B2B Stories

Chamber Leaders weigh in on tomorrow’s continuation of 1% sales tax vote

Chamber leaders in Richmond and Columbia County considered the future workforce of the area and how out-of-area companies factor our schools in their decisions to relocate to the CSRA. The Executive leadership for both the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia County Chamber are in agreement on extending the 1% Sales and Use Tax. Voters are encouraged to vote “Yes.” In Richmond County, leaders want to support various essential projects. The extension will go towards constructing and renovating school buildings, improving classroom technology, upgrading athletic and arts facilities,

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Sports / Entertainment

SCAD Film Festival: Take That

In the early 90’s, boy bands were everywhere: ‘NSync, Backstreet Boys, New Kids on The Block. If you turned on your radio, you were guaranteed to hear their catchy tunes. One of those bands, Take That, was huge in the UK…but not the U.S. “Better Man,” a gala screening at the 2024 SCAD Savannah Film Festival may change that legacy. The film is a biography of Take That member, Robbie Williams. Williams came from a loving home with a caring mother and grandmother. His father, while present early on, had

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B2B Stories

Update: Augusta airport Helene damage

The Augusta Aviation Commission heard an update from staff members on the damage suffered during Hurricane Helene. Chief Richard Beal, the Fire Chief and EMA Director at Augusta Regional Airport, said they are still working on a formal report. What he presented on Thursday was an overview. “The airport dealt with pretty much the same thing that the entire community did,” he said. “A lot of trees down, power issues and water issues. We had them across the airport. On top of having some of the power issues we had with

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Consumer Stories

Recovering from Helene: Latin Flavor

Hurricane Helene may have knocked the roof off Maria Singh’s outside seating area, but it didn’t deter her from doing what she’s done since age 9 in her native Dominican Republic – cooking Caribbean style! “I’ve been blessed. We have to help each other,” said the owner of Latin Flavor on the Riverwatch Parkway. After cleaning up the restaurant, Maria began cooking for the Grovetown Police Department and those in need at Fort Eisenhower. Ms. Singh made more than 100 meals, including some Caribbean specialties like Caribbean Chicken, beans, and

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Shawna Woodward

Best of Real Talk Real Estate: Choosing the optimal closing date

When purchasing a home, one crucial question you’ll face is, “What day do you want to close?” While this may seem straightforward, selecting the best closing date requires careful consideration. Here are some key factors to keep in mind, particularly for those using traditional mortgage options. The Importance of a Firm Closing Date The closing date in your contract is intended to be a firm commitment for all parties involved. It sets the timeline for everyone to work towards and signifies your agreement to strive to meet this deadline. Popular

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B2B Stories

A successful year and big plans at Augusta Tech

The president of Augusta Technical College hit the high points of the previous 12 months while laying out ambitious plans for the next 12 in his State of the College address. As anticipated, enrollment was up, crossing the 5,900 mark to reach 5,940 students, a 3% increase over last year. But Whirl said that number is somewhat deceiving. That represents students enrolled in credit classes, achieving certificates and degrees. Thousands more were on campus for non-credit classes, the so-called continuing education offerings. “The last few years, we’ve only really talked

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Consumer Stories

Building Trust and Confidence in Senior Leadership

Attracting and retaining top talent continues to be a struggle for many employers, perhaps because they underestimate the value of building a sense of trust and confidence among their employees. Instilling a sense of trust and confidence in senior leadership is key to protecting the organization’s reputation and bottom line. Employees who do not trust or respect senior leaders are less likely to be engaged and productive and are more likely to seek employment elsewhere, leading to burnout for other staff, as well as costs related to turnover. Good leaders

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B2B Stories

CSRA company fights back against Chinese imports

In April 2024, Club Car announced an $8 million investment in Columbia County for a street-legal utility vehicle called the Urban LSV. Now, the company, as part of the American Personal Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Coalition, has filed critical circumstances allegations with the U.S. Department of Commerce, to address a massive increase in Chinese imports of low-speed personal transportation vehicles (LSPTVs). The Coalition seeks tariffs and duties on LSPTV products sold below market value and with the assistance of improper foreign government subsidies. Duties would be levied on any imports after

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B2B Stories

Unfortunately, There Will Be No Winners

Less than a week from today, those Americans who did not vote early will go to the polls to vote to decide who will be the next President of the United States. Hopefully, a week from today, we will know who that person will be, either current Vice President (VP) Kamala D. Harris or former President Donald J. Trump. While I am often critical of others who vote primarily based on a single issue, I just might fit into that category for this presidential election; and that issue is the

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B2B Stories

350 trees wiped out on AU campus

Officials with Augusta University are continuing cleanup and repairs in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Work is ongoing at the Summerville and Health Sciences campuses, and the Forest Hills campus, which includes the Christenberry Field House. On Oct. 18, ABD was taken on a tour of the campuses to see the progress being made and get an update on what has been lost. Repairs are underway on the Christenberry Fieldhouse, along with the tennis courts and golf course, with the properties bounded by piles of cut-up trees. “These are some

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