B2B Stories

Vote tonight on $11.5 million contracts to restore/expand area event venue

If Columbia County Commissioners agree with a committee recommendation, recovery work will begin on a favorite gathering spot. Commissioners vote tonight on two contracts recommended by members of the Management and Internal Services to begin repair work on the Savannah Rapids Pavilion.  The first contract is with Duckworth Development, LLC of Martinez. It is for a renovation of the facility off Stevens Creek Road. If approved, Facilities Director Steven Prather told ABD the county can schedule a pre-construction meeting with the contractor.  “We will decide on a notice proceed date,

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Employment is on the right side of Augusta’s history

Plant Vogtle transportation and utilities jobs, and jobs in other sectors, propelled the Augusta labor market to grow faster than previously recorded over the past five years.   The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revised Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) employment data back to 2020.  For example, before revision, the total employment in the seven counties of the MSA was 249,800 in December 2025. The revision shows that employment passed a quarter of a million back in May 2024. January employment was 254,400, surpassed only by employment in April 2025.  Industries that

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B2B Stories

Healthy plan for your renovations at office or home

Spring and summer seasons are usually the time to remodel and renovate parts of your office or home. What if you or your contractor spots something dangerous behind the walls? If you read more, Joseph Galpin from Augusta’s EnviroPro 360 shows you how to put a plan in place. 2026 Asbestos Plan for GA & SC Renovations | EnviroPro 360

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B2B Stories

Final public hearing set for tomorrow on SPLOST 9

Economic development CSRA leaders think they can recruit one company for a new 1,150-acre area. It’s called the McCombs Mega-site. They need more infrastructure to make it happen—and need a positive vote in about one month. That’s when Richmond County voters will be asked to decide on the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 9 project list in May. SPLOST 9 is a proposed one-cent sales tax, money targeted for specific capital improvement projects. If approved, it will replace SPLOST 8 when it expires. SPLOST 9 will raise an

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B2B Stories

Changes for South Carolina individual income taxes

New legislation designed to simplify the Palmetto State’s personal income tax structure while lowering the tax rate is official. Surrounded by members of the general assembly and other leaders, Gov. Henry McMaster (R) signed H.4216 into law on Wednesday. Beginning in this tax year, the measure changes the individual income tax system to a two-rate structure. Currently, there are three brackets. “Cutting the personal income tax in South Carolina has long been a top priority, and today we are continuing to deliver,” said McMaster during the ceremony. “This is another

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B2B Stories

Georgia Senator brings home $1.3 million for CSRA businesses and major institution

Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff is delivering big money to help entrepreneurs have a fighting start and to help a local research center save lives. $800,000 of the $1.3 million will help Augusta University upgrade equipment at the Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University’s cancer research center. “This support will allow us to acquire advanced research equipment that will strengthen our scientists’ ability to detect, study, and ultimately combat cancer. For nearly 200 years, Augusta University and the Medical College of Georgia have been home to lifesaving discoveries that improve the health

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Consumer Stories

2nd restaurant opens in new West Augusta location

If Trenton Andrews (center) looks a little tired, it’s easy to understand why. He camped out since 9:30 Wednesday night in advance of Thursday morning’s grand opening of the second Surcheros Tex Mex restaurant in Augusta. Andrews is one of the first 50 customers to win an entrée per week for an entire year. “I’ve been eating at Surcheros since I was 13,” said the AU Psychology student. That was at the Macon, Georgia, Surcheros. Andrews eats three times a week at the original Augusta location of Surcheros on Washington

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Consumer Stories

Supermarket provides large check today

This morning at 9, the Golden Harvest Food Bank and families will benefit from a big donation that will buy a lot of fresh produce and staples. For the first time, the program will serve families in South Carolina, and preregistration is no longer required.  Summer Harvest program is returning for its third year with expanded reach and fewer barriers for families. The $40,000 grant from Food Lion is part of its Summers Without Hunger program, which supports distributions across Golden Harvest’s South Carolina service area. Food Lion leadership will also

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B2B Stories

Keeping your numbers up… to date

Profit and Loss Statements, Balance Sheets, and Cash Flow Projections. Understanding those documents can make or break a small business. However, some owners can find the amount of documents and numbers daunting. SCORE’s Piedmont office sponsored Small Business Financials 101, a webinar breaking down the types of financial documents and why each matters. Led by Earl Gregorich, the Marketing & Outreach Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in Duncan, SC, who said keeping good financial records is vital for many reasons. “You got to file taxes, you got

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B2B Stories

Take Me to Your Leaderboard: Lessons Learned from This Year’s Masters Contenders

As we begin Day 4 of Post-2026 Masters, life is returning to normal in Augusta. Here at Augusta University, students are in the homestretch of the Spring Semester, and many local businesses are experiencing a combination of celebration and relief.  There are lessons learned from the golfers who contended for this year’s Green Jacket. Prior to the start of the 2026 Masters, there were many questions swirling around many of the potential favorites to win the tournament. Defending champion Rory McIlroy had not played competitively in the month since he

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