Family trips across the country introduced generations to the familiar teal roof of Stuckey’s and the magic of their unique brand of candy and novelties. Stephanie is rebuilding the brand through road trips. She stopped in recently at ABD’s Inspire 2024 conference.
While Richmond and Columbia counties have been in the economic development spotlight recently, Aiken County is joining in the economic success. Columbia Vehicle Group, an electric vehicle manufacturer based in Reedsburg, Wis., is moving its manufacturing operations to University Parkway in Aiken. The $12.2 million plant will mark the company’s first location in the Palmetto State. It will create 180 new jobs. “We’ve been investing in great communities since 1947 with Aiken being a superb fit for our continued global expansion of the Tomberlin and Columbia brands. It has been
Friday’s announcement that GF Casting Solutions will build a plant in the Augusta Corporate Park off Mike Padgett Highway creates a problem for the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA). This is an example that not all problems are bad. GF Casting Solutions has contracted for 147 acres. This plant has pushed the park to near capacity. “We have a 40-acre site and a 65-acre site available. Otherwise, the park is completely full,” AEDA President, Cal Wray told ABD. Wray said they are actively looking for new industrial sites. He anticipates
She’s a former legislator and attorney who bought the rights to her family brand, the iconic Stuckey’s. Eat a pecan log roll for a sugar boost and follow her day from Neil Gordon’s recent chat with her at ABD’s recent Inspire 2024 conference.
Stephanie Stuckey, the granddaughter of the founder of Stuckey’s Corporation, the home of the original pecan log roll and maker of delicious pecan snacks and treats, has set a path for rebuilding the iconic roadside family business. It all started with buying back the brand. Catch the story from ABD’s recent Inspire 2024 conference.
Editor’s note: As Dr. Franza enjoys a couple of weeks out of the classroom, it seemed like a good time to repeat his column from mid-January following the announcement from Alabama Coach Nick Saban of his retirement. It’s timely because Saban’s own succession planning has landed him in the broadcast booth for ESPN’s popular College Gameday show. A week ago today, there was a major shakeup in the world of college football as Nick Saban announced his retirement after 17 years as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Saban
SRP Federal Credit Union was recently part of local Board of Education meetings to present checks for the monies donated to each district as part of the High School Affinity School Debit Card Program last year. The Aiken County Public School district in Aiken, SC was awarded a check totaling $256,658.70, with nine schools participating in the program. The Columbia County School System in Evans, GA was also presented a check in the amount of $47,797.80, with five participating schools. The Affinity School Debit Card Program began in 2018 to
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced GF Casting Solutions AG, a division of Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen will build a $148 million plant. The Augusta Corporate Park off Mike Padgett Highway will be the home to the manufacturing company. “Having met the great team at GF Casting Solutions during our recent mission to Switzerland, we could not be more excited to welcome them to the Peach State. Congratulations to Augusta and Richmond County for securing these jobs of the future for Georgians,” Kemp was quoted in the Friday news release
Since its launch in 1992, the Georgia Lottery has pumped $28 billion into the state’s education system. In fiscal year 2023, lottery proceeds for education surpassed. $1.5 billion. There have been 2.1 million HOPE scholarships and grants and two million Pre-K students. Gretchen Corbin, President and CEO of the lottery, broke down the numbers for the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s member economic luncheon on May 1. She said then-Gov. Zell Miller championed the idea of a state lottery, with funds going to benefit education programs, when he realized the
We have done it! The Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) employment has finally surpassed pre-covid levels. Employment now stands at 247,600, surpassing the pre-covid peak of 246,400. By contrast, the U.S. passed the pre-covid employment level in June 2022 and Georgia did in October 2021. March was a strong month for jobs growth with the U.S. economy adding over 300,000 jobs and the Augusta MSA adding 2,100, the highest monthly increase since August 2020. Pretty much, all the job gains were in professional and business services employment, which increased by
