Economics

B2B Stories

Mapping the Future of South Carolina’s Roads

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is soliciting public input on the Palmetto State’s future transportation needs. The department has created Momentum 2050: the Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan. It assesses the existing statewide transportation system and anticipates impacts over the next 25 years. Secretary of Transportation Justin Powell, in a statement on the plan website, said it is a road map for economic prosperity. “The road and bridge network in South Carolina supports the movement of freight and people across our state. We have to keep these critical arteries

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B2B Stories

CSRA Caterers Master Crunch Time

Thousands of visitors from across the country and around the world are in town for the 89th Masters tournament. They are shopping with local retailers, staying in hotels and in homes that are rented out for the week. Those golf enthusiasts all have to eat somewhere, which is why restaurants are packed, and caterers are jumping to meet the demand. Fat Man’s Mill Café and Catering is swamped with catering jobs for small groups and corporate events. “We are closed for the week to focus on the Masters. For us,

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: 2024 Augusta job earnings heavily outpace inflation

Now that all the labor market data is finalized, I can reveal that the fastest-growing labor market in 2024 in Georgia was Brunswick at 2.7%.  Warner Robins also recorded growth of over 2 percent. Augusta clocked in at 0.6%, just below the state average of 0.8%. Gainesville, which has seen tremendous growth over the last 15 years, recorded negative growth for 2024. Brunswick employment increased by 1,200 (2.5%) over the year, and average weekly earnings increased by $123 or 16.8 percent. Average weekly hours worked increased by over 2 hours,

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B2B Stories

The Masters Welcome Mat is Out

Augusta is gearing up for the 2025 Masters Week that kicked off earlier this week with the first round for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans. The final round will be played April 5th at Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC), followed by the Drive, Chip Putt competition on April 6th. The tournament practice rounds begin on April 7th. Destination Augusta says it is ready to welcome longtime visitors and newcomers to the Spring tradition. Bennish Brown, President and CEO, said Augusta was born

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B2B Stories

Pacer $mart Program Unveiled

SRP Federal Credit Union and the University of South Carolina Aiken gathered recently to showcase the newly designed classroom and hallway dedicated to financial education at the university. The new learning space will host Pacer $mart, a financial education program created in partnership between SRP and USCA’s School of Business Administration. Designed to equip college and high school students with financial knowledge, the program covers key personal finance topics, including budgeting, saving, credit, investing, insurance, taxes, and economics. “The Pacer $mart program is a testament to the power of partnership

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B2B Stories

South Carolina ready to welcome golf fans

Just across the Savannah River, communities are ready to give Masters Week visitors a taste of Southern hospitality. “The businesses will be welcoming both guests and locals all week long,” Avery Spears-Mahoney, Director of North Augusta Forward, told ABD. The businesses dotting along Georgia Avenue offer an eclectic assortment of products. Starting with gourmet foods and olive oils at the Grove Gourmet Market, visitors can stroll to the Pink Dipper for hand-dipped ice cream treats, enjoy handmade baked goods at Shelia’s Baking Company, shop for new and vintage toys at

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Branching out from Augusta

While Augusta may be the focal point for golf fans traveling to the C.S.R.A., surrounding areas also have events and attractions for visitors. A prime example is Columbia County, where the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) kicks off Masters Week events. The first practice round is today, April 2, at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans. It moves to the Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC) for the final round on April fifth. “The foot traffic is a little bit smaller than obviously it is at the Augusta National with there

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B2B Stories

2025 Looks Promising for Augusta Businesses. Here’s Why.

As we move into the second quarter of a new year, let us pause to appreciate what has been quite an eventful few months. With the election, the possibility of a global trade war, and other world events, Augusta business owners have a lot to think about in 2025. The good news is that things are looking promising for commerce in and around Augusta, thanks to our community’s continued economic and business strength and steady population growth. Economic Tailwinds With markets continuing to hover near record highs and the national

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B2B Stories

Masters Week 2025 Taking Flight

This week marks the beginning of the arrivals of golfers and golf fans, with the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) leading the way. The first practice round is on April second at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Columbia County. The final round is at the Augusta National Golf Club on April fifth. Leaders at Augusta Regional Airport said they are ready to welcome visitors. “We’ve had multiple planning meetings. We talk with all of our partners, the TSA, the airlines, the air traffic control, the rental cars. We all have

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Economic Improvement in CSRA

The Augusta Leading Economics Index (LEI) increased 0.3 percent in January from December. It is 0.6 percent higher than January 2024. This is good news, given that all five components moved adversely in December. In January, permits for new residential housing increased by 13 percent to 282. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell by 10 percent to 1,288. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose to 44,544 at the end of January, although it has given back those gains in February. Inflation in the south rose slightly to 2.8 percent. The

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