Economics

B2B Stories

New Home for North Augusta Public Safety

Construction is completed and the ribbon cut, officially marking the opening of North Augusta’s new Public Safety headquarters on Georgia Ave. The new public safety headquarters complements Engine Company 1, which went into service in 2022 at the corner of W. Martintown Road and Observatory Avenue. Mayor Briton Williams told ABD that the placement of the two buildings is strategic based on the city’s growth. “There’s no doubt we are growing through Exit One. We continue to have growth in Exit Five. You’re seeing what I think is going to

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Changing of the Guard: How a New Administration Might Affect Augusta’s Economy

Augusta’s business climate has long been tied to the government sector. With public installations like Fort Eisenhower and the Savannah River Nuclear Site contributing heavily to our local economy, any changes in public spending resulting from new leadership in Washington could have a measurable impact on Augusta’s business landscape. While it is too early to tell the exact impact that a Trump administration could have on our government sector, it’s safe to say that a certain level of disruption is to be expected. That begs the question, how else might

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EXCLUSIVE: Business leaders join the Metaverse

An event sponsored by the North Augusta and Aiken Chambers of Commerce gave nearly 100 people their first glimpse of what to expect when one of the top five internet companies is operational in Aiken County. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, is building a data center in the Sage Mill Industrial Park. On March 21, a seminar at Aiken Technical College, led by a Meta certified lead trainer, marked the first public event since the Sept. 2024 announcement. “If we’re going to take up space in

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Simon Says: Mixed job news after COVID correction

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics adjusted employment numbers for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the U.S. to accommodate updated information and census data. The revisions go back to 2020. For Augusta, this meant a revision downwards of employment numbers totaling 6,000 over the last four years. Employment in December 2024 was 246,900, 1,500 less than previously reported. The revisions were particularly prominent in the last year with 2,800 fewer jobs now being recorded. The good news is that employment did increase to 247,400 in January which is the

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Augusta preps in full swing approaching Masters Week

Motorists will soon see a sign of the times. Literally. The City of Augusta’s Traffic Engineering Division will begin installing the ubiquitous green and white “Golf Traffic” signs along major thoroughfares this week. John Ussery, Assistant Director for Traffic Engineering, said all the signs should be in place by the end of the week. Those signs are one of the more low-tech ways to help visitors find their way to and from the golf course on Washington Road. Ussery held a media briefing to give an overview of the traffic

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Considering Cyber Insurance? Here are Some Things to Think About

Over the years, business owners have become accustomed to purchasing various types of insurance from disaster coverage to general liabilities to help protect their business operations. However, the continued shift to digital operations has brought with it new vulnerabilities that businesses need to address. In 2024 the average cost of a data breach reached a record high of about $4.9 million. While implementing strong cybersecurity measures is the first and most important step to protecting a business’s online operations, cyber insurance could be the next step. Cyber Insurance: What does

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Simon Says: Paychecks beating inflation in several CSRA counties

Average weekly wages increased in four counties of the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the third quarter of 2024 and fell in the other three. Average weekly wages increased by $26 in McDuffie County, $19 in Richmond County, $4 in Aiken County, and $10 in Edgefield County. In percentage terms, only the Aiken County wage increase did not better inflation over the three-month period. Average weekly wages in Burke County fell $123 to $1275, the lowest level since 2006. (See why below) Columbia County wages fell $10 to $922, and

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United Way’s goal surpassed despite company decline

The United Way of the CSRA (UWCSRA) held its annual luncheon on March 11 to mark the end of its capital campaign. Brittany Burnett, President and CEO of UWCSRA, told ABD the luncheon is an opportunity to recognize companies and individuals that went above and beyond to support the annual campaign. This year’s Spirit of Community Award was presented to Aurubis Richmond for its commitment to strengthening the CSRA through community involvement. Donnell Jenkins, a volunteer at MACH Academy, received the 2024 Alvin W. Vogtle Volunteer of the Year Award

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Developments popping up across North Augusta

Attendees at the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s March Good Morning, North Augusta breakfast got an overview of how and where North Augusta is growing. City Administrator, Jim Clifford used a series of slides to give a virtual tour of the city, highlighting residential and commercial development underway along with projects still on the drawing board. North Augusta is booming with new housing construction, particularly apartments and multifamily housing. Developments, both new and expansions of existing developments, dot the area around Highway 25/Edgefield Road at exit 5 off Interstate 20.

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Construction Almost Finished on $35 Million CSRA Development

A two-part development in the heart of North Augusta, combining new construction with historic preservation, is getting close to completion. Beacon Bluff, a mixed-use project announced in late 2023, is a 36,000-square-foot project across the street from the North Augusta Municipal Building. It is renovating a historic building that once housed a skating rink and later a carpet shop, on Georgia Ave. It also has a new building which will include retail, restaurants and professional space. “We are working on the courtyard that is between the two buildings, the rink

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