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Economics
B2B Stories

CSRA’s current and future growth needs

An examination of economic development and growth in metro Augusta today and for the future is the focus of an event planned in Columbia County. Future Forward: A CSRA Development Summit, organized by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, is set for Sept. 4 at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown. “I think it’s an opportunity for us to really look at the future of not only Columbia County, but our region, and how that’s going to impact our business community, and our community at large,” Russell Lahodny, President

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Dana Lynn McIntyre August 27, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Jackson Hole: Beautiful Economic Views?

At the end of last week, the Federal Reserve held its annual “Jackson Hole Economic Symposium,” a three-day conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The conference is attended by central banker leaders, academics, financial industry leaders, journalists, and government officials to discuss world events and financial trends and potentially provide insights on the direction of interest rates. The symposium is held at the Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Wyoming. I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Jackson and

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Dr. Rick Franza August 27, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

“Counting” on Hockey

It was a hoped-for announcement years in the making, and it has come true. Professional hockey is returning to Augusta. The Grand Lobby of the Bell Auditorium was filled with people for the announcement that the ECHL Board of Governors has approved an expansion team for Augusta, beginning with the 2027-2028 season. The team will play in the new Augusta arena, currently under construction. In the weeks leading up to the 2023 vote to approve a Construction Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (C-SPLOST) to build a new arena, Coliseum

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Dana Lynn McIntyre August 22, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Game On: The puck will drop again in Augusta

Big news for the CSRA as successful sports leaders team up to bring back hockey to the area for the first time in seven years. Heisman Trophy winner, two-time National Champion, SEC Nation on-air personality, former NFL quarterback, and founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, Tim Tebow, along with business leader David Hodges, announced that the ECHL Board of Governors has approved the expansion application for Augusta, Georgia, for admittance into the league. The team, set to begin play in the new Augusta Arena for the 2027–28 season, will be owned by

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Staff Report August 21, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

AU adds more than $1.6 billion to Georgia economy

The growth of Augusta University has made an impact that goes well beyond the River Region. With a growing statewide network that includes regional and clinical campuses for the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and the Dental College of Georgia, as well as clinical sites and research projects that serve the state’s 159 counties, it’s easy to see how AU continues to provide value, including economic value, to the city, state and region. During fiscal year 2024, which ran from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, Augusta University provided a

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Staff Report August 20, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Updates on CSRA building, unemployment, and inflation

The Augusta Leading Economics Index (LEI) fell 1.1 percent in June from May. It remains 0.3 percent higher than June 2024. Declines were seen in all components except the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Residential building permits fell from 306 in May to 291 in June. Initial claims for unemployment insurance increased from 684 in May to 879 in June. The inflation rate in the South Census region increased to 2.3 percent, up from 2.0 percent in May and 1.9 percent in March. Job openings in Georgia declined from 328,000 in

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe August 19, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Augusta leaders trending in Georgia

What do Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson, Augusta Metro Chamber President and CEO Angie Cox, Greater Augusta Black Chamber President and Cofounder Ronic West, and Downtown Development Authority Director Margaret Woodard have in common? Each has helped carve a path for economic development in the CSRA, and their efforts are highlighted in the August edition of Georgia Trend magazine. Some of the articles focused on the region’s response to the devastation from Hurricane Helene, lost lives, and the millions of dollars in cleanup. Mayor Johnson and Augusta Metro Chamber’s Angie Cox

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Staff Report August 19, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Update on CSRA multi-million-dollar investment

With an $800 million investment in Aiken, Meta is set to spark innovation throughout the CSRA. Next week, you’ll be able to get an update on exactly what that might mean for your business during the Aiken Chamber of Commerce’s State of Our Community event. Laura Warren, Meta’s Community Development Regional Manager, will be the keynote speaker for the Chamber event on Wednesday, August 20, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Aiken High’s new Performing Arts Center, 449 Rutland Drive. Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads,

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Mitzi Oxford August 14, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Multi-million-dollar expansion “connects” CSRA county

Comcast has completed a high-speed broadband expansion in McDuffie County, Georgia, as part of its $1 billion Project UP initiative. The expansion brings multi-gigabit Internet speeds with 99.9% reliability, supporting economic growth and connectivity needs for businesses and residents. The expansion delivers high-speed Internet, mobile, and security services from Xfinity and Comcast Business. The investment is helping to close the digital divide in areas that previously may not have had access. “Reliable Internet access is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity for families, businesses, and communities to grow,” said County Chairman Chase

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Staff Report August 13, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: More local government jobs in June

In June, several sectors in Augusta saw some big changes – the largest being government employment, which increased by 770. State employment accounting for about a third of the increase, and local government employment accounting for the other two-thirds. Federal government was unchanged. However, state and local employment were two sectors that saw big revisions at the national level, so these local numbers could eventually come in lower. The Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) employment level remained unchanged in June at 248,100. As you will no doubt of heard from

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe August 12, 2025 No Comments
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