Economics

B2B Stories

Local Manufacturers score big win against imports

Augusta-based Club Car and Textron, manufacturer of EZ GO and Cushman, led the way in a yearlong battle against Chinese imports of golf carts, personal transportation vehicles, low-speed vehicles, and light utility vehicles (collectively, LSPTVs). The U.S. International Trade Commission has made an affirmative final determination in the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations on LSPTVs from China. The Commission found that domestic producers have been materially injured by unfairly traded imports of Chinese LSPTVs, paving the way for trade remedy orders to be put in place. The

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B2B Stories

REDI for economic development

Business executives and consultants who specialize in helping companies choose just the right spot for a location have a national database at their fingertips. Called REDI Sites, Readiness Evaluation for Development and Investment, it is provided by the Site Selectors Guild (SSG), an organization created to provide businesses with an experienced location strategy professional. Georgia and South Carolina have programs that highlight properties that are prime spots for new or expanding businesses. In South Carolina, they are called Palmetto Site, administered by the South Carolina Department of Commerce. According to

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Simon Says: Hurricane Helene job impact

As the 2025 hurricane season gets underway, the first county-level data capturing the labor market impact of Hurricane Helene last September has just become available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Across the 13 Georgia counties of the Central Savannah River Area Regional Commission (CSRA), employment fell between the third quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter in 6 counties. The largest decline was 1.75% in Lincoln County. Other counties that saw declining employment were Columbia (0.27%), Hancock (0.68%), Jenkins (1.21%), McDuffie (1.17%), and Washington (0.27%). In Georgia, employment increased

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NOAA and NWS cuts could impact CSRA

Today we are battling deadly heat index readings, or “feels like temperatures” of more than 100 degrees. Based on flooding of historic proportions in Texas recently, you might be surprised to learn extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard, causing more fatalities than other weather events, including hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes. The cuts from President Trump for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) amount to more than $1.5 billion and a staff reduction of 1,800 employees. That is the beginning as more cuts are

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Using SPLOST dollars for a new mega site

The Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) has a request on the list of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 9 projects going before the Augusta-Richmond County Commissioners. AEDA is requesting $25 million. It will be used for a pump station, gravity, and 24” force mains to extend residential, commercial, and industrial sewer capacity through South Augusta. The commissioners will review the $426 million worth of projects remaining after County Administrator Tameka Allen culled the original one-billion-dollar wish list that departments and organizations had requested. It will open South Augusta

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SPLOST project can help grow part of CSRA

Augusta-Richmond County Commissioners are preparing to finalize the list of projects for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 9. The initial wish list of projects totaled more than one billion dollars. County Administrator Tameka Allen whittled it down to $426 million over seven years, and the tax will be collected. One of the projects that made Allen’s list would have a substantial impact on developing South Richmond County. The Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) is requesting $25 million to extend residential, commercial, and industrial sewer capacity through South Augusta.

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New leadership for regional development group

The Executive Director of the Development Authority of Burke County is taking on some additional duties. Austin Stacy has been elected as the new Chairman of the Unified Development Authority (UDA). He will be joined by Janet Parker, Director of the Wilkes County Payroll Development Authority, elected as Vice Chairman at the meeting earlier this month. “It (UDA) was put into play because joint development authorities allow for those communities to get more tax credits for businesses they recruit from the state. And so, depending on what tier you fall

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Augustan to lead organization contributing to $44 million arts industry

The nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $44.2 million industry in the Greater Augusta Area—one that supports 1,616 full-time equivalent jobs and generates $3.9 million in local and state government revenue. Whether it’s viewing paintings at Morris Museum of Art or taking in a concert at the Imperial Theatre, it pumps vital revenue into restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and other local businesses. The Augusta Symphony has been an important part of the arts scene for 71 years. They have a new Executive Director, Paige Tom, who is a familiar

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Out to pasture after running a successful business?

Imagine for a moment that your business contributes more than $70 million to the local economy, not to mention other support businesses that grow and reap the rewards in the entire CSRA. When you are ready to hang up the reins, what happens next? Aiken is horse country, and the real estate investments for horse farms, the events and visitors they attract, the trainers, farriers, veterinarians, and feed suppliers are all part of the economic equation. What happens to the retired thoroughbreds that provided years of excitement for the Aiken

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Report showcases impact of AI and high tech on job market

The importance of being tech-savvy about cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence (AI) is the focus of the latest report from the Georgia Chamber Foundation. Titled “Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” the Q2 report breaks down how the state’s economy will be impacted by AI, new technologies, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers. This is one of the five Prosperity Pillars in the Chamber’s Georgia/2050 strategic plan. The report found that STEM is a significant contribution to the innovation economy. It finds that Georgia has more than 2.1 million STEM

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