Consumer Stories

Harlem ice cream shop to host fundraiser for injured boy

Mark Whitaker’s daughter knows Justin Gilstrap, the 11-year-old Grovetown boy who was severely injured by three pit bulls last month, which is why one of his Harlem businesses is holding a fundraiser to benefit Gilstrap and his family. Whitaker owns Main Street Treats, a family ice cream shop located at 170 North Louisville St. The shop will host Scoops for Justin today from 3:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. He said the business will donate at least 10 percent of its proceeds from that fundraiser to the family. “My daughter is

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Consumer Stories

Local real estate agent launches home organization business

If your pantry is full of outdated food, and you have clothes in your closet you haven’t worn in several years, Melissa Starrette can help. Starrette, a realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Executive Partners, has officially launched a new business called Busy Bee Home Organizing, which specializes in decluttering and organizing pantries, closets, and garages. “The first battle is getting started,” she said. “The other is keeping it up with everyone’s busy schedules.” Starrette offers a free consultation to get to know her clients and assess their

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Chili’s Grill and Bar

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday, he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”.

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B2B Stories

SCORE SE Regional VP headlines North Augusta Chamber business event

If you want to learn, grow, and thrive in your business, mark your calendar for the North Augusta Chamber event that can help you score in those categories. The SE Regional Vice President of SCORE, Catherine Walton, is heading to the CSRA from Memphis on Thursday, February 9, as the keynote speaker for the Chamber’s Learn, Grown, Thrive, and SCORE for the Life of your Business event. Walton has served in her position with the SCORE nonprofit for 17 years. She has also run a successful midsouth business since 2007

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Darin Myers

Free Access: Coach Darin: Is your company process on point?

Darin Myers is the local facilitator of The Alternative Board (TAB), a peer-to-peer advisory board designed to help company leaders maximize their opportunities and work through challenges. Darin recently retired after a 30-year career in the nuclear industry as the leader of Plant Vogtle I and II. He has proven success in strategic planning and alignment, employee development, organizational performance improvement, accountability, and coaching. He also has a family business in Augusta, focused on home health care, providing him the knowledge and experience surrounding small- to medium-sized business operators. There

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Education

Accreditation extended for AU’s Hull College of Business

There are more than 950 institutions in 60 countries and territories that have earned the AACSB accreditation in business and Augusta University’s Hull College of Business is one of them. The AACSB accreditation is synonymous with the highest standards in business education and the college first received accreditation in 1999. The accreditation was ratified recently by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International’s board of directors. The college hosted its peer review team in October. “Every AACSB-accredited school has demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas,

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B2B Stories

Veteran-owned clothing company to open new location in Grovetown

A Georgia-based, veteran-owned clothing company is bringing a new location to Grovetown. Nine Line Apparel will be located next door to Cold Stone Creamery at 284 Meridian Drive in Grovetown. The company sells an assortment of patriotic items, including men’s and women’s clothing, home décor, backpacks, and tumblers. Founded in 2012 by retired Army Cpt. Tyler Merritt, his wife, Angela and brother, Daniel, Nine Line has locations in Savannah, Charleston, and DelRay Beach. Its retail locations also sell Black Rifle Coffee. The Nine Line Foundation supports various veterans’ causes. ABD

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Support Local

Free Access: It’s Never Too Early for Business/Personal Finance Education

I did not really start learning about business and personal finance until my early 20’s. While I did pick up some knowledge about budgeting, mortgages/loans, and investing from my parents, it was only because I was curious, paid attention, and asked questions. In my senior year of college, having finished all of my requirements for an applied mathematics degree, I used my free electives to take some business courses to prepare myself for the MBA degree I was planning to pursue in the future. While taking those courses, I learned

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: How does Augusta stack up in the Georgia LMI?

I gave a talk to the Kiwanis Club of Augusta a couple of weeks ago and one question I received was, “How does Augusta compare to other areas of the state?” At the time, I mentioned the strength of Atlanta and Savannah, but am now in a position to present a more complete picture. Using the Labor Market Index (LMI) for all metropolitan areas in the state, and for the state as a whole, Augusta is in the middle of the pack. Over the last year (November 2021-November 2022, the

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Commercial Real Estate

Rezoning and use of clubhouse is at the center of Jones Creek controversy

A week after a controversy arose over the rezoning of the clubhouse building at Jones Creek Golf Club, clubhouse owner, Mark Herbert has decided to withdraw his request for a zoning change from the Columbia County Planning Commission. Herbert said that due to the lack of information available to Jones Creek residents, he has elected to withdraw his rezoning request at this time. He said the planned sale of the clubhouse is still expected to go through. Jones Creek Golf Club closed in September 2018 during an unresolved lawsuit against

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