Expansions/Moves

B2B Stories

Major shopping center with anchor grocery store coming to CSRA

Thousands of parents and kids spend time each week at Patriots Park, and soon they can go food shopping and have lunch or dinner while there. An executive from a popular grocery store tells ABD about the latest on its possibilities to build in the center. Approximately 20 acres are being developed next to Patriots Park at the corner of William Few Parkway and Columbia Road. Columbia County officials say the developer is Mason Harrison Ratliff from Oklahoma. These are the plans drawn up by the sign company for Patriot’s

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B2B Stories

Will E-Z GO in Augusta get sold in 2027?

Textron, the parent company of Augusta-based E-Z Go, says it intends to separate its Industrial segments from the company’s core aerospace and defense businesses. Selling off E-Z Go is a possibility, according to a press release Textron just released to stakeholders and on its website. Amongst its choices, Textron says it intends to explore multiple paths to effect the planned separation of its Industrial segment, including but not limited to a sale of the Industrial businesses or a tax-free separation into a standalone, publicly traded company.  “This planned separation creates

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B2B Stories

A sweet investment connected to the CSRA

An international company is making a multi-million dollar investment in one South Carolina town, with a strong candy connection to Augusta. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) announced the Ferrara Candy Company is opening its first facility in the Palmetto State. Over the next 10 years, the company’s $675 million investment is expected to create 1,000 manufacturing and corporate jobs. McMaster called the announcement a transformative moment for Orangeburg County and all of South Carolina. “Ferrara Candy Company’s $675 million investment in the Midlands is a powerful vote of confidence

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B2B Stories

Final public hearing set for tomorrow on SPLOST 9

Economic development CSRA leaders think they can recruit one company for a new 1,150-acre area. It’s called the McCombs Mega-site. They need more infrastructure to make it happen—and need a positive vote in about one month. That’s when Richmond County voters will be asked to decide on the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 9 project list in May. SPLOST 9 is a proposed one-cent sales tax, money targeted for specific capital improvement projects. If approved, it will replace SPLOST 8 when it expires. SPLOST 9 will raise an

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B2B Stories

Major construction update at SRS

Contractors will begin retrofitting a 103,000 square foot building at SRS, according to the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Officials say this is all about security for our country. ABD first told you about this project over the Christmas holidays with THIS story. “The HFTOC at SRS will be an important training facility used to accelerate the re-establishment of large-scale plutonium pit manufacturing in the United States, “ said NNSA Savannah River Field Office Manager Michael Mikolanis in a news release on March 9th. The current

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: How far has the CSRA come in 20 years?

About 50% of CSRA counties are growing, and 50% are not. I usually use Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) data for this column, as it is released more frequently than county-level data and is more up-to-date. However, I was giving a talk to the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Regional Commission on Friday, so I dug into some county-level data.  The CSRA Regional Commission is a group of area economic development organizations from 13 Georgia counties: Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes. By

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B2B Stories

Expanding hope in Augusta with your help!

Almost $15 million down and about $1 million to go. With your help, construction of a new Center of Hope can begin. The overall cost of the project is $15.7 million. To meet its goal, the Salvation Army has started the public phase of its Standing Together – Restoring Hope capital campaign. The Augusta chapter wants to replace the existing center, currently on Greene Street. It has been in use since 1974. At that time, homelessness in Augusta was predominantly a male issue. “Now we have more women and children

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B2B Stories

Company chases lofty goals in the CSRA

A bank added its third local location as part of a 160-branch expansion with emphasis on the Southeast.   The Aiken Chamber welcomed local and regional executives from Chase Bank to open its newest location at 481 Fabian Drive in the Hitchcock Plaza in Aiken near Old Navy, TJ Maxx, and other retailers. The branch is a newly constructed, standalone building, staffed by employees from Aiken and nearby communities and featuring both a drive-up ATM and a vestibule ATM for added convenience.  Aiken Branch Manager Brandee Gonzalez shared insight with guests during the morning get-together with

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B2B Stories

CSRA retailer expands on Georgia Avenue

There are not many things that go better with ice cream than children with their favorite toys! The Orange Otter Toy Store just expanded on Georgia Avenue and moved its store just a few blocks away, and close to a North Augusta family tradition.  They were in the same center as South State Bank and adjacent to Gary’s Hamburgers on Georgia Avenue. Orange Otter is now next to the Pink Dipper ice cream shop at 507 Georgia Avenue. Aubrey Hickson, store owner, says the new location is 1600 square feet

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B2B Stories

Company expands to 3rd location in time for Masters

A successful grad from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts is adding onto her Evans brick-and-mortar bakery and her longtime location at the Augusta Market. Arie’s Artisan Cheesecake shop is moving into the former Dirty Dough cookie spot off Walton Way Extension near Wheeler Road in West Augusta. A big part of Arielle Page’s business is event catering, corporate gifts, and selling wholesale to restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops. Page worked with Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate, the plaza management company, and shared this statement with them.

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