B2B Stories

Guest Column: Why Augusta entrepreneurs should attend a start-up summit here

Publishers Note: Paul O’Brien posted this guest column on social media recently. ABD thinks it’s worthwhile to re-post in light of the fact a huge event is happening in Augusta in early November. Paul is nationally renowned and has spent 25 years in advocacy, startups, and policy. Focused on public affairs, legislative strategy, media, coalitions, and business development. Background in Venture Capital (VC), economic development, polling, and communications. In just a little less than a month, in Augusta, Georgia, the nation’s top startup ecosystem builders and national ecosystem support organizations convene to

Read More »
B2B Stories

Signing Day for Future Business Leaders

It’s a big deal when a high school athlete goes to signing day and announces his or her next step. The first-ever signing day for business is coming up. Dr. Mark Thompson explains in his own words. “You think about that high school student that signs their letter of intent to play some sport at some college, well, we want to do the same thing, but have the students basically sign that commitment of having completed an internship at some business. We also think that it’s an opportunity to bring

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Restaurant Rises From the Ashes Tonight

18 months ago, Pizza Hut burned to the ground in the Augusta area. This afternoon, the restaurant re-opens with help from the community. Christine Smith from Christine’s Farm to Fork Restaurant in Edgefield reached out to ABD about today’s 4 PM Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at the restaurant at 733 Augusta Road in Edgefield. She and the Loves of Love Family Ministry stepped in after the fire on April 24th of 2024. They raised thousands of dollars to support employees who lost their jobs. Pizza Hut moved some employees

Read More »
B2B Stories

Unique career education and training starts tomorrow!

Augusta University (AU) is beginning a series of workshops to help military veterans, active duty members, and their families understand what local programs and services are available. The program is called the Military Community Engagement Series. It starts on October 21 with the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). The goal is to make AU a hub of information for the military community. “I have found that many times, students or the community may not venture into something that’s unknown,” Stefane Raulerson, AU’s Director of Military and Veteran

Read More »
B2B Stories

Hull Video: Sports-Like “Signing Day”

In some ways, sports is a lot like business, where teams compete on a daily basis to succeed. The Hull College of Business is about to implement a tried-and-true tradition in sports—to the business school. Dr. Mark Thompson explains in this video.

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Gaming Center to open 2nd location in Columbia County

Grand Opening festivities for Express TCG will be announced soon in a new shopping center built off I-20. Gaming enthusiasts will be able to hop on and off Exit 183 to play and shop at the Green Point Shopping Center in Harlem. Express TCG will be near Jersey Mike’s, which was the first tenant. It is the 2nd store for Express TCG for Michael King, who is a Fort Gordon veteran. The first store opened more than 4 years ago on Edgefield Road in a strip center in North Augusta,

Read More »
B2B Stories

Two business organizations combine to unify South Carolina businesses

The deal is signed, sealed, and delivered in the Palmetto State. A major consolidation of two business-centric organizations will go into effect soon in South Carolina. Effective January 1, 2026, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) will combine into one entity. It will be called South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce (SCMC). “This merger represents far more than the joining of two entities. It represents a louder, stronger, and more forward-thinking voice for business and industry in South Carolina,” said Chamber Chairman Thomas Rhodes.

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Sensory Santa Returns in November; medical office needs your help

Every holiday season, there’s a special kind of magic that fills our community — one made of laughter, wonder, and togetherness. But for many families who have children with sensory sensitivities or special needs, that magic can sometimes feel out of reach. The lights are too bright. The music is too loud. The lines are too long. That’s why, since 2017, we’ve opened the doors of Flack Family Chiropractic each holiday season for one of our most meaningful traditions: Sensory Santa — a free, heart-centered event designed to bring joy,

Read More »
B2B Stories

Tonight’s Unique Business Event

Businesses that are members of the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce are invited to stop by the organization’s Third Thursday booth on October 16. North Augusta Forward stages its Third Thursday event each month. It is designed to highlight the unique local businesses in the city. This month, the chamber will partner with SRS Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO) for a member mixer, pop-up shop, and speed networking to help members understand and access, benefits they have through the chamber. “A lot of times they are so active in their business,

Read More »
B2B Stories

The Shelf Life of Leadership – Part 1

Publisher’s Note: If you follow college football, you’ve probably heard that Penn State fired its football coach, James Franklin. Pay close attention to Dr. Rick Franza’s column this week as it relates to your boss(es). Franza explains that the shelf life of coaches may mirror the length of service of those charged with managing companies in the CSRA. In the more than eight years that I have been writing columns for multiple print and online publications in Augusta, this time of the year always provides fertile ground for applying business

Read More »