Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Thinking about renting your home for next Masters Week? Start now!

It is Masters Week here in Augusta and the weekend is upon us! There is a major buzz about Tiger playing after his accident. He brings such excitement to the course even for those who are not into golf! Half the town is doing something related to the tournament and the other half has left to enjoy Spring Break. I honestly think that since so many Augusta residents go to Disney this week, we should get a special admission rate! Do you fit into this scenario somehow? Maybe you have

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B2B Stories

International mining company funds GIW expansion project

A global mining company has invested $44 million in expanding a Grovetown company, which will have a major economic impact on not only the CSRA, bus also the region and state, according to Robbie Bennett. Bennett, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Columbia County, helped to celebrate the grand opening of the newly expanded GIW Slurry Pump manufacturing plant at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday. “GIW has shown its commitment to this community,” he said. “They’re a huge economic driver with hundreds of employees.” Slurry refers to a liquid

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B2B Stories

Faith Friday: Local man driven by faith, works to get vehicles driving again

If a name indicates anything about a person, the same could be said about a business. For Matthew Jones, calling his mechanic shop Heavenly Touch Automotive, LLC, just felt right. He knew his steady, years-long rise from high school graduate to eventually becoming a local store manager for a nationwide auto and tire repair company wasn’t just because he’s skilled, talented and Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified. It’s because of his faith. “As the company where I worked was starting to change, I wanted to be able to provide a fair,

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Consumer Stories

New business goes to bat for community baseball, softball players

The Major League baseball season finally opens this week, but that isn’t the only place you’ll hear the sound of bats, striking balls, and pitches popping into catchers’ mitts. You’ll also hear them at the new D-BAT batting cage location at 705 North Belair Road. “Our model is to offer a first-class facility with the latest technology and equipment,” owner/operator, Bryce Massey said. “Whatever is baseball or softball related, we offer high quality.” That includes indoor practice facilities, equipment, and instruction through camps, clinics, and one-on-one interaction. The D-BAT location

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Consumer Stories

Augusta Tech is building the region’s largest auto training center, thanks to a donation

Thanks to a large donation from the Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta Technical College plans to build a new automotive training center later this year in the Laney Walker neighborhood. The center will offer 16 automotive certificate programs to more than 1,200 students each year, making it the largest training center of its kind in the region. “The launch of this training program will prepare a quality workforce for readily available jobs here in Augusta,” said Augusta National Chairman, Fred Ridley. “This contribution reflects our commitment to promoting opportunities for

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B2B Stories

The family-owned company celebrates its 50th Anniversary

The longest-running, locally-owned pest control company in the CSRA is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a party later in the month. A & R Exterminating is owned by the Isdell family and provides pest control, termite inspections/treatments, bed bug treatments, and wildlife inspections and exclusion. A&R Exterminating belongs to Georgia, South Carolina, and CSRA Pest Control Associations. Their party is from 12-2 pm at their headquarters on 2605 Peach Orchard Road in Augusta, including giveaways and refreshments.

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B2B Stories

Sno-cone company expands business into hotter water

You could say the Christie family of the CSRA now has a hot and cold business (model). The Christie family recently added a coffee trailer in front of their Pelican Snowball shop on Edgefield Road in North Augusta. Christie’s Coffee Co. opened in late March selling locally roasted coffee from Buona Caffe, based on Central Avenue in Augusta. They are open until late afternoon throughout the week. The Christie family opened Pelican’s SnoBalls several years ago on 3644 Walton Way Extension and added a stand in Grovetown and North Augusta

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: TBonz

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

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Consumer Stories

Condoleezza Rice helps kick off a new non-profit collaborative

Creating paths to good outcomes is the goal of the HUB Augusta Collaborative, a joint effort between the Community Foundation for the CSRA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta, and the Medical College of Georgia Foundation. Former U.S. Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice spoke about the HUB and the potential impact of the collaborative project on the surrounding communities at a preview event at the site on Tuesday. “You can’t guarantee outcomes, but you can guarantee paths to outcomes,” she said. The event included tours of the two

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B2B Stories

The Book Tavern turns the page to a new, larger location

In the age of digital books and Amazon, a bookstore may seem quaint and old-fashioned. But bookstores remain popular, enough so that The Book Tavern recently relocated to a more spacious location at 978 Broad Street, about half a block from its previous location in the J.B. White’s Building. The Book Tavern opened in its new location on April 1 but a Grand Opening with special events is planned for April 30 in conjunction with Independent Bookstore Day. The move is the culmination of several years of seeking a new

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