B2B Stories

Special sales tax on ballot would raise millions for Columbia County

A penny here and a penny there may not seem like much, but over time they can add up to something significant. That’s why the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is urging voters to vote Yes for the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) when they go to the polls this fall. Voting yes would continue the one cent added to each sale, which has been in place since 1990. SPLOST funds in the past have been used to improve or create roads, schools, libraries, parks and recreation facilities, public

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Great Chow

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 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”. Food

Read More »
Darin Myers

Free Access: Getting to know your employees can help your business thrive

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 regarding strategic planning and alignment, employee development, organizational performance improvement, accountability, and coaching. Recently, he started a family business in Augusta focused on home health care, providing him the knowledge and experience surrounding small- to medium-sized business operators. Successful

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee returns to North Augusta this weekend

After two years of covid-related shutdowns, North Augusta’s annual Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee is back this week. Headlining the event is a free concert by Grammy-nominated country singer, Joe Nichols. The city’s 36th annual Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee will be held on Georgia Avenue in North Augusta, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. In 2020 and 2021, the event was canceled due to Covid. Sponsors include Communigraphics, the Augusta GreenJackets, and SouthState Bank. “The Jack-O-Lantern Jubilee has been the flagship event for the City of North Augusta for many years, and its absence

Read More »
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Labor Force Shrinks in CSRA

Job openings for Georgia and South Carolina in August were released last week. In Georgia, they fell 11 percent but in South Carolina, they fell just 1 percent. There are still over two job openings for every unemployed worker in Georgia and South Carolina. These job openings numbers impacted the Augusta Leading Economic Index which fell 0.9 percent in August, from July. In the local labor market, employment increased by 900 jobs to 244,700 and unemployment remained at 3.3 percent. The labor force shrank by 500 people and earnings fell

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Banking group gives out $1 Million bonus

CSRA schools have a bit more cash on hand – a total of $1 million – thanks to SRP Federal Credit Union’s Affinity Debit Card program. SRP announced recently that it reached $1 million in giving back to participating area high schools. That includes 22 South Carolina schools and eight in Georgia. In the program, SRP members use debit cards linked to the school of their choice. Every time a purchase is made using the card, SRP donates money to that particular school. Schools then use the funds for purchasing

Read More »
B2B Stories

Winning in business: Lessons from college football

Much like many others in the South, I spend a good part of my Saturdays watching college football and I am usually rewarded with exciting entertainment. However, unlike many of my fellow fans, I have found college football to be fertile ground for lessons on how to be successful in business. In today’s column, I’ll share some of what I have learned, not only by watching the most successful teams and programs but also by watching those who are not quite as successful. Hopefully, you can take some of these

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Downtown businesses help fund the beautification of Augusta

Sarah Bunjevac is excited about having her business featured in a local coloring book. Bunjevac owns Halo Salon & Spa located at 1122 Broad St., one of 26 businesses, most of which are in downtown Augusta, that will be featured in the book. The book, which is being created by a local nonprofit called Beautify Augusta to fund the restoration of downtown murals, will feature business owners and their storefronts, as well as business and contact information. “I am happy that Halo is part of the new downtown coloring book,”

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Famous toy shop reopens in Augusta, nationwide

Maybe you didn’t want to grow up because you were a Toys “R” Us kid. But you can now shop for your own kids at the iconic toy store by visiting Macy’s in the Augusta Mall. Macy’s has partnered with a company called WHP Global to bring the Toys “R” Us brand to all its stores throughout the United States, according to a company spokeswoman, Stephanie Jimenez. Jimenez said the Augusta store opened its nearly 1,500-square-foot shop, which is located on the lower level, on Aug. 1. “Since last August,

Read More »
B2B Stories

Augusta company expanding, adding jobs, to build EV battery parts

An Augusta company plans to build a new plant that will bring 600 jobs to the area and help electric vehicles drive farther on a battery charge. Last week, the federal government announced that Solvay Specialty Polymers, an international company with a facility in Augusta, will receive $178.2 million through the infrastructure bill passed earlier this year by Congress. Solvay plans to use the money to build a new plant in Augusta that will create about 500 construction jobs and about 100 skilled manufacturing jobs. The new facility will be

Read More »