Chamber News

B2B Stories

Looking back and forward with Columbia County Chamber

The Vice President and Managing Director of Government Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce helped the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce wrap up the 2024 Executive Luncheon series. Tim Monahan offered a glimpse into what he anticipates the first 100 days of the 119th Congress will look like on Capitol Hill as 2025 begins. Up first will be the change in leadership, with Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) stepping in as the new Senate Majority leader. The first chore facing the Senate will be confirmation hearings for income President Trump’s

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Awards

Honoring large and small businesses in Augusta

From one of the smallest to one of the largest, the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce announced its Best in Business 2024 honorees. The annual tradition, held during the Chamber’s final Member Economic Luncheon, pays tribute to Augusta’s Entrepreneur and the Corporation of the Year. Laziza Mediterranean Grill was named Augusta’s Entrepreneur for 2024, and Georgia Power as the 2024 Corporation of the Year. In announcing Laziza owners, Nader (photo right) & Lisa Khatib as the entrepreneur winner, Jay Forrester, Division President of SouthState Bank, said the couple embodies the

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Awards/Celebrations

Best in Business Winners

At the Augusta Metro Chamber’s annual Best in Business award celebration, Innovation and Growth Through Collaboration was the overarching theme, and both recipients have displayed not only the endurance it takes to succeed in business but also a strong commitment to our community and a positive impact on our local economy. Augusta’s Entrepreneur and Corporation of the Year awards were presented by South State Bank. Yesterday, at their final Member Economic Luncheon of the year, the Chamber honored Nader & Lisa Khatib of Laziza Mediterranean Grill as Augusta’s Entrepreneur for

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B2B Stories

3 Chicks in Charge

A first-of-its-kind collaboration between area Business Network International Chapters (BNI) and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce led to a standing-room-only Tuesday at First Baptist Church’s Fellowship Hall. BNI’s contribution was the Augusta Business Summit featuring more than 15 speakers throughout the program that started at 8 A.M and was scheduled to end at 5 P.M. The $100 ticket included admission to the break-out session, high-end swag, and breakfast and lunch before the Chamber’s “Women in Business” program. Audience members got to go behind the curtain of how three powerful

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B2B Stories

New Location for Columbia County Chamber Breakfast

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce has selected an alternative site for its annual Legislative Breakfast. Damage to the Savannah Rapids Pavilion in the wake of Hurricane Helene meant individuals and organizations, including the Chamber, had to find alternate locations for their events. The annual event is set for Nov. 14. “We’re going to be at the DoubleTree Augusta,” Russell Lahodny, President and CEO of the Chamber told ABD. “Everybody’s looking for space, and so DoubleTree Augusta was one of our options that wasn’t already booked, so we chose to

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B2B Stories

Chamber Leaders weigh in on tomorrow’s continuation of 1% sales tax vote

Chamber leaders in Richmond and Columbia County considered the future workforce of the area and how out-of-area companies factor our schools in their decisions to relocate to the CSRA. The Executive leadership for both the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia County Chamber are in agreement on extending the 1% Sales and Use Tax. Voters are encouraged to vote “Yes.” In Richmond County, leaders want to support various essential projects. The extension will go towards constructing and renovating school buildings, improving classroom technology, upgrading athletic and arts facilities,

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B2B Stories

Columbia County businesses working on Hurricane Helene recovery

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is checking in with businesses across the county to gauge their needs in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation. Russell Lahodny, President and CEO of the Chamber, told ABD he and his staff split up contact information in their database and have been calling to get updates from businesses, large and small. “The big thing is just making sure that our business community has the resources they need, letting them know that we’re here to support them through this, whether that be resources with

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B2B Stories

Two years before a popular CSRA event venue is available

The Savannah Rapids Pavilion has hosted Chamber of Commerce meetings and has been a popular choice for weddings and other events. Because of damage from Hurricane Helene, many of those events will be postponed for quite a while. A planned $8 million had been set aside for renovation. Now, that will have to be revisited based on damage to the facility from Hurricane Helene. Officials in Columbia County have been briefed on the extent of damage done to the 25,000-square-foot Savannah Rapids Pavilion conference center. Sitting high atop an 80-foot

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B2B Stories

Chamber Candidate Meet and Greet goes on as scheduled

Even though several thousand residents remain without power, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is working towards a return to normal. The Chamber’s Political Action Committee is moving forward with its plans to host a Meet and Greet, featuring area candidates vying for crucial positions in the upcoming November election. Members of the community are invited to the event to be held this evening, Thursday, October 10th at Greenbrier High School at 6:00 PM. Doors to the auditorium will be open to the public free of charge at 5:30 PM.

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B2B Stories

Businesses step up and area Chambers provide resource lists

As the CSRA continues to fight back from the devastation of Hurricane Helene, area businesses are stepping up to the plate, one of them literally. The Augusta GreenJackets announced plans to open SRP Park from noon until 5 p.m. yesterday offering air conditioning, a chance to recharge phones, and hot dogs and soft drinks from noon until 2 p.m. People will also be able to take home two – 10lb bags of ice. “We’re kind of monitoring around here,” Tom Denlinger, GreenJackets Vice President, told ABD. “But we are fortunate

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