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Economics
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Little change in the job market

Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) payroll employment slipped by 200 in February from January. The good news was that the Bureau of Labor Statistics revised their jobs numbers for January. Instead of a fall of 200, there was an increase of 200. But changes of 200 represent only a 0.08 percent change in employment. The local MSA has not seen job growth or decline of any significant magnitude over the first two months of the year. By contrast, the state of Georgia has seen a net gain of 3,700 jobs

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe April 8, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Berry good season for ca$h crops

Manufacturing and construction may come to mind for big business, but in Georgia and South Carolina, agriculture is top dog, bringing in more than $126 billion according to the two states Departments of Agriculture. What is the number one fruit in America? In Georgia and South Carolina, you might think of a peach. However, it’s a plump, juicy, sweet strawberry. Right now is prime time for buying baskets of berries or visiting farms where you pick’em. McCurley Farms in North, S.C. is one of the largest family farms in the

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Mitzi Oxford April 4, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

An extra month of income in a week

Destination Augusta said the Masters Tournament and related activities, including the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) Tournament, can be like a 13th month of revenue for some businesses. ABD requested a breakdown from Destination Augusta comparing money spent in 2022 to 2023, as well as the economic impact of ANWA since it began in 2019. One source Destination Augusta uses to track numbers is STR for hotel/motel data. Its website is quoted as saying: “STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics, and marketplace insights for the global hospitality industry.” According to

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Dana Lynn McIntyre April 4, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Masters Week in the making: Here’s what’s happening in the CSRA

Days spent on the golf course watching some of the premier golfers in the world can turn into enjoying fine music at some of Augusta’s largest social events. Festivities kick off Saturday, April 6 with the Mayor’s Masters Reception at the Augusta Common at 836 Broad St. from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. It will feature live music, food, games for children and end with a fireworks display. The event is free to attend. Started in 1999 by then-Mayor Bob Young, it had originally always been held on Sundays. “Moving

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Dana Lynn McIntyre April 3, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Gearing up for two busy weeks

There are three sure signs of spring in Augusta. Azaleas are blooming, yellow pollen covers every surface, and golfers and golf fans are in town. Although Masters Week is officially April 8-15, the addition of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition for young golfers and the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) expanded the number of days Augusta plays host. While businesses and local governments can make it appear to be a seamless transition, weeks and months go into the preparations. One hub of activity is Augusta Regional Airport. Lauren Smith,

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Dana Lynn McIntyre April 2, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Augusta’s river region to welcome revenue from April events

With Augusta National Golf Club’s Masters Tournament bringing much-anticipated revenue to the local area, there are several other events taking place this April that will add to the region’s economic growth. Destination Augusta and the Augusta Sports Council reported that the estimated 1,030 visitors attending meetings, reunions, events, and sporting events in Augusta’s River Region will generate at least $1 million in total estimated economic impact (EEI) in April 2024. Below is a chart displaying the estimated financial revenue projects from the following events. These are groups Destination Augusta, and/or

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Staff Report April 2, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Baltimore Port Closure: Impact on the CSRA

In both my undergraduate and graduate Operations and Supply Chain Management courses, I ask my students to post links on our course website that relate directly to the topic we will discussing in class that day. In my undergraduate class, this assignment is entitled, “Real-Time Examples,” while in my graduate class, the assignment is entitled, “Ripped from the Headlines,” a nod to the long-running television show, “Law & Order” (a personal favorite!), and highlighting the currency and relevancy of the requested examples. While there is no good time for a

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Dr. Rick Franza April 2, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Housing market in CSRA takes sharp turn

The Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) fell 0.8 percentage points in January from December. It remains 0.4 percentage points higher than January 2023. The major cause of the decline was an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance, which were up 36 percent in January. Claims were the highest for January in three years. Inflation in the south also continued to be above the national average at 3.7 percent, reducing the purchasing power of consumers. Job openings edged down about one percentage point and are now at the lowest level

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe April 1, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Hospital construction underway in Columbia County

A groundbreaking ten years in the making marked the official start of the building of a new hospital in Columbia County. Dignitaries ranging from Gov. Brian Kemp (R) to Board of Regents Chancellor Sonny Purdue grabbed shovels at the site off Interstate 20 exit 190, the Gateway to Grovetown, to mark the occasion. “We are so excited about this opportunity. And not only what’s happening today, but what’s going to happen in the future,” Kemp said. “I just want to congratulate and thank the entire WellStar team on this great

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Dana Lynn McIntyre April 1, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Bucking the trend

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that jobless rates were up in 218 of the 389 Metropolitan Statistical Areas in January. Augusta bucked the trend with the unemployment rate falling from 3.8% in December to 3.7% in January. Unfortunately, payroll jobs also fell, but by just 200. Despite the small change in overall employment in Augusta, some sectors saw large changes in employment for the first month of the year. The largest increase was in retail with jobs increasing by 180, followed by leisure and hospitality, up about 150. Government

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe March 25, 2024 No Comments
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