Consumer Stories

Generous businesses attract loyal employees

A new report finds that even the most satisfied employees may be pursuing a different job, spurred by the desire to work for a company committed to the community. ABD’s learned that it is also the case with Augusta-area businesses like the Meta team member efforts to clean up Hitchcock Woods. (Photo Above) goBeyondProfit, founded in 2017, began tracking business generosity in 2019. Its 2025 report finds 97% of employees say business generosity is important. That’s more than double the 47% reported in 2019. (https://gobeyondprofit.org/research/2025-business-generosity-report/) Brittany Burnett, President and CEO

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B2B Stories

Heady new service fuels expansion

A local one-of-a-kind salon is living up to its name. Trendz Salon is following consumer trends to stay ahead of what’s hot in hair care and luxury experiences. The salon on the Riverwatch Parkway in Martinez built out an additional room to provide the “headspa” treatment after certifying its professionals in Alpharetta, Georgia, and partnering with the Nautilique brand from Denmark. “The Classic Headspa” experience includes a scalp analysis, luxury shampooing, and can include a flash facial. “Our service includes tools to exfoliate the scalp as well as different massage

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: How Helene impacted job and rate of pay

Publisher’s Note: As you probably witnessed in the months following Helene’s wrath, workers were out and about helping rebuild. Damaged homes, businesses, and public infrastructure were getting rebuilt. Demand was created for construction, engineering, skilled trades, and logistical movers. Federal and relief funds stimulated recovery efforts, but how much? The numbers may surprise you. In terms of employment, both Columbia County in Georgia and Aiken County in South Carolina saw employment increase from December to March by 1.89% and 0.1% respectively. Moreover, March employment in both counties was higher than

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B2B Stories

Ethically Speaking

Money is set aside each year for the business community to visit the Hull College of Business to talk about ethics in the workplace and when deals get done. The Dean of the school explains where the ethics panel got started and what business people will learn from attending. “The Blanchard Ethics series was endowed by the former Georgia Bank and Trust in honor of Russell Blanchard, and that happened in the late 2000s. We’ve been running an annual series ever since. The event is open to the community, free

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B2B Stories

Sporting events bringing millions to local economy

Dr. Jermaine Whirl helped Augusta greatly as President of Augusta Tech. Now, his new school will be helping to bring an estimated $1.1 million in economic impact to Augusta. Savannah State University and its fans will be coming to Lucy C. Laney Stadium for the Good Trouble Heritage Classic. The weekend celebration is from October 17-19, with the culmination being a football game between two historically black universities (HBCU). The game got the attention of ESPN, as ESPN+ is broadcasting the game across the country. Destination Augusta and the Augusta

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B2B Stories

How AI can help CSRA manufacturers

Georgia AIM (Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing), a partnership that includes the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (USEDA), set up its mobile lab in Augusta on Wednesday. The stop at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center (GCITC) was part of Georgia AIM Week. It was a statewide tour to highlight the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) when it is used in manufacturing. Georgia AIM has eight projects across the state, with 17 subprojects. One of those projects focuses on cybersecurity and was awarded to

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B2B Stories

Good Deeds: Guest Column on Hurricane Helene

It’s All Heart (my friends) Eric Parker, Make Startups Founder One year ago this week, our city and our team were devastated by Hurricane Helene. Most of us had damaged homes, and the roads in and out of our neighborhoods and across the city were blocked by downed trees and power lines. We went weeks without power, and with limited access to food, gas, and other basic supplies. Every family learned how to use chainsaws, and communities banded together to help each other clean up, and most of all, actually

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B2B Stories

Hull Video: Ethically Speaking

An endowment is still in place from the former Georgia Bank & Trust to pass on its core mantra, “Doing the Right Thing.” After the first of the year, the Hull College of Business will announce a keynote speaker for its ethics series. Today, the Dean of the College explains the importance of learning good ethics in business.

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Consumer Stories

Good Deeds: Supporting an Important Cause

Area businesses have the opportunity to support a small, nonprofit organization that is marking its 10th anniversary. Day One Fitness plans to celebrate in style with a gala on Nov. 15th at First Baptist Church of Augusta on Walton Way. In advance of the event, businesses can sign on as sponsors to help underwrite the gala. “Businesses can really support us by purchasing a table or a sponsorship. We have some other sponsorships that are a little bit higher, that have a little bit more perks to them, that also

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B2B Stories

Augusta business owner speaks to 2500 for OSHA conference

Bill Foster’s helped manufacturers, safety managers, and HR managers stay safe and compliant with OSHA rules for more than 40 years. Last week, the Impact Safety President led a virtual conference for 2500 people from his training center in West Augusta on Augusta West Parkway. OSHA coordinated the webinar from its National Network of OSHA Training Institute Education Centers in San Diego and at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. Foster spoke about permits required for confined spaces and emergency rescue plans. Confined spaces are critically important in terms of safety because

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