Fri, April 03, 2026

Facebook-f Youtube Instagram
Newsletter Sign up
Show Support
Menu

Economics
B2B Stories

Mapping the future of Augusta Regional

A Georgia Department of Transportation study found the airport has an economic impact of more than $182.7 million. Airport leadership wants to grow that impact and the Master Plan is the road map. The public is being asked to weigh in on options for the terminal area Master Plan for Augusta Regional Airport. The plan breaks down improvements into two priorities. Priority one calls for additional security checkpoint lanes and equipment, as well as enlargement of passenger lounges. Priority two includes improvements to the airline check-in desks and waiting areas.

Read More »
Dana Lynn McIntyre March 21, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Off to the races with a major economic impact

While it doesn’t involve world-class golf, there is another time-honored tradition in the CSRA and this one is all about horses. The 57th running of the Aiken Spring Steeplechase is Saturday, March 23, and it’s a big deal. According to the Aiken Steeplechase Association, more than 25,000 visitors will attend this weekend’s event. The 43 horses entered came from up and down the Eastern seaboard. That means, horse owners, jockeys, and supporters are probably already here. While ABD couldn’t confirm a bottom-line figure for economic impact, Eric Gordon, the city

Read More »
Mitzi Oxford March 20, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

North Augusta’s multi-million dollar project list

In November, Aiken County residents will be asked to vote on the county’s fifth Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST). The one-cent tax will be collected on goods and services purchased within the county. The money will be shared with each municipality within Aiken County. The municipalities must provide a list of projects and the amount requested. Monday night, North Augusta City Council voted unanimously to approve its request list with a more than $48.6 million price tag. City Administrator, Jim Clifford said after the initial list presented in a work

Read More »
Dana Lynn McIntyre March 19, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Financing for new hospital in place

Funding for the construction of the new Columbia County hospital in Grovetown has passed its last step. Attorney Jim Driver told members of the Columbia County Hospital Authority they successfully closed on the $375 million bond and construction is underway. Crews have been clearing the land in anticipation of the start of construction. “The main role is going to be for you to sit on their board, and also to get the quarterly financials. None of that is triggered until they have a certificate of occupancy,” he explained. The series

Read More »
Dana Lynn McIntyre March 18, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Fastest growing CSRA counties

A couple of Georgia counties were the fastest growing of the 360 largest counties in the nation in the third quarter of 2023. Clayton County (Jonesboro) had the largest percentage increase in average weekly wages at 7.7% and Hall County (Gainesville) had the largest percentage increase in employment at 5.4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Lincoln County saw the largest increase in wages and employment. Wages increased 4.6% from the third quarter of 2022 and employment increased 6.6% in September 2023

Read More »
Dr. Simon Medcalfe March 18, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Flying high from Augusta to Augusta!

Two new partnerships connected to Augusta Regional Airport were announced during Thursday’s Fifth Annual Innovation XChange Forum, including one that will introduce air taxis. Bravo Air, the private air charter operator based at Augusta Regional, is working with SkyDrive, a Tokyo-based Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company. The company builds a variety of drones, and recently began production of electric-powered aircraft. Bravo Air has signed a letter of intent to purchase up to five of the aircraft. “Stephanie Henson (Bravo Air Managing Partner) and I recently visited SkyDrive’s team in Japan

Read More »
Dana Lynn McIntyre March 17, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Addressing Augusta’s quality of life and economic health

Augusta is one of five cities chosen for a program focused on neighborhood housing conditions. The Georgia Initiative for Community Housing (GICH), offered through the state’s Department of Community Affairs, will provide training and technical assistance. Hawthorne Welcher, Jr., Director of Augusta-Richmond County Housing and Development told ABD his department will work with the Carl Vinson Institute at the University of Georgia (UGA) to create a housing plan. “One of the things that I would like to see as we go through this process is that the technical assistance is

Read More »
Dana Lynn McIntyre March 14, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Multi-million dollar hiring plan

One of the Augusta area’s largest employers is hanging out the “Help Wanted” sign. Augusta University’s targeted student enrollment growth means the university itself needs to grow. Just over $6 million will be allocated for the immediate addition of 43 new faculty, 24 new full-time staff, two temporary positions, and 42 new student-worker positions. A portion will be used to add infrastructure supporting the new hires. The university needs additional faculty and staff after notching a student enrollment of 10,546 for fall 2023. That is a 7.5% increase over fall

Read More »
Dana Lynn McIntyre March 13, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Big bucks bouncing into the CSRA

More than 500 visitors are expected to generate an economic impact of nearly a quarter of a million dollars for three days of basketball competition that starts today at Riverview Park in North Augusta. Eight high school basketball teams will face off in the Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) Scholastic League, created by a partnership with the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC). Teams from Canada and across the U.S. including, New York, Arizona, and Kansas will face off beginning tonight at 6:00 pm and continuing through Saturday, March 9.

Read More »
Dana Lynn McIntyre March 6, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

New video debuts vision of downtown business incubator

A new video by Dickinson Architect offers a step-by-step tour of the Augusta Technical College’s incubator project planned for Broad Street. Posted on LinkedIn, it features Nick Dickinson and Augusta Tech President, Dr. Jermaine Whirl outlining the process and what the end result will be. The microenterprise center is being built in the former Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce building at 600 Broad Street. In the video. Dickinson and Whirl begin on the first floor, which they said will be called “The Den.” Click here to watch the video produced

Read More »
Dana Lynn McIntyre March 4, 2024 No Comments
Load More