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Consumer Stories

Connecting CSRA medical needs with business good deeds

The founder of the nation’s largest human resource company for small and medium businesses has made a $50 million investment in the Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia (WCHOG).  The investment by Tom Golisano, founder of Paychex, brings WCHOG into a national consortium of children’s hospitals.   “Children’s hospitals are essential to the health and future of our communities, and each one serves families with unique needs and challenges,” said Golisano in the news release announcing the investment. “The team at Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia has a deep commitment to advancing

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 23, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Teaching veteran business owners how to thrive

A training program designed for Metro Augusta’s large veterans’ community is underway at the Accelerate Augusta microenterprise center on Broad Street.  ABD first wrote about Mission: Accelerate Lab in the Jan. 5 edition. It is a partnership with Accelerate Augusta, Mission United, and the United Way of the CSRA. It was created to help veteran-owned businesses succeed and develop a pipeline to hire veterans and military spouses.  “If you’re brand new, or if you’ve been in business for a few years, the goal of the program is to help vets

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 23, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Georgia joins new federal tax credit program; Augusta benefits

A new education tax credit will soon be available to Georgia families following a Tuesday announcement by Gov. Brian Kemp (R).  Kemp said the state is opting in to a program through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The credit became available as a provision of the Trump Administration’s most recent tax package, approved last year. It is an individual, dollar-for-dollar tax credit.  During his press conference, Kemp said this latest step is in the same vein as the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, through which families can use tax dollars to choose education

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 22, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

The Federal Debt and Annual Federal Deficits: Why You Should Care

Last week, I shared with you my disappointment related to the possible threat to the Federal Reserve’s independence by President Trump. In particular, I expressed how limitations on the Fed’s independence could negatively impact our nation’s economy and each of us. Fortunately, this week, I have some better news.  Earlier this month, a bipartisan resolution (House Res. 981) was introduced to the House of Representatives, which set a goal of reducing the annual federal deficit to 3% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product…the primary measure of the size of our national economy). As a frame

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Dr. Rick Franza, AU Hull College of Business Professor January 22, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Investment firm acquires iconic Augusta hotel

A West Augusta hotel is about to get a serious makeover to the tune of $12 million. It’s the largest investment in upgrading an area hotel since a $10 million investment was made about four years ago in Augusta. The DoubleTree by Hilton Augusta on 2651 Perimeter Parkway near I-20 and I-520 was recently acquired by an affiliate of Flacks Group, a Miami-based investment firm. Flacks has selected StepStone Hospitality to manage the property. The planned renovation will include refreshed guest rooms, upgraded public areas, a reimagined food and beverage experience, new

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Neil Gordon January 21, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Growing # of jobs at the airport

The next generation of airport employees in the CSRA may just come from area high schools. A new internship is introducing high school students to a diverse number of career opportunities at Augusta Regional Airport. Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) and the Richmond County Board of Education (RCBOE) have announced AIR EDU. Lauren Smith, Assistant Director of Marketing and Public Relations, said the goal is to address a growing workforce shortage in operations, maintenance, air traffic controllers, and airport management. The forecast is that the industry will need more than two

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 21, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Community groups receive nearly 3/4 million dollars

A local organization celebrated its 30th anniversary by distributing $735,000 in grants to 59 area nonprofit, educational, arts, and historical groups. The Community Foundation of the CSRA (CFCSRA) grants will support groups in Richmond, Columbia, Burke, and McDuffie counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. “The Community Foundation really exists so that we can give back,” Shell Berry, President and CEO, explained for ABD. “It is a community endowment that’s been contributed to, most significantly by the Masters Tournament for 29 of those 30 years. And

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 20, 2026 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

One-on-one with CEO of legacy company

Publisher’s Note: Sig Cox is beginning its 100th year in Augusta as a trusted leader in HVAC service and sales. In a wide-ranging interview, I speak with CEO Jeff Miller on their legacy of doing things the right way, company growth, and what’s planned in 2026. ABD: Jeff, when you bought Sig Cox, how much did you know about the company’s history? JM: We knew it was one of the top companies in Augusta, but really didn’t know the history. When we went through the due diligence period, we learned

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Neil Gordon January 20, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Steady Georgialina Economy

We finished strong in 2025. The Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) increased by 0.4 percent in October and 0.1 percent in November. In November, the LEI was 1.3 percent higher than a year ago. Residential building permits increased in October but fell back in November. Initial claims for unemployment insurance increased in both months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its strong growth in the fourth quarter. After several months of declining job openings, October and November saw increased job openings. The November employment weighted average of job openings in

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor January 20, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Military Monday: In the World of Disability

It’s a Military Monday! Each month on a Monday, Africa Thomas will be sharing her expertise on VA disability claims, ratings, and navigating the process for a successful submission. She is a retired United States Army veteran with a combined 29 years of honorable service. Her first column centers on proof of your injury. I am grateful for the opportunity to share information on VA service-connected disabilities in my first article for our local business paper. Filing a VA claim can be a daunting task, and it can feel even more

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Africa R. Thomas, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CME, CCM January 19, 2026 No Comments
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