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B2B Stories

The Tariff Story: Bad and Good

In last week’s column, I highlighted the many marketplace conditions that are being impacted by the executive orders and policy memoranda delivered in the first two weeks of President Trump’s new administration. During the past week, much of the focus of the administration’s agenda has been on the presentation and execution of tariffs. In today’s column, I will present the big picture on tariffs, how they might impact our economy, and further address how the Trump administration sees tariffs as a major piece of its diplomatic toolbox. As a first

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Dr. Rick Franza February 4, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

$4.9 million Manufacturing Training Collaborative

A trio of mobile advanced manufacturing labs that will bring critical workforce training resources to rural areas across South Carolina were unveiled this week. The event at the William H. “Billy” O’Dell Upstate Center for Manufacturing Excellence in Greenwood was the result of a unique collaborative initiative between Piedmont Technical College, Aiken Technical College, and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. Funding for the mobile labs’ initiative came from a four-year, $4.9 million Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant provided by the U.S. Department of Labor. The purpose of the grant is to address

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Staff Report February 4, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Unveiling a comprehensive tort reform strategy

Ga. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) unveiled a package of tort reform legislation during a news conference at the state capital. Kemp said the legislation he is proposing will level the playing field in the courtroom for large and small businesses while protecting the rights of individuals to pursue legal action when they are harmed. “First, I believe that business owners have a responsibility to keep their customers and the public safe on their premises, but they should not be held liable for criminal acts of a third party outside of

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 4, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Kudos to McDuffie and Edgefield

The Bureau of Economic Analysis has released Gross Domestic Product data for the counties of the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) for 2023. Gross domestic product (GDP) measures the value of all final goods and services produced in the county in 2023. It is adjusted for inflation. The fastest-growing county in the MSA was McDuffie County at 6.3%, the sixteenth fastest-growing county in Georgia. Edgefield County grew at 6%, the sixth fastest in South Carolina. Burke County’s GDP fell by 2.9 percent in 2023. Overall, the MSA’s real (inflation-adjusted) GDP was

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe February 3, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Security changes at Augusta’s airport

The Augusta Aviation Commission gave the green light to the next step to expand security checkpoints at Augusta Regional Airport. Members approved a work authorization of $449,438 for consultant Mead and Hunt for the terminal checkpoint modernization project. “This is testing. This is everything outside the bounds of the contract is included in this. It is also extra oversight,” explained Elizabeth Giles, Senior Construction Project Manager at the airport. “This is a very technical project. It’s a critical project. It affects every aspect of our operations inside this building. So,

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 3, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

CSRA Family Farm Continues “Growing”

What began as a produce stand in North, South Carolina 10 years ago grew into one of the largest family farms in the state. Last April, McCurley Farms started selling produce at Southern Carolina Palms in Aiken. Three months later, Paul McCurley found a permanent location at 949 Doughtery Road. Now, the farm is growing again. “Property became available behind our house in North. We leased another 79 acres a few weeks ago which will give us more space for planting watermelons, beans, and peas,” explained McCurley. Their success has

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Mitzi Oxford February 3, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Calling for sponsors for Fort Eisenhower expo

Businesses from across Metro Augusta are invited to sponsor an upcoming expo at Fort Eisenhower. The Fort Eisenhower Community Expo will be held on April 23 at the Eisenhower Conference and Catering Building. It is sponsored by the post’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) office. Brandi Bitetti, Chief of the Business Operations Division with MWR, told ABD the goal of the expo is to connect soldiers and their families on post with opportunities outside the installation. “Being that our military families typically change duty stations very regularly, a lot of

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 2, 2025 No Comments
Awards

Unique Anniversary Party

A 6th anniversary for a business may not seem like a landmark, but for entrepreneur, TeKay Brown Taylor it is a major milestone. “50 percent of businesses fail within 5 years,” Taylor told a crowd of about 50 vendors, clients, and business friends at a private room at Doc’s Porchside in Grovetown Thursday night. Taylor owns Brownstone Mediation Services to help individuals and companies come to the conclusion it’s better to work out differences than go to court. BMS also provides H.R. training to CSRA companies and governmental agencies. Her

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Neil Gordon February 2, 2025 No Comments
Consumer Stories

50th Anniversary of retailer

Publisher’s Note: I attended Friday’s grand opening and ribbon cut of the 97th Parker’s Kitchen in the Southeast and the 7th in the CSRA. It’s on Washington Road in Evans across from the Riverwood Shopping Center and convenience store competitor The Pumping Station (TPS). I spoke personally with founder Greg Parker about several business topics. The round numbers seem to be adding up. Revenues are approximately $1 Billion per year. Parker’s is planning to build 25 new stores in 2025 including their 100th. His goal for the Augusta market is

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Neil Gordon February 2, 2025 No Comments
Residential Real Estate

Real Talk Real Estate: Essential Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know

Regular home maintenance is crucial for keeping your property in excellent condition and avoiding costly repairs down the line. Whether you’re a first-time homeowner, an experienced one, or renting a home, these practical tips will help you stay on top of essential tasks to maintain your properties’ best functionality. 1. Inspect and Clean Gutters In my experience clogged gutters are worse than not having them at all here in Augusta. Clogged gutters can lead to water damage, roof leaks, and foundation issues. Regularly clean your gutters and downspouts, especially during

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Shawna Woodward, Re/Max Reinvented Evans January 30, 2025 No Comments
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