B2B Stories

Simon Says: Agriculture #s may be misleading

I read Dana McIntyre’s report a few weeks ago, in which Georgia agriculture commissioner, Tyler Harper, claimed that agriculture was a $84 billion economic driver, 17% of the state’s economy. He added that one in seven jobs or 330,000 Georgians are employed in agriculture. That seemed high to me, so I looked up the numbers. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Georgia’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2024 was $673,064 million annually. GDP measures the total value of all final goods and services produced in

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B2B Podcasting

An opening, a closing, and a solid #2

After a rough weekend for the CSRA, thanks to Hurricane Helene, Mike Petchenik has some highlights and a sad goodbye for a 20-year-old business. Here is the latest for the week in Biz Bits.

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B2B Stories

$50,000+ raised for CSRA student resources

The Augusta Technical College Foundation has announced $57,225 in gifts and pledges for the annual Family First campaign. The 2024 Family First campaign, which ran from September 4-18, focused on directly impacting students’ lives. Family First events were held at all Augusta Tech campus sites, where Faculty and staff were encouraged to contribute to bridging the financial gaps many students experience. Suggested donation amounts included $1,200 to help cover tuition shortfalls, $511 to cover student fees, $250 for textbooks, $200 for laptops, and $50 for emergency funds. “This year saw

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B2B Stories

CSRA takes a $6.5 million hit from event cancellations: Chamber events also canceled

A weeklong schedule of activities that was set to kick off today has been canceled. BSidesAugusta organizer, and COO of Security Onion Solutions, LLC, Phil Plantamura shared the update with ABD on Sunday. “Completely canceled. We’ve canceled all events for BSidesAugusta, the Security Onion Conference, and the training. We had a speaker dinner. It’s been canceled, volunteer orientation, and all that has been canceled. We’ve issued refunds to all ticket purchasers, including for the training,” he said. Destination Augusta had estimated the full week of activities, originally set for Sept.

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B2B Podcasting

Grace under real estate pressure

Buying or selling in real estate is a two-way street. Ann Marie McManus understands that better than most. She’s been in the business for 40 years. She credits part of her success to her team philosophy of G.R.A.C.E.

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B2B Stories

CSRA businesses gear up for major hurricane impact

Georgia and South Carolina are bracing for the impact of a major hurricane. Power companies have made final preparations for anticipated damages, including the potential for widespread power outages. With a forecast of flooding and high winds from Hurricane Helene, the storm could still be a Category 1 when it reaches the CSRA, according to WDRW Chief Meteorologist, Riley Hale. “Our area is on the east side of the storm, it’s the bad side. High winds could reach 60 mph or more. We’ve already had 4” at Daniel Field and

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B2B Stories

CSRA Western Outfitter Expands to Meet Demand

Like the tumbleweed that spreads seeds of growth, the store that bears the name recently expanded. Owner, Jessica Reeves only had to move a few doors down to 224 Park Avenue SE in Aiken to gain more space. When ABD reported on TumbleWeed’s opening two years ago, Reeves was already dreaming big and looking to grow the business by offering other products and services. When the store moved four doors down into the former location of Needlepoint Cottage, it almost tripled its space. “My husband Joel got involved in the

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B2B Stories

Networking and learning highlighted the Career Connections event

The Career Connections event, sponsored by Augusta Business Daily, brought together large and small business representatives to share information and develop new relationships. Vendors ranged from small businesses like Nothing Bundt Cakes to Aurubis Richmond, LLC, one of Richmond County’s newest, large employers. Among the vendors were Elite Events and Tickets, which can arrange hospitality, travel, lodging, and tickets for clients. Ali Quinn, Director of Housing, said it was a good opportunity to get out into the community and tell people their story. “Small businesses are so important to our

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: Sweaters, Swimsuits, and Gutters: Your Ultimate Guide to Fall Home Prep in Augusta

It’s here! Thanks to September 22, it’s officially fall in Augusta. Even though it was a nice breezy 89 degrees and a hurricane is landing, fall is a beautiful time of year that comes with home maintenance challenges. Taking a few proactive steps now can save you time, money, and stress later. So, grab a cozy sweater, or in our case, your swimsuit, and pour yourself a pumpkin spice latte, and let’s discuss the top five things you should do to prepare and maintain your home for fall. 1. Clean

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Consumer Stories

Payroll Taxes: Why Time Really Is Money

The goal of every business is to grow and maintain a strong bottom line. However, managing time efficiently can make or break that goal. For small to medium-sized businesses, tasks like payroll taxes often become a burden, especially without the proper staff or expertise. Left unmanaged, payroll tax issues can quickly escalate, leading to significant financial penalties and credit problems. Here’s why payroll taxes deserve your attention: Payroll taxes are cumulative, and delays in filing or payment can snowball into larger issues. Penalties for late submissions can accumulate quickly, impacting

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