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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Labor market changes since Covid 19

Last week, I reported that employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area has surpassed pre-COVID levels, but what about other labor market indicators? Unemployment in February 2020 was 3.8% and it is currently 3.6%. Unemployment spiked to 10.8% in April 2020, but fell rapidly and has been below 4% since June 2021. The labor force (those employed and unemployed) was 270,353 in February 2020. It fluctuated a lot over the next 12 months before settling into a narrow band either side of 264,000. Although employment has recovered, and unemployment is

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe May 13, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Augusta University graduates nearly 1,600 students

During ceremonies spanning two days, Augusta University conferred degrees on 1,584 graduate and undergraduate students from its individual colleges. Graduate students were honored on Thurs., May 9, with undergraduate students receiving their degrees on Fri., May 10. The keynote address was delivered by Sonny Perdue, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia (USG). He told graduates he knew they had worked with world-class professors and researchers, putting them on a fulfilling career path. “From the time you threw a coin in the fountain of the Summerville campus to now, a

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 13, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Donations boost students in pursuit of healthcare and general studies

Two nonprofit organizations have recently donated $12,000 for student scholarships, one for traditional medical fields and the other for a challenge you might not hear much about in higher learning. “The Hospital Auxiliary of Aiken County is pleased to continue funding seven nursing, medical assisting, and dental assisting scholarships at Aiken Tech this year with a $9,000 donation. Included are funds to help students in those majors meet unexpected financial needs during the school year,” said Allen Radcliffe, the auxiliary’s scholarship chair. “The auxiliary understands the important contributions of Aiken

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Staff Report May 13, 2024 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Week in Review

In today’s Biz Bits week in review, Mike Petchenik looks at new uses for an old property.

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Mike Petchenik May 12, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Final words on 2024 Georgia legislative session

The 2024 session of the Georgia Legislature is in the history book. Gov. Brian Kemp has finished signing or vetoing legislation passed during the session and the postmortems are underway. The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce held its annual post-legislative breakfast on May 9. The keynote speaker was one of the leaders of the Georgia Legislature, House Speaker Jon Burns. Burns touched on some of what he sees as the most important bills passed during the session, most of which the governor has signed. He started with the legislature’s consistency

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 12, 2024 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Inspiration at Inspire 24

Stephanie Stuckey’s visit to ABD’s Inspire 24 conference wasn’t just about pecan log rolls and her new book, “Unstuck.” She shared with ABD founder, Neil Gordon some ways that small businesses can thrive on social media.

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Stephanie Stuckey May 12, 2024 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Road trippin’ with Stephanie Stuckey

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.

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Stephanie Stuckey May 9, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Another manufacturer heading to the CSRA

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

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 9, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Running out of space for new industry?

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

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 8, 2024 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

A day in the life of Stephanie Stuckey

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.

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Stephanie Stuckey May 8, 2024 No Comments
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