December 16, 2024

B2B Stories

Simon Says: Helene’s Health Effects

Last week, I documented the initial impact of Hurricane Helene on the labor market. This week, I provide some thoughts on the long-term impacts on our health based on my reading of the academic literature. Rachel Young and Solomon Hsiang provide the first evidence of the long-term effect of tropical storms in an article in Nature. They find that mortality increases by 3.2% to 5.1% over 15 years following a hurricane. In Augusta, using all-cause mortality rates for Georgia, this would mean an extra 194 to 309 deaths per year,

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Consumer Stories

First One-Stop Home Services Showroom Opens in Augusta Area

If Mark Boyd’s new showroom at 4396 Lamkin Drive in Evans resembles a state-of-the-art automotive dealership, there’s a reason. “I spent 23 years in the car business,” said Boyd, the nation’s first Nesto franchisee, a brand designed to partner with multi-unit entrepreneurs in the home services space. Boyd officially unveiled his innovative showroom, located near the Home Depot in Evans, in late October. The event featured representatives from Nesto, Home Depot corporate, the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Boyd’s team. Each “bay” in the showroom highlights a different service

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B2B Stories

How North Augusta fared and looking ahead

The economic news is mixed in Aiken County for 2025. The North Augusta Chamber of Commerce wrapped up its 2024 Power Lunch series with the annual economic report. Dr. Nancy Albers, Dean of the School of Business Administration, was the keynote speaker. Albers spoke specifically about where Aiken County stands and where it may be headed. While versed in reviewing economic analysis, Albers said she is not an economic analyst. So, she turned to Dr. Fadi Fawaz, an Associate Professor of Economics and Finance at Tennessee State University. “For his

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