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Georgia filmmaking soon to be back in action?

118 Days after declaring an industry walkout, SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating team announced the news that millions had long been waiting for: “We have reached a deal.” What does that mean for Georgia and specifically the CSRA? With the massive agreement comes the return of film to Georgia, and already a lot of high-profile projects are scuttling to get back to production. Clint Eastwood’s newest film, Juror #2, will soon begin shooting in Savannah. Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World will proceed with filming in Atlanta’s Trilith studios. While it isn’t yet

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Patrick Reynolds: How is inflation impacting the hiring process?

There’s not an easy button. Here’s a look back at May’s Employment Recruitment & Retention Panel discussion from ABD’s Conference and Expo, as Patrick Reynolds, CEO of Cross Link Consulting, explains the necessity of working together, even in difficult situations.

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Hitting the road with Georgia’s film industry

Georgia Entertainment News has scheduled the Georgia Unscripted Roadshow to crisscross the state and highlight the impact the entertainment industry has on the Peach State. The organization advocates for Georgia’s entertainment industry and kicked off the road trip on June 22 in Athens. It will continue on its nine-city journey through the state, which includes a planned stop in Augusta on August 23. “We’re advocacy media, we’re a publication that covers the industry,” said Randy Davidson, President of Georgia Entertainment News. “Our editorial pages are pro the state investing further

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Georgia Business Minute: Ready to take-off!

Soaring job opportunities could be coming to the Peach State soon, thanks to an aircraft engine manufacturer expected to invest in our region. If accomplished, it would bring nearly 400 jobs to the area, adding to Georgia’s rank as one of the top five exporters of aerospace products in America. Learn more from Mike Petchenik reporting in Atlanta with the latest on this and other stories in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Mondays with Rick: Internship story: “These are my people”

In my last two columns, I wrote about the positive impacts internship programs can have on individual students, companies, and the economic and workforce development of a community. The first of those two columns focused on two local internship programs for high school students, while the second discussed the value of Augusta University’s Hull College of Business, requiring its students to complete an internship prior to graduation. In my next two columns, I will conclude my series on internships by sharing the stories of my older daughter, Audie and my

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Simon Says: Where do the numbers stand on income inequality?

Income inequality in the U.S. has been rising since 1980. However, the latest data for 2020 show a steep decline as shown in the chart below. The Gini index for the U.S. fell from 41.5 in 2019 to 39.7 in 2020. A value of 0 implies perfect equality and 100 implies perfect inequality. The decline probably represents the Covid checks and other support sent out by the federal government in 2020. Locally, county Gini estimates for 2021 show higher inequality. Columbia County had a Gini index of 41.9 and Richmond

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Economic Update: Are you hungry?

We’ve got stories that will work up an appetite! Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon talk about local entrepreneurs treading a path in the food business. Get to know the details on all that and more in this week’s economic update.

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THE MARATHON CONTINUES

Putting in the time since 2009… For the past six months, the Auben leadership team has had a lot of conversations about our upcoming market expansion. As we seek to build teams and open offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, and Greenville/Spartanburg in the next 90 days, we want to ensure we act expeditiously to capitalize on market dynamics perfectly aligned with our SFR investor focus. However, we also want to proceed with the prudence of an organization which intends to be managing assets for our clients’ grandchildren. It’s a delicate balance.

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Davis Beman: How do businesses cope with inflation?

Focus on what you do best! We take a look back at the economic panel discussion from ABD’s Conference and Expo in May. Davis Beman, principal of Beman Real Estate Company, speaks about the importance of maintaining great relationships and confidence as businesses face high interest rates.

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Georgia Business Minute: Ready, set, action!

And cut! According to a study produced by film advocates, Georgia would benefit from investing more in the film industry. However, an economic expert in Georgia is questioning their findings. Learn more from Mike Petchenik reporting in Atlanta with the latest on this and other stories in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Simon Says: A look at pay data in local counties

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) just released annual pay data for 2022 for all counties in the U.S. Locally, Burke County has the highest annual pay at $98,427, followed by Aiken County at $48,118. The BLS has not yet provided a breakdown of the average annual pay by industry, but it is likely that these high county averages represent engineers at Plant Vogtle and Savannah River Site. The more rural counties of Lincoln and Edgefield saw the largest percentage change in average annual income between 2021 and 2022, with

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Always something new in town

Carey Pifer, relocation director of Southeastern Residential, sits down with Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to share her thoughts about moving to the area nearly 18 years ago. Pifer says, she finds there are many benefits to living in the region, with new places to go and family-friendly spaces as key factors. Those interested in learning more about Southeastern Residential can visit www.southeasternresidential.com.

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Mondays with Rick: Internships – The Hull Difference

This is the second in my series of columns on the value of internships. In my last column, I highlighted the outstanding summer internship programs in Augusta-Richmond County (Students2Work) and Columbia County for high school students to be introduced to potential future careers and the “work world” at local businesses. In addition, I indicated the benefits not only to the young people and companies participating in those programs, but also to the workforce development of the CSRA.  In today’s column, I will discuss the vital role that Augusta University’s Hull

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Economic Update: Here’s a great deal!

As mentioned in articles from last week, Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon take the time to discuss the ins and outs of sales. They also congratulate the local award-winning SHRM chapter and give a warm welcome to a new military-themed restaurant. Be sure to learn the latest on all this and more in the economic update of the week!

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Doing some homework on new school coming to the area

Students in Aiken County have just started enjoying their summer vacation; however, school district leaders are working this summer to prepare to open a new school for the 2023-2024 school year. Highland Springs Middle School is under construction just off Belvedere-Clearwater Road and is phase one of a two-part project. Phase two will be the construction of an elementary school. The middle school will be two stories, 134,000 square feet, and able to accept 750 students. Once built, the elementary school will add 61,500 square feet, also two stories, with

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Economic Update: Grovetown Growth

Just as Dana Lynn McIntyre reported last Friday, Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon talk about Palmetto Industries’ groundbreaking at Horizon South Industrial Park and what that means for local employment. Gordon and Coach Dave also congratulate a local business owner on her retirement and reflect on the importance of exceeding customer expectations. Be sure to learn the latest on all this and more in the economic update of the week!

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Mondays with Rick: Internships – Everyone wins!

In one of my most recent columns on economic development, I stressed that workforce availability and development have become the number one criterion for companies in deciding where to locate their facilities. Therefore, there is probably nothing more important to the CSRA’s economic development than building and developing its workforce. While attracting a workforce from outside of the area is a key component of workforce development, the most important aspect of building a strong workforce comes from developing and retaining the talent that already resides in the area. While education,

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Georgia Business Minute: Electrifying news in EV market

A South Korean-based company has announced plans to open a plant near Dublin, GA. that will create heating and air systems for electric vehicles, as well as providing technology that will help maintain battery functions. If accomplished, nearly 20 million dollars will be invested and over 100 workers are expected to be hired. Mike Petchenik reports from Atlanta with the latest on this and other stories in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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South Augusta’s surge in development: Part two

A quiet explosion of economic development has been underway in South Richmond County, $3.2 billion in all. A long-time plant has expanded, another major new manufacturing plant is under construction and two other companies are expected to start construction in the months ahead. All are in the Augusta Corporate Park on Mike Padgett Highway. But, two things are lacking outside of the I-520 perimeter, a pool of trained workers and sufficient new housing units to attract employees at the plants to move into Richmond County. Cal Wray, President of the

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Simon Says: Here’s where employment was during Masters month

Despite the upturn in the Augusta Leading Economic Index reported last week, employment in the metro area continues to decline. Employment fell slightly by 200 jobs in April from March and is down almost 4,000 jobs since November 2022. Obviously, April was Masters month, and leisure and hospitality employment jumped 3,400 (not seasonally adjusted). This was less than in 2022, when the Masters bump was 4,200. With little month-to-month change in the seasonally adjusted total employment level, most industries did not see big changes in seasonally adjusted employment levels. Most

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Georgia Business Minute: Powering up…

Georgia Power reported that its Unit 3 reactor at Plant Vogtle has reached 100% energy output for the first time. The new reactor, just south of Augusta, can generate enough energy to power half-million homes and businesses across the area. Mike Petchenik reports from Atlanta with the latest on this and other stories in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Helping you start strong

Carey Pifer, relocation director of Southeastern Residential, sits down with Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to talk about ways in which they help companies relocate their employees. Pifer says that it’s important for companies to consider the family needs of their job candidates. Those interested in learning more about Southeastern Residential can visit www.southeasternresidential.com.

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South Augusta’s surge in development: Part one

South Augusta is having a surge of economic development, $3.2 billion worth of economic development to be exact, that few people have seen. Some of the largest companies will be in the Augusta Corporate Park off Mike Padgett Highway. The park is a “Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Certified” site. One plant, Starbucks, has been in operation since July 2012 as the first company-owned facility to produce soluble products. Those are used in Starbucks via instant and the coffee base for many of the Starbucks bottled and canned beverages.

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Mondays with Rick: Take me out to the ballgame!

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about how minor league baseball enhances the CSRA’s economic development. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: In the Augusta GreenJackets, the CSRA has a minor league baseball team that led all of the Single A teams in attendance last year. How does having a minor league team help the area’s economy? Rick: It’s important because it’s part of the

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Simon Says: Giving you good news

Do you want the good news or the bad news? My wife always says give me the bad news then cheer me up! So, last month I reported that the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) area was the worst-performing labor market in Georgia over the last year (bad news), but the Leading Economic Index (LEI) has continued good news. After rising 0.6 percent in February, it increased by 1.2 percent in March using a three-month moving average. The LEI is made up of local (MSA), regional (State), and national indicators

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Economic Update: Change is coming!

Just as Mitzi Oxford reported in a top story last week, Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon talk about Fort Gordon’s name change to Fort Eisenhower and what that means for the area. On the subject of name changes, see which automotive shop in town will also operate under a new name. Get to know the details on all that and more in this week’s economic update.

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ABD’s focus on economic development in the CSRA

Augusta Business Daily’s fourth Conference and Expo allowed attendees to learn about local small businesses, meet business owners, and have good old-fashioned networking at SRP Park on May 17. In addition to this, the event consisted of two-panel discussions, with one focusing on economic development and the other on employment recruitment and retention. It was standing room only for the economic development panel, with Lauren Dallas of Augusta Tomorrow as emcee and featuring, Steve Clayborn of Salamis, LLC, Davis Beman of Beman Real Estate, Bob Bigger of SRP, and Derek

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ABD’s focus on economic development in the CSRA

Augusta Business Daily’s fourth Conference and Expo allowed attendees to learn about local small businesses, meet business owners, and have good old-fashioned networking at SRP Park on May 17. In addition to this, the event consisted of two-panel discussions, with one focusing on economic development and the other on employment recruitment and retention. It was standing room only for the economic development panel, with Lauren Dallas of Augusta Tomorrow as emcee and featuring, Steve Clayborn of Salamis, LLC, Davis Beman of Beman Real Estate, Bob Bigger of SRP, and Derek

Read More »
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Mondays with Rick: Benchmarking: A key to economic development success

I am a huge fan of benchmarking as a tool for evaluating both progress and success. However, benchmarking is also a great tool for identifying ideas for improvement. My experience with benchmarking has typically come from evaluating and improving business products and processes. In this column, I would like to share with you what benchmarking is, the different types of benchmarking and my past experience of helping to apply benchmarking to an area’s economic development, and how we might apply it in a similar way here in the Augusta area.

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Mondays with Rick: Benchmarking: A key to economic development success

I am a huge fan of benchmarking as a tool for evaluating both progress and success. However, benchmarking is also a great tool for identifying ideas for improvement. My experience with benchmarking has typically come from evaluating and improving business products and processes. In this column, I would like to share with you what benchmarking is, the different types of benchmarking and my past experience of helping to apply benchmarking to an area’s economic development, and how we might apply it in a similar way here in the Augusta area.

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Economic Update: ABD Extra Conference and Expo Edition

In this week’s economic update, we take a look at the employee recruitment and retention panel discussion from ABD’s Conference and Expo last week! Darin Myers, who is co-owner of TAB CSRA, speaks about interviewing job candidates and creating company values. This panel was moderated by Mike Petchenik who creates the weekly Georgia Business Minutes and other media for Augusta Business Daily.

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Keeping you up on a great product

Keith Perret, State Farm Insurance agent, sits down with Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to discuss hiring and skills to be successful in the insurance business. Perret says companies and employees should find different ways to talk about products to fit consumer needs. For more information, contact Perret at his website: https://www.kpinthehouse.com/.

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Georgia Business Minute: Just doing our jobs

That’s right. A record number of Georgians are employed. Though the CSRA has fallen short according to recent employment statistics, unemployment reports have remained steady for the ninth month throughout the Peach State. Mike Petchenik reports from Atlanta with the latest on this and other stories in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Simon Says: Looking at the labor market

The Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area had the worst labor market over the last year of all metro areas in the state of Georgia. The Labor Market Index (LMI) for Augusta fell 0.4 percent from March 2022 through March 2023. Only Hinesville and Warner Robins also saw declining LMIs. The Georgia LMI grew by 0.9 percent over the past year. Columbus had the best labor market over the last year. Across the state, employment increased by 2.8 percent, or 133,400 jobs over the last year. By contrast, Augusta lost 1,100 jobs

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Local meeting highlights workforce development, business initiatives

Nate Lauger helps people find local jobs in a variety of industries and has noticed a significant decline in the number of skilled workers he serves. On Thursday, Lauger, operations manager for Manpower, was one of several CSRA business professionals who attended this month’s Good Morning, North Augusta speaker series hosted by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce. Sponsors for the event included Bridgestone, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, and SRP Federal Credit Union. “If you’re looking for skills, it’s a lot harder,” he said. Specifically, Lauger said many workers lack

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Mondays with Rick: Use your pain points for new business opportunities

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about how and when to take advantage of business opportunities. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: Several weeks ago, we talked about the importance of innovation in business success, but often, innovation involves taking advantage of new opportunities. What should we view as opportunities? Rick: Author, Clayton Christensen, who developed the idea of “disruptive innovation,” said that business opportunities

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Simon Says: Here’s the latest numbers on recruitment and retention

I am looking forward to the Augusta Business Daily Conference and Expo on Wednesday. As a primer for the recruitment and retention panel discussion at 11 a.m., I wanted to provide statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on recruitment and retention. By far, the most popular strategy for recruiting is higher pay, with 7.1 percent of firms in Georgia and 7.6 percent of firms in South Carolina using this strategy. Offering higher pay is the most popular choice across all industries. The next most popular strategy is expanded

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What does the Writer’s Guild strike mean for Augusta’s film industry?

Augusta’s burgeoning film industry could be threatened by a nationwide strike. The strike by members of the Writers Guild of America is entering its third week. This is the union’s first strike in approximately 15 years. Among the first shows to be impacted were nighttime talk shows, specials, and comedies, like Saturday Night Live. Atlanta television station WSB is reporting even catering businesses are impacted. When productions halt, so do catering requests. “We are carefully watching it,” said Jennifer Bowen, Vice President of Destination Development & Community Engagement at Destination

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Georgia Business Minute: The wheels on the bus go…

Round and round. However, nearly 1,400 Georgia workers at one of America’s largest school bus manufacturers are voting on whether to unionize, asking for better pay and hours. Mike Petchenik reports from Atlanta on that and other stories in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Understanding Today’s Commercial Real Estate Market: What’s Changing?

Davis is the Principal of the Beman Real Estate Group and Vice President and Director of Commercial Real Estate at Blanchard and Calhoun, sits down with Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to discuss the commercial real estate market in the CSRA. Beman says there has been a shift in the demand for certain spaces in retail, dining, and offices, following adjustments made after the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, contact Beman at his website: www.bemangroup.com.

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Businesses want an educated, skilled workforce and education is the answer

Events touting education, partnerships between business and educational institutions, and how they prepare local residents for highly skilled in-demand careers stood center stage last week in Augusta. Three events, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Augusta University and the Savannah River Nuclear Lab, A.R. Johnson High School students getting hands-on education in cancer research and a new format for the dual enrollment program between Augusta University and the Columbia County School District will all impact workforce development and how education is the silver bullet to make this area

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Simon Says: Connection between innovation and higher education?

In 2015, according to the latest year data available, there were 10 utility patents granted that originated in Richmond County. A recent study by Michael Andrews (https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/pol.20200320), examines the role of higher education institutions, such as Augusta University and Georgia Tech, in local invention. Higher education institutions may affect invention directly by conducting research or indirectly by driving population growth. Ideally, to understand the role of higher education on economic development and innovation, we would want to randomly assign universities to locations and measure innovation and economic activity before and

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Mondays with Rick: Employee Retention–It’s All About Your Culture

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” That quote from a famed management expert, Peter Drucker, is familiar to any of us who have studied how to lead modern organizations. Drucker’s quote implies that your company’s culture is what determines your firm’s success, regardless of how effective your strategy may be. However, I take issue with that interpretation. What I believe Drucker meant is that in order for a company’s strategy to be successful, it must have a company culture that allows it to execute the strategy appropriately. The bottom line is

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Real estate development in a growing area

Nancy Powell, owner of Powell & Associates, Inc., sits down with Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to discuss the CSRA’s growing real estate market. Powell says that when comparing prices, newly built homes might actually be a less expensive alternative. Those interested in learning more about real estate can visit Nancy Powell’s website at https://www.powellpropertypros.com.

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Economic Update: Thanking the next generation

Just as Dana Lynn discussed in our top story this week, Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon talk about programs that will not only bring jobs, but could provide vital treatment options for cancer in the future. Be sure to get to know the details on all this and more in the latest economic update.

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Economic Update: Thanking the next generation

Just as Dana Lynn discussed in our top story this week, Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon talk about programs that will not only bring jobs, but could provide vital treatment options for cancer in the future. Be sure to get to know the details on all this and more in the latest economic update.

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Georgia Business Minute: Turning lemons into lemonade

It’s just what you need on a Georgia summer day! The state recently passed a law that would exempt minors from needing to access a permit to set up a lemonade stand, as long as they make under $5,000. Mike Petchenik reports from Atlanta on that and other stories in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Economic Update: “Feeling Good”

We knew that you would! Join Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to recap the week that was. They discuss a bill Governor Brian Kemp signed in Augusta that will assist in creating a reimagined James Brown Arena, providing new jobs and bringing big names to the CSRA. Be the first to get the scoop on all this and more in the latest economic update!

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Nutritional Resources Inc. and Ovation Foods Announce Strategic Partnership

Nutritional Resources Inc. dba HealthWise, a Grovetown, Georgia creator of meal replacements and high protein nutritional foods announced a strategic and financial partnership with Ovation Foods Inc. based in Waterloo, Wisconsin in a press release April 27. In a statement released by Nutritional Resources Inc., the company said that it finds Ovation Foods Inc. to hold similar values. “For almost 30 years, Nutritional Resources has been committed to providing healthcare professionals with the highest quality, greatest tasting, and affordable nutritional products to help their patients reclaim their passion for life.

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Mondays with Rick: Innovation is a necessity for a successful business

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about the reasons why a business must always keep innovating to stay successful. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: There’s a quote about innovation, attributed in some form to several people, that says, “If you stop growing, you start dying.” Why is innovation so important? Rick: The analogy I always use is if you’re going the speed limit on

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Georgia Business Minute: Small-business boom?

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp came to Augusta last week to sign three bills, one of which will make it easier for minority, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses to receive required certifications. Mike Petchenik reports from Atlanta on that and other stories in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Simon Says: Employment declines in the CSRA

Last week, I reported an improvement in the labor market variables in the Leading Economic Index (LEI). After falling from mid-summer 2022, there was an improvement in the first two months of this year. Unfortunately, the main indicator of labor market health, employment, has yet to show signs of recovery. As suggested by the decline in the LEI since mid-summer, employment in the Augusta MSA has fallen from 245,200 in November to 241,000 in March (see graph). Education and health services, professional and business services and transportation and utilities all

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Real financial figures in for Masters 2023

Business, government and tourism leaders are tallying up the financial impact of the 2023 Masters Golf Tournament and all are showing a return to pre-COVID-19 numbers. One thing everyone agreed on is that this year marked the return for what they were calling a “full blown” Masters Week, a return to pre-pandemic levels, in both number of visitors and excitement. Destination Augusta reports the Augusta/Richmond County lodging sector saw substantial gains in revenue compared to the same time last year. Destination Augusta uses two companies that specialize in data for

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Economic Update: Sweet Sound of Success

Who’s causing all that racket? Sounds like Columbia County! Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher Neil Gordon discuss a new deal that will allow for a public tennis court in the area. If you have a sweet tooth, you might want to check out Alumni Cookie Dough’s new location with a local coffee shop. In addition, Holdeman reviews three tips to help businesses create welcoming environments for employees. Be the first to get a big, cookie dough-sized scoop on these tips

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Simon Says: Receding Recession?

The Augusta Leading Economics Index has reversed its slide from the summer of 2022 to the end of the year. The latest data for February 2023 shows the index up 0.6 percent using a three-month moving average. The unadjusted change from January is much bigger at 1.9 percent. However, given the fall witnessed in the last two quarters of 2022, the index is below February 2022 levels. Residential building permits increased in both January and February suggesting improvement in the overall housing market, including suppliers such as lumber, masonry and

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Georgia Business Minute: Saying “no” to the dress?

Augusta’s own David’s Bridal location on Walton Way Extension will be affected by the move the company announced last week, stating that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Atlanta reporter Mike Petchenik discusses which other locations in Georgia will be impacted, as nearly 10,000 nationwide will lose jobs in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Get to know Azalea Investments LLC

Azalea Investments 699 Broad Street www.azaleaoutdoor.com Contact: President Derek May Phone: 706.823.3302 As a former professional table tennis player, Derek May knows a thing or two about winning. May, a former national collegiate champion from Augusta College and U.S. national team member, is the current over 50 national table tennis champion. In his day job as president of Augusta’s Azalea Investments, he draws from that competitive spirit to harness success in the business world. “I like to compete,” May told Augusta Business Daily.  “In sports, you learn discipline.” May’s ascent

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Mondays with Rick: CSRA Economic Development: The Holes that Need to be Filled

In my previous two columns for this newsletter, I discussed many of the positive aspects of the CSRA when it comes to economic development. Remember, when we discuss an area’s potential for economic development, we have to consider the aspects of that area that would attract existing businesses to move or expand to that area and the area’s ability to provide an environment that stimulates the creation of new businesses. In my first column on March 20, I provided a number of reasons as to why the CSRA is a

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Construction projects that will grow workforce development for jobs

Ambitious projects at Aiken Technical College and the Aiken County Public School District will create new pathways for workforce development. Aiken Tech will build a new, state-of-the-art Nursing Education Center. The school district will replace its aging Career and Technology Center with a new facility. The combination will allow both institutions to expand educational programs to train future job seekers in myriad fields. The school district has started looking at fields that are in demand and growing. “We’ve talked about a few specifics, particularly with cyber,” said Superintendent King Laurence.

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Georgia Business Minute: Not-so-secret ingredient

Atlanta reporter, Mike Petchenick discusses a recent report from the Daily Mail detailing the process to retrieve an ingredient for the popular soft-drink Coca-Cola. Petchenick also highlights the state’s investments in electric vehicles and efforts to a crackdown on human trafficking in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Simon Says: Staffing Strategies

The labor shortage continues to be a concern for many businesses. The Augusta metro area employment level is still 4,000 persons below pre-pandemic levels and the labor force is almost 8,000 people fewer. A new survey of businesses conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates how firms are trying to attract more applicants. The most popular strategies were increased advertising and higher starting pay. Nationwide, 5.4% of establishments have increased advertising, with 11.8% of accommodation and food services and 9.7% of health care and social assistance increasing advertising. The

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North Augusta continues to grow

North Augusta was seen as a sleepy, small town, a bedroom community for Augusta for decades. Today, change and growth has arrived in North Augusta. According to the U.S. Census in 2010, North Augusta had a population of 21,348. That broke down to 4,764 families and 9,003 households. By 2020, that jumped to 24,379 residents, a 14% increase, 6,461 families, and 9,754 households. The first sign of what was to come happened in 2012, when a developer approached the city with a plan for 25 acres of undeveloped land near

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More seats, more events, more tourism for CSRA

A $150,000 grant has opened the door for changes to seating capacity at the Sharon Jones Amphitheater in North Augusta. The grant is through the Undiscovered South Carolina program in the state’s Parks, Recreation, and Tourism department. Karl Waldhaur, superintendent of Facilities and Programs in the North Augusta Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department briefed council members during the April 10 study session. “The purpose is to highlight places in South Carolina that have less than $900,000 of accommodations tax revenue,” Waldhaur explained. “So, the purpose is to kind of highlight

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Mondays with Rick: Nine Days of Top-Notch Workforce Development

As you are learning from this special weekly newsletter, economic development is critically important to Augusta and the CSRA, as it is to most cities and regions. As I noted in my initial column for this newsletter, the state of Georgia and this area have been particularly successful in attracting new and existing businesses in recent years. While there have been many reasons for this success, I have learned from Cal Wray, our outstanding President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA), that as we move forward, the number one

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Economic Update: Livin’ the Life in Business

It’s all in the family! Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon congratulate family-owned MAU on 50 years in business. Holdeman and Gordon also discuss a project aiming to bring more tourism to the area and ways companies can measure engagement among their employees to create an ideal workplace culture. Get the latest on this and more in the economic update for this week!

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Georgia Business Minute: Friends in Small Business

A recent study listed the Peach State on the top 10 list of small business-friendly states, particularly among minority small business owners. Atlanta reporter, Mike Petchenick shares which factors contribute to Georgia’s ranking, the latest on unemployment, and a digital contest hosted by an Atlanta-based company in this Georgia Business Minute.

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Business leaders receive the royal red carpet treatment

Green jackets and red carpets are part of the 61st tour of Georgia as business leaders from around the world descend upon the Peach State. The Augusta Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, welcomes business leaders to spend four days learning what the Peach State has to offer.  The tour began yesterday in Atlanta with a reception at the Governor’s Mansion, hosted by Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp. “I talked last night about a great team we have here,” Kemp said. “It’s

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AU and USC Aiken launch new online learning programs

Some new students who arrive at Augusta University for the fall semester will be attending in a non-traditional manner. Augusta University Online is up and running, less than a year after AU President, Dr. Brooks Keel announced the project in his State of the University address. Keel also introduced Dr. Marc Austin, hired as Dean of Augusta University Online, who will helm the new offering. The goal was to have Augusta University Online ready for fall 2023. They reached that goal. “We managed to get it out of the gate,

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Simon Says: Georgia’s tricks of the trade on trading

The Georgia Department of Economic Development and Governor Brian Kemp recently announced that the State of Georgia achieved a record-breaking year for international trade for the second year in a row. Georgia’s total trade with the rest of the world totaled $196 billion in 2022. The press release emphasized the record-breaking $47 billion of exports, an increase of 11% on 2021. Canada, Mexico, and China represent Georgia’s three largest export markets. What was not mentioned is that imports must have made up the other $149 billion. In fact, imports grew

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The Buzz on The Bee’s Knees

The Finem Group at Meybohm Commercial announced in a press release on March 30, that The Bee’s Knees space is now up for lease. In November of last year, the popular hub in Downtown Augusta announced that it would permanently close its doors. According to Meybohm Commercial, the space is an ideal layout for a restaurant, coffee shop, or bar, consisting of two serving areas with both a kitchen and a wet bar. The space is considered to be in great condition, requiring minimal buildout by a future leaseholder. Meybohm

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What is Business Interruption Insurance?

Bagwell Insurance marks 50 years in business in 2023! David Bagwell, Vice President of Bagwell Insurance Services, joins Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to discuss different coverage options they offer. Speaking specifically of business insurance, Bagwell said the company helps businesses to continue serving customers as best they can, while necessary repairs are made. Those who are interested in learning more about the types of insurance the company offers, visit the website at www.bagwellins.com.

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Economic Update: Augusta’s ready down to a “tee!”

Join Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon at the 19th hole, just in time for Masters Week! They discuss the first-ever ‘shopping crawl’ in town hosted by Soul City. Small businesses in Augusta are joining together to invite customers to shop with their golf carts for this unique experience. Get the scoop on all that and more in this week’s economic update.

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Mondays with Rick: Weighing the pros and cons of job offers

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he gives tips on how to evaluate a job offer. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: We all hope to be happy at our jobs, but sometimes, we reach a point where we have to look for something else. What are some things to keep in mind when evaluating a job offer when seeking new employment? Rick: Part of what might

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Help to keep mind, body, and career healthy

An Augusta University professor has published a book on finding work-life balance and avoiding burnout. Dr. William Hatcher, chair of the Department of Social Sciences in Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, has co-authored a book entitled Work-Life Balance in Higher Education. Though it started as a collection of essays that had been published in the Journal of Public Affairs Education, the publisher urged Hatcher to include additional information, appealing to a broader audience. “When people have more control, reasonable demands and support from their organizations, they tend

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Simon Says: Losses, Gains, and the Game of Golf

Many people are susceptible to loss aversion and golfers are no exception. Loss aversion means that individuals feel the pain of loss more than twice, as much as the benefit of the equivalent gain. In golf, this means the golfer psychologically suffers more from a bogey on a hole than the joy of a birdie. In other walks of life, people hold on to loss-making stocks longer than they should because they fear the emotional consequences of selling at a loss. Soccer teams play for the draw rather than the

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What’s a BATNA?

Steven Clayborn, C.P.M., CPCM Salamis, LLC sits down with Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to discuss BATNA, short for Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. When it pertains to employees, Clayborn said it is important for them to have an alternative plan set in place when it comes to making choices as to whether or not they will pursue employment at a particular business.

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Simon Says: Looking at the power of Plant Vogtle

Georgia Power announced on Monday, March 7 that it had begun splitting atoms in reactor 3 at Plant Vogtle. The previous week, my students and I had toured the facility with Mike McCracken, Communications Coordinator for Southern Nuclear Company, to learn more about the economics of nuclear power and what it means to our area. Southern Nuclear announced it would file an Early Site Permit to build Units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle in 2005. At the time, the estimated cost was $14 billion. Currently, it is more than

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GreenJackets getting the green light on updates

The Augusta GreenJackets stadium has been making improvements just in time for opening day on April 11. Located at SRP park in North Augusta, S.C., the stadium is a key feature of activity in the CSRA. New suite level floors have been added from B&B Decorative Concrete. “We love working with local companies to improve SRP Park,” said Tom Denlinger, vice president of Augusta GreenJackets. The renovations to the stadium come as many minor league baseball teams are going through similar upgrades. Improvements made to the park are there to

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A step closer to funding the new James Brown Arena

A bill to cover the cost to build a new James Brown Arena is making its way through the Georgia Legislature. Meetings in Atlanta earlier this year gave Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority members the opportunity to ask state lawmakers to support a new, half a penny sales tax for the project. “We went before a sales tax committee, just to tell them about our project, what we’re doing and why we wanted to have (half) penny sales tax added to build a new arena,” said Brad Usry, chairman of the

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Mondays with Rick: How to recruit employees with a plan for retention

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he gives tips on recruiting employees who will stay. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: We’re in a time period when just about everyone is looking for employees, especially those who they can retain. What’s the starting point when trying to recruit someone? Rick: Part of it depends where you’re recruiting from, locally or from somewhere else. If you’re recruiting from

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More large-scale development headed to North Augusta

A more than 1,700-acre development is reportedly coming to the North Augusta area. Information surfaced with a post on the Twitter feed of Eureka Earth, an Augusta-based company specializing in “shared robotics and autonomous systems.” Its social media and website feature aerial photos, primarily of the Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters tournament. The tweet included a name for the development, Cypress Shoals, and a link to the developer’s website. The website for Cypress Shoals said it will be a multi-generational, mixed-use development that will include residential lots, condominiums

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Economic Update: Charged and ready to “A.C.E.” business

Ready to “ace” it this week? Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher Neil Gordon look at how a local hotel is preparing for Masters Week in the latest economic update. Holdeman also shares his A.C.E. acronym for business owners to help their employees.

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Georgia Business Minute: Georgia’s “Focus” on Jobs

The Peach State made the Forbes annual list of America’s best large employers. See which companies landed a spot on the list and catch up on the status on the state’s banks in this week’s Georgia Business Minute from Atlanta reporter Mike Petchenik.

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Simon Says: How are Augusta’s employment numbers in 2023?

The first economic data for 2023 is in, and it isn’t good news for the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Employment fell by 2,000 from December to 242,200 which was its lowest level since March 2022. By comparison, employment in the state of Georgia rose by 16,600, and 8,900 in South Carolina. Nationally, the economy added 517,000 jobs in January. Most industries increased employment at the national level, with leisure and hospitality leading the way. Employment in these areas increased by 128,000. Likewise, the Augusta MSA leisure and hospitality jobs

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Here’s what you should know about Secure 2.0

Mark Koppelmann, a financial planner for Financial Connex, sits down with Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to talk about how the newly enacted Secure 2.0 could impact retirement investments. Koppelmann says that businesses and employees should take the time to evaluate their current retirement plans to increase savings and take advantage of certain benefits in place. Those who are interested in learning more about saving for retirement can visit www.financialconnex.com for more information.

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Georgia Business Minute: No bones in boneless wings? You bet!

Augusta has its very own Buffalo Wild Wings at 120 Robert C. Daniel Jr Parkway, with plenty of boneless wings. However, an Illinois man has a ‘bone to pick’ with the Atlanta-headquartered restaurant chain. Mike Petchenik reports from Atlanta with the latest on that, online betting and a new plant heading to the Peach State in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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Economic Update: A look at the people who make businesses go round

There’s much to be glad about! Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon discuss the importance of employee morale and what’s coming to the CSRA in this week’s economic update. They discuss what it takes to run a business, as well as what companies can learn from exit interviews.

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Know Your ‘BATNA’ Prior to Any Negotiation

Have you ever purchased or sold something and later asked yourself, “why in the world did I agree to that?” I have both personally and professionally. In every case, I made that agreement because I had not first developed my BATNA. BATNA is a term first published by Roger Fisher and William Ury in their book Getting to Yes. BATNA is your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement. While a simple concept, it is not often used except by professionals in the purchasing or sales professions. However, it is applicable

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Augusta Tomorrow looks to the future

The driving force behind some of Augusta’s best-known public developments is looking to take the next step. What is Augusta Tomorrow? Augusta Tomorrow is developing a new portion of the overall master plan to improve sections of the city and attract people to the area. From its start in 1982, Augusta Tomorrow has looked at Augusta, what it has, what it needs, and what is available to bring improvements. It used the information to create a master plan targeting areas one step at a time. Among the successes are the

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CSRA: Fertile Ground for Economic Growth and Development

When Neil Gordon told me that he was planning a weekly special issue of the Augusta Business Daily focused on Economic Development, I wholeheartedly thought it would be a great idea and definitely wanted to be a part of it. Upon my arrival in Augusta and the CSRA a little over six years ago, I quickly realized that this area had many of the pieces in place for significant economic development and in those six years, additional important pieces have been put in place. In this, my first column for

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Simon Says: Working “four” days

Workers in the United Kingdom overwhelmingly like a four-day week, according to a new report from Autonomy Research in collaboration with a global team of academics. Surveys of workers found that 39% of employees were less stressed and 71% had reduced levels of burnout. Employees also reported better life-work balance with 54% saying it was easier to balance work with household jobs and 60% reporting an increased ability to combine work and care responsibilities. Businesses also reported positive effects. Revenue increased marginally by 1.4% but there was a huge fall

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Economic Update: Promising growth and increases in the CSRA

An air show is flying into town! Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon discuss the latest business growth and what’s coming to the area in this week’s economic update. Several places have seen increases including the Masters Tournament, Crowne Plaza, and Augusta University’s Jaguar Job Fair, the first it’s hosted since 2019.

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Growing Augusta Regional Airport

A multi-million-dollar grant will be used in a project to reimagine the east end of the terminal building at Augusta Regional Airport. The airport has received a $3 million grant from the Airport Terminal Program, which is included in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Augusta is one of 104 projects submitted by 99 airports across the country. The money comes at a time when the airport is beginning a $5-million-dollar expansion around gates three and four. Those gates date back to the time when Augusta was serviced by airlines using

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Mondays with Rick: Economic Development enhances area businesses

  Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about the way the CSRA’s economic development plans help businesses. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: It’s always big news when a large company decides to locate in our area and it’s usually announced by one of the Economic Development Authorities as part of their economic development plan. What is an economic development plan? Rick: It’s deciding what we need

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CSRA Staffing expert updates ABD on labor status

Nate Lauger, Operations Director of Manpower, sits down with Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to discuss ways employers and employees can find jobs that are suitable for them. Lauger says he’s able to help businesses and job seekers save time and resources when looking for positions. The CSRA branch of the company can be found at www.manpwr.com.

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