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

Read More »
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

Read More »
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

Read More »
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

Read More »
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

Read More »
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

Read More »
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

Read More »
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

Read More »
Sports / Entertainment

“The Piano Lesson” is a family affair

Opening night of the SCAD Savannah Film Festival always sets the tone for the rest of the event and Saturday’s gala screening raised the bar to Hollywood royalty heights. The Piano Lesson, the theatrical release of playwright August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony-winning drama, closed out the festival’s first night. The movie follows the lives of the Charles family as they deal with themes of family legacy and more, in deciding what to do with an heirloom, the family piano. Starring John David Washington and directed by Malcolm Washington, the

Read More »
B2B Stories

Labor market set to explode in Burke County

Plant Vogtle’s workforce routinely propels Burke County to the highest average salary by area in the CSRA. A recent announcement will likely help support those numbers. Burke County is the latest to join the ranks of others in the CSRA, announcing a new manufacturing facility. TCM Transformers USA Inc. will build a more than $15 million facility in Waynesboro. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) made the announcement in a Thursday news release. He had toured the company’s facilities in Italy earlier this year. “When we lead economic missions overseas and meet

Read More »