September 1, 2026

B2B Stories

Large layoff at CSRA Manufacturer while renovations get underway

183 skilled workers in food manufacturing will be out of a job as soon as November, while their employer tears down a portion of the plant and rebuilds. All will be able to file for unemployment insurance. FPL Food LLC announced yesterday its plan to modernize its 22-year-old beef processing facility at 1301 Old Savannah Road in Augusta. According to a news release, full operations are not expected to resume until early 2028. Cal Wray, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority, met with the FPL Food CEO and founder

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B2B Stories

100,000 tourists and locals attending festival in new location

The Greater Augusta Arts Council (GAAC) is sprinting toward the 45th annual Arts in the Heart of Augusta festival. The three-day event runs Sept. 18-20 somewhere else this year.  From its humble beginnings in the parking lot of the Municipal Building in the early 1980s, the festival has grown into one of Augusta’s largest tourism activities. In 2025, Destination Augusta estimated attendance at 100,000 people. That generated more than $1.8 million in revenue, making the festival one of Augusta’s largest non-sporting events. The festival soon outgrew its original home and

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Consumer Stories

Urban Asian Food in The Valley

The Black Lotus is known for urban Asian delicacies like its Surf N Turf and is also known for a food truck and a chef who brings an “hibachi-like” experience to the offices and homes of the CSRA. Next up, a brick-and-mortar restaurant opening within two weeks. “Let’s Talk Augusta” Facebook Group was the first to report that Black Lotus Urban Spice is opening its new take-out location at 515 Belvedere Clearwater Road off Highway 25 on September 12th with a special tasting from 1-8 P.M.  There may be a

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Low Hire and Low Fire in Augusta

As foreshadowed by the decline in the Augusta Leading Economic Index last week, employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area fell in July. Just not by much. No industry saw large job gains in July. Education and health services and professional and business services both saw employment increase by about 100. Retail lost 250 jobs, and government shed 300 jobs, spread over local and state employment. Other services lost 140 jobs. All other industries had job gains or losses of fewer than 60 jobs. This month is a good illustration

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