We spend a lot of time figuring out what’s for lunch and where we are going to park. One of Augusta’s largest employers has an answer for that. A new parking deck is being built. Lunch is on your own. Mike Petchenik has more in today’s Biz Bits.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has released its prediction for how much consumers will spend on their beloved for Valentine’s Day and the outlook is rosy. A news release from NRF said total spending on significant others is expected to reach a record $14.2 billion this year. That’s according to an annual survey by NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics. “Retailers are ready to help customers this Valentine’s Day with meaningful and memorable gifts,” NRF President and CEO, Matthew Shay said in the release. “With consumers prioritizing their spouse or
While I am not an economist like my colleague and fellow Augusta Business Daily contributor, Dr. Simon Medcalfe, many of my family, friends, and acquaintances assume that because I am a business school faculty member and former Dean, that I am an expert on the economy. Therefore, many of them come to me with their questions related to the economy, particularly in times like these when we are getting many mixed signals and we are not sure what is good news or bad news economically anymore. For instance, in the
Safety first. Headway Collision is now open at 3682 Washington Road in Martinez. If the owner’s name Scott Peebles sounds familiar, it’s because he just wrapped up a 32-plus-year career in key leadership positions with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department and the Marshal’s Department. “I’ve always cared about taking care of people in their time of need. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial interest and like putting a team together,” he said from their second-floor conference room. Peebles added Tracy Bryant (Left) who’s worked in management roles at several CSRA Collision
The former three-story WAGT building at 905 Broad Street is looking for another business to occupy it. For a little more than a year, a retail liquidation company hawked department store-type bargains inside the first floor and outside on the sidewalk, next to Laziza’s Restaurant. The Wholesale and Retail Bargain Merchandise store has moved near the Kroc Center at 1661 Broad Street in Augusta. They offer up to 75% off on various items that were returned to Amazon, Target, Walmart, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and other retailers. For more information visit, www.bargainmerchandises.com
A Virginia company is expanding its footprint in the CSRA with $889 million to help an important mission in the CSRA. Mike Petchenik has the rest of the story in today’s Biz Bits.
The first step in adopting legislation to review Georgia’s catalog of tax credit incentive programs has passed the state senate. Senate Bill 366 is the outgrowth of a series of public hearings held across the state to determine the efficacy of the tax breaks currently offered. Titled “Tax Expenditures Transparency Act of 2024,” the measure passed the Georgia Senate unanimously. In presenting the measure, Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R-District 52), co-chairman of the Joint Tax Credit Review Panel, said it outlines a process to review the programs more regularly. Among the
Is there any difference between setting goals for your on-site team and your remote workforce? Certainly, there are striking familiarities. For example, whether employees work in-house or are remotely located, it’s vital that their goals are aligned in some ways with the company’s broader vision and mission. Employees in a physical setting or in their home offices are generally more motivated to achieve goals when they understand how their efforts fit into the company’s growth and purpose. On the other hand, as ZDNet points out, for some remote workers, previous
Employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area ended in 2023 pretty much where it started. In December, employment was 244,000, down just 100 jobs from December 2022 (see below). Mining, logging, and construction were the industry sectors that saw the largest increase in employment over the last calendar year, increasing by 5.8 percent, or about 1,000 jobs. Construction activity bodes well for 2024, as firms invest in new or expanded facilities and residential construction reflects consumer confidence. Leisure and hospitality also ended the year 3.5 percent higher, almost 1,000 jobs.
Augusta Technical College is accepting applications for summer camps to help develop skills in the science, technology engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. The 2024 Immersion Virtual & Augmented Reality (VARiETy) Summer Camps for middle and high school students will be held in June. The camp for middle school students can engage younger children in developing skills that show career paths they may want to pursue when preparing to enter the workforce. High school students have long been the focus of programs, like dual enrollment opportunities with universities and technical colleges,
