B2B Stories

Changing Marketplace: Impacts of Trump 2025

In last week’s column, I encouraged you to regularly evaluate the elements of your marketplace that might impact the value proposition that you make to your customers. Those elements include your customers, competitors, company, and the “environment” of your marketplace. I indicated that as any of these elements change, they can have a profound impact on the effectiveness of your value proposition. In today’s column, I want to focus on the marketplace environment as it is the most likely to experience change given the first ten days of President Trump’s

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B2B Stories

Major Healthcare Investment to Benefit CSRA

A new facility planned by Augusta University got a boost from Atlanta and is expected to benefit the school and the region. Ga. Gov. Brian Kemp’s (R) amended FY 2025 budget includes nearly $100 million to fund the construction of a new research building for Augusta University’s Health Sciences campus. Dr. Russell Keen, President of Augusta University, told ABD this is an exciting time for the university as it expands its reputation for research. “This building is the beginning of an aggressive strategy to grow not only our researchers and

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Most residential building permits in 25 years!

It has been a while since I updated the Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) and there have been some interesting developments. In September and October, there were 572 and 545 new residential building permits issued for the August Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The September number is the second highest, and the October number the fourth highest, since records began in January 2000. This represents good news for the construction industry and the supply of housing to help ensure affordable housing. Initial claims for unemployment insurance took a hit in October,

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Consumer Stories

Will the 3rd Move be a Charm for BAM?

After several weeks of buzz regarding a potential new location for Aiken’s Books-A-Million (BAM), ABD has confirmed that space is being renovated for the bookstore at 243 Fabian Drive in Hitchcock Plaza. United Properties Corporation (UPC) based in East Meadow, New York owns shopping centers across Long Island and in 17 other states east of the Mississippi. The company is handling the leasing arrangements for Hitchcock Plaza which includes the new site for BAM. Four years ago, the bookstore was located in Aiken Mall. That store closed in July 2021.

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B2B Stories

Kemp’s amended budget has good news for Augusta

Ga. Gov. Brian Kemp (R) pointed to the Peach State’s continued economic health in his 2025 State of the State address on Jan. 16. He said Georgia had withstood unforeseen challenges, including a pandemic and major weather disasters, while retaining its number one ranking as the best state to do business for the 11th year. Kemp’s speech highlighted the broad strokes of the state’s economic picture, past and future, and included a call to lower the personal income tax to 5.19% from the current 5.39%. However, in his amended FY2025

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B2B Stories

U.S. Chamber outlook for American business

The President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce traveled to Texas to present her 2025 State of American Business address. Suzanne Clark stepped away from the Chamber headquarters in Washington, D. C. to emphasize the fact that, in her words, all business is local. “Because the economic growth that powers people’s lives comes from cities and regions and states where private enterprise, supported by smart public policy, drives progress and creates opportunity,” said Clark. “And that kind of public-private partnership not only helps propel thriving communities but helps

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Consumer Stories

Two South Augusta businesses closing this week

A 52-year-old business and a retail liquidator are closing. Daniel Feed and Seed, which supplies gardening products, fertilizer, and much more is closing for good. Tomorrow and Thursday are the last days to take advantage of the liquidation. Stop by during the day at 2066 Old Savannah Road in South Augusta. Want to buy a futon for $100 or a full-sized refrigerator/freezer for $200? The Hidden Peach says it is going out of business this Friday. The retail liquidator is open all week from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. They

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Consumer Stories

Neighborhood store thrives during stormy weather

Helen Story lives 10 minutes away from Furys Ferry Hardware and appreciates the extra service from staff members like Mya Jackson—especially on the eve of last week’s snowstorm. “I bought poinsettias for a birthday gift,” said the Marietta, Georgia native. “The people are so helpful and the store is always so clean,” she added. May’s been on the team since the build-out started in May 2024. Houston Maund (pictured in center), Mya, and Ken help a customer with a special order. Longtime family friends, Maund and Charles Cates opened Furys

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B2B Stories

AI and the Future of Your Business

An old truism advises it is all in how you word it. Small businesses are finding that it is especially accurate as they venture into using artificial intelligence (AI). The North Augusta Chamber of Commerce kicked off its Power Lunch series for 2025 with “AI: The Future of Business Starts Here.” Matthew Jay, Chief Operating Officer with PC Techware, explained the importance of being accurate and precise when giving instructions to AI. He said successfully using AI is no different from a basic principle for any business. He said it

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Residential Real Estate

Best of Real Talk Real Estate: CSRA Real Estate Market Update: What’s Happening in Augusta and Surrounding Areas?

Editor’s Note: As we are winding down a new month in a new year, it seemed a great time to recap what has happened and what is on the horizon for the CSRA real estate market. If you’re following the real estate market in Augusta, GA, you know it’s been an eventful year. From shifting demand to fluctuating interest rates, buyers and sellers alike are navigating a changing landscape. Here’s a snapshot of the latest trends, insights, and what I expect to see as we move toward the end of

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