B2B Stories

Banner month predicted for economic impact in Augusta’s River Region

More than 6 million dollars are expected to flow into the Augusta area in November. Destination Augusta and the Augusta Sports Council say visitors attending meetings, reunions, events, and sporting events in Augusta’s River Region will generate at least $6,259,939 in total estimated economic impact (EEI) in November 2023. Both organizations agree that recruiting and hosting these various activities play a critical role in sustaining the nearly 27,000 jobs that are part of the Leisure and Hospitality Industry, the fourth largest employment sector in the metro area. Total EEI is

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B2B Stories

Final push is on for the new JBA funding vote

Representatives from big businesses, small business owners, and economic development experts filled Augusta & Co. on Broad Street with a common goal: Support the Nov. 7 vote to pay for a new James Brown arena. A Nov. 3 news conference coordinated by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce brought together leaders of The Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA, Augusta Sports Council, Augusta Tomorrow, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and Destination Augusta. Dennis Trotter of Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate and current chairman of the Augusta Chamber, said approving the referendum

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B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Not making payments on time sends a negative message to employees and vendors

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 talks about the importance of timely payment to vendors and employees. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: A struggle that small businesses sometimes face is paying their bills on time. Why is it important to make those payments in a timely manner, especially when it involves employees, contractors, and vendors? Rick: If you don’t pay on time, it sends a

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B2B Podcasting

Getting ahead in Columbia County

Workforce development, tort reform, and salary increases are on the table for legislators working on behalf of Columbia County. Mike Petchenik has the latest in today’s Biz Bits.

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B2B Stories

Repurposing of shopping center to include hardware and pickleball

Demolition and clearing continue this week inside the 50,000-square-foot former home of Bi-Lo and Final Cut in the shopping center at 500 Furys Ferry Road in Martinez. Once the remodeling is complete, the right side of the vacant building will feature Furys Ferry Hardware, a deal we reported a few months back. Co-owners of the tool and gardening center will be a local alternative to Lowe’s and Home Depot. The plan is for them to open their nearly 20,000-square-foot facility in early spring, in advance of the 2024 Masters Golf

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Shawna Woodward

Navigating the current real estate landscape: Your top five questions answered

Okay, these questions have been at the forefront of everyone’s mind since the market boom in 2020. Lately, I am seeing that home values have started to dip a little locally. Not enough for you to risk the equity you have, even if you purchased within the last year, but enough that you will need to be better positioned when you do sell, offering something that is more valuable than what your neighbors are selling. Question #1: Is the housing market going to crash? We all want to know—Is the

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Faith

Faith Friday: A risk you are willing to take

What risks have you taken in your life? I was giving this some thought the other day. I have been mountain climbing in the Rockies, completed a high ropes course, flown with a 16-year-old pilot in a private plane (yes, just the two of us), helped rebuild homes in India after a Tsunami and been a passenger with my 15-year-old grandson at the wheel who just got his driver’s permit. Although great experiences, I do not feel like any have been particularly risky. I do have several friends who have

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B2B Stories

Columbia County Chamber gears up for the 2024 Georgia legislative session

Columbia County Chamber of Commerce lists workforce training and tort reform among its legislative priorities for the upcoming session. The chamber held its annual pre-legislative session breakfast on Nov. 2, hosting members of the local delegation and business leaders. “It’s an opportunity for us to educate our delegates on what our priorities are,” said chamber president and CEO, Russell Lahodny. “And it’s also an opportunity to hear from them and what are the things that they’re seeing? What are the things that they’re going to be focusing on in 2024?

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