B2B Stories

Simon Says: Finally, a small ray of light in the recent LMI report

Editor’s note: If you read Dana Lynn McIntyre’s story from the Georgia Chamber Foundation, you know the struggle is real for finding workers. However, there is a bright spot in the latest employment numbers for Augusta. The Augusta Labor Market Index increased 0.2 percent in October from September. This constitutes five consecutive months of growth. The index now stands 0.3 percent higher than a year ago, the first time it has shown year-on-year growth since October 2022. Three components of the index grew month-on-month. Employment increased by 1,000 to stand

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B2B Podcasting

Don’t be afraid of AI

If your company is gearing up to Do More in 2024, listen in as cyber security expert Patrick Reynolds addresses the fear of Artificial Intelligence moving forward. Ready or not, it’s coming as Reynolds explains at the recent ABD Business EXPO.

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B2B Podcasting

Small business holiday shopping kicks off with a bang!

If home is where the heart is, small businesses in the CSRA benefitted when the shopping season kicked off after Thanksgiving. Learn more about how local businesses fared in the Small Business Saturday Crawl from Mike Petchenik in today’s Biz Bits.

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Consumer Stories

Restaurant cracks into CSRA market

Eggs Up Grill is planning to open its 83rd location in Evans in 2024, serving up many popular breakfast items, such as omelets, breakfast sandwiches, French toast with fresh fruit, breakfast potatoes, and popular sides like bacon and sausage. Eggs Up franchisees freshen menus each season.  Eggs Up Grill will land at 1200 Town Park Lane off of North Belair Road. Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate represents the shopping center owner and also recruited EUG to open in the vacant 1200 square foot space. This building is located just in

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B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Reflecting on the good, the bad and the ugly of the past year

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he gives tips on reviewing the past year in your business. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: It’s December, nearly the end of the year, a time often used to reflect on the past year. It’s also when businesses can take some time to look back at the previous 12 months at the good, the bad, and the ugly. Why is

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Consumer Stories

Christmas comes early for organizations helping those in need

A CSRA organization whose mission is to support non-profit groups to fund their ongoing work announced grant awards to dozens of programs during a ceremony on Friday. “It is an endowed fund primarily contributed to by the Masters Tournament,” explained Community Foundation President and CEO, Shell Berry. “Each year, we go through a process starting in the mid-summer. Over 120 applications were made to the Community Foundation. Today we are going to award 46 organizations up to $15,000 each for a total of over $638,000.” Berry said the applicants cover

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B2B Stories

New CSRA nursery decking the halls of businesses and homes

They might be the new kid on the nursery and landscaping block, but Southern Carolina Palms in Aiken is ready with all things Christmas. Located at 22 Gunter Road, the business opened in July and now six months later, they boast of one of the largest selections of holiday decorations in the CSRA. “Most of our sales come from families looking for a Christmas tree, wreath, swags, or inflatables,” said Annaleyse Black who handles customer questions and deliveries for Southern Carolina Palms. “We have all of that, but we have

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Faith

Faith Friday: Simplify

Like you, I am battling with some disbelief.  It’s the final month of 2023. Welcome to December! It doesn’t take someone with extraordinary intellect to realize we live in a complex and complicated time. Whether it’s global affairs, politics, the economy, or the price of energy and groceries. There seem to be very few simple solutions to the challenges in the world around us and in our daily lives. So, how do you approach December? With relief that the year is quickly coming to an end? Or with the hope

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: ‘Tis the Season to be moving: The whys and wherefores of holiday relocations

Ah, the holiday season—the time for chestnuts roasting on an open fire, sleigh bells jingling, and, apparently, the clatter of moving boxes being taped up. Who in their right mind, you may ask, decides to uproot their life during a season known for festive cheer and an unhealthy amount of fruitcake? Well, dear reader, grab a cup of cocoa and join me on a whimsical journey into the world of those who move during the holidays and the reasons behind their yuletide relocations. The Merry Mavericks – Job Relocators: While

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B2B Stories

Augusta Tech to facilitate hiring through Georgia’s new online portal

As one of the 22 schools in the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Augusta Technical College (ATC) is ready to help students use the new Labor Exchange Platform (LEP). The platform, announced on Nov. 21 by Gov. Brian Kemp, is part of the state’s WorkSource Georgia program, which is administered by TCSG’s Office of Workforce Development. ATC President, Dr. Jermaine Whirl said they are waiting for some final instructions from the state to create portal access on the school’s website. “That information will be housed under our Career Services

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