Consumer Stories

A familiar mission setting a new goal

A local nonprofit organization that partners with companies helping individuals face life’s challenges is focusing on a new goal. The Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church of Augusta was packed full of business and community leaders as the United Way of the CSRA (UWCSRA) held its annual campaign kickoff. In years past, it included the announcement of the campaigns’ monetary goal. Not this year. “What we will announce is that our goal is to help 30,000 ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families by the year 2030,” explained Brittany Burnett,

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: CSRA jobs trending down

Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) employment fell to 246,300 in July, according to recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Like the national employment data, the BLS also revised down the Augusta MSA June employment level to 247,600, 500 fewer jobs than previously reported. The Augusta MSA labor market has weakened over the last three months, with three consecutive months of declining employment and over 3,000 jobs lost (see chart below). The decline in employment was felt broadly across nearly all sectors of the Augusta economy.  Professional

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B2B Stories

Encouraging Constructive Conflict Resolution

Publisher’s Note: The following is an excerpt from the book, “Culture Garden,” recently written by Sarah Harris, a West Augusta therapist who also works with many CSRA companies. Her next management workshop is on September 9th. The information is in the excerpt below from pages 41-42. There is a concept in anger management skills training that is referred to as the iceberg effect. The idea is that we understand that only a small portion of an iceberg breaks the surface of the water, and that the majority of the iceberg

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Consumer Stories

Companies sought with bookkeeping and accounting needs

About 10 companies are still needed to match up with students in the AU Hull College of Business accounting program. The SME accounting night event is set for this Wednesday. More than 40 AU Juniors and Seniors will be at the event looking for career opportunities—with another 20+ freshmen also encouraged to attend. So far, 15 employers have agreed to participate. “Many businesses are looking to hire accounting students,” said the Dean of the Hull College of Business, Dr. Mark Thompson. The school will put together resume books of all

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B2B Stories

Business summit planned at Augusta Tech

The Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce (GABCC) is holding its 5th Annual Black Business Summit on the campus of Augusta Technical College. It is this Thursday, and it coincides with August being National Black Business Month, as well as Black Philanthropic Month in Augusta. Ronic West, President and co-founder of GABCC, told ABD the focus will be on introducing attendees to area minority-owned businesses and re-certification, but it will also have information about funding changes anticipated in 2026. “Those changes are cuts to Medicaid, cuts to possibly the share

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B2B Stories

“Counting” on Hockey

It was a hoped-for announcement years in the making, and it has come true. Professional hockey is returning to Augusta. The Grand Lobby of the Bell Auditorium was filled with people for the announcement that the ECHL Board of Governors has approved an expansion team for Augusta, beginning with the 2027-2028 season. The team will play in the new Augusta arena, currently under construction. In the weeks leading up to the 2023 vote to approve a Construction Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (C-SPLOST) to build a new arena, Coliseum

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Consumer Stories

Warehouse-style grocer opening in CSRA

Whether you are feeding a big family, own a restaurant, or other food industry business, you may want to check out the latest location of US Foods CHEF’STORE. Their new store is hosting a Business Preview today at 102 Mason McKnight Jr Parkway at 9:00 AM. They will open to the public tomorrow, Saturday, August 23. US Foods CHEF’STORE is a grocery store designed for food industry professionals to quickly stock up or replenish ingredients, including fresh meat, produce, frozen seafood, and other grocery items in a variety of sizes.

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B2B Stories

Smokin’ success for BBQ entrepreneur

Ironhead Barbeque is celebrating its grand opening tomorrow, Saturday, August 23, from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. You can dive into some award-winning BBQ featuring the South’s favorite cuisine. After two years of running a successful food truck business around the CSRA, owner Kurt Mueller has opened a permanent location at 340 Edgefield Road in North Augusta. As for many small businesses, it’s a story of building from the ground up, of building a business from lessons learned from the beginning. After working at Apollon Wealth Management, Mueller followed his

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B2B Stories

Roadmap to franchising

An organization whose mission is to nurture small businesses and entrepreneurs held an online seminar laying out the roadmap to franchising. Jania Bailey, CEO of FranNet, led the session sponsored by SCORE. Bailey has more than 30 years of experience in the banking and franchising industries. Bailey began with an explanation of franchising. Becoming a franchisee gives access to a blueprint for success based on the track record of the parent company. A franchisee has access to a proven system and procedures to help with rapid and consistent expansion with

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B2B Stories

Game On: The puck will drop again in Augusta

Big news for the CSRA as successful sports leaders team up to bring back hockey to the area for the first time in seven years. Heisman Trophy winner, two-time National Champion, SEC Nation on-air personality, former NFL quarterback, and founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, Tim Tebow, along with business leader David Hodges, announced that the ECHL Board of Governors has approved the expansion application for Augusta, Georgia, for admittance into the league. The team, set to begin play in the new Augusta Arena for the 2027–28 season, will be owned by

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