aviation Administration during 2012, and Gulfstream continued to be a key piece of corporate parent General Dynamics’ pr...

When Steve Weathers resigned abruptly in September after two years as president of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, the SEDA board didn't have to look far to find a new leader.

Third-quarter earnings statements filed by Savannah's community bankers indicate the volume of troubled loans finally is decreasing. Delinquent loans, or those at least 90 days past due, fell 21 percent between Sept.

A healthy increase in economic activity for the second quarter in a row has prompted local economist Michael Toma to forecast continued improvement for the Savannah metro area through the middle of 2013.

Home sales jumped 31 percent this November versus November 2011 in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties, according to Savannah Multi-List Corp. statistics. November typically marks the start of a housing market slowdown as the holidays approach.

South Carolina Bank & Trust will acquire Savannah Bancorp and its subsidiaries, Bryan Bank & Trust and Minis and Co., in a $67 million deal announced Aug. 8. The transaction will boost South Carolina Bank & Trust's asset size to more than $5 billion.

Memorial Health, mother corporation for Memorial University Medical Center, last year finished in the black for the first time since 2006, posting a $29.1 million turnaround from the previous year.

The 100 Black Men of Savannah's Collegiate 100 Chapter of Armstrong Atlantic State University has been named the 100 Black Men of America Inc. 2012 Collegiate 100 Chapter of the Year.

Nordic breaks ground on warehouse One of the country's largest cold storage warehouse companies is moving into the Savannah area.

Citi Trends, the Savannah-based clothing retailer, altered its executive leadership team in 2012.

Cora Bett Thomas and fellow broker Austin Hill announced early in 2012 they are merging their firms to form Cora Bett Thomas Austin Hill & Associates, Realtors.

Local real estate investor David Garfunkel has bought Abercorn Common, the environmentally friendly strip mall at Abercorn Street and White Bluff Road, for $24.2 million.

Savannah's Stratton Leopold - filmmaker, community champion and ice cream entrepreneur - was honored at the ninth annual Opportunity Award Gala on Dec. 7 at Savannah Technical College.

Savannah's gone from film location to film destination since entrepreneurs Nick Gant and Jon Foster opened their soundstage and digital media production services business 32 months ago.

AUGUSTA - Morris Publishing Group LLC, parent company of the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow.com, announced it is calling for redemption of all of its public debt. The company announced it has deposited funds to pay off these notes on Aug. 10.

Dollar Tree, one of the first major retailers to invest in an innovative warehouse distribution facility in Crossroads Business Park more than a dozen years ago, has completed a major expansion, with added investment and jobs significantly exceeding original projections. When the project was announc...

Clary's Cafe on Habersham Street closed its doors for the final time on Aug. 16. After 14 years at the location, the decision to close wasn't easy, said Patricia Jan Wilson, who bought both the Habersham and downtown Clary's locations in 2003.

Lori Judge expanded her downtown real estate brokerage office space earlier this year with an eye toward becoming a bigger player in commercial real estate.

Blick Art Materials, a national chain of art supply stores, has opened its 38th retail location at 318 E. Broughton St.

Fiat of Savannah opened this year in the former Saturn dealership space on Abercorn Street across from Savannah Mall. "We're pretty excited considering the early sales," said Will Elsay, the new dealership's general manager.

After starting with an informal opening on Sept. 23, Kohl's department stores held a ribbon-cutting and grand-opening celebration on Sept. 26 for the Wisconsin-based chain's new store on Abercorn Street, south of the White Bluff Road interchange.

Whitaker Laboratory, the multigenerational family business founded 42 years ago by Joe Whitaker, has been named the 2012 Georgia Family Business of the year by the Cox Family Enterprise Center at Kennesaw State University, making it just the second Savannah business in 20 years to be selected for th...

Byrd Cookie Company's long downtown hiatus is over. The Savannah institution has opened a retail store in City Market, 85 years after founder Benjamin T. Byrd moved the business out of the historic district with his family's relocation to Sandfly.