Over 100 local employees of a nationwide restaurant chain have been let go. Mike Petchenik shares the latest in this edition of Biz Bits.
ABD reported recently that Fuse in Aiken was closing. When Chef Chris Najmola posted on Facebook that the restaurant couldn’t go on, hundreds of loyal customers and even restaurant competitors weighed in with reactions of support. Then, two days later came this Facebook post from Fuse Mobile food truck owners: “We, Kevin and Tylené Matson, own Fuse Mobile. We will still continue business as usual. Finally, thank you all for your support, and thank you, @fuseaiken, for giving us our roots.” As it turns out, there is no connection between the
ABD has consistently reported about the shortages in the medical profession. A new public/private partnership could be the answer for the CSRA’s future in providing healthcare. Mike Petchenik has more in today’s Biz Bits.
The Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose 0.4 percent in June, but remains 1.3 percent below its level of June 2022. I use a three-month rolling average to smooth out very volatile local data. For example, residential building permits in the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) have varied between 407 (August 2022) and 213 (December 2022) over the last year, even after seasonal adjustment, an almost 100% swing. In June, residential housing permits fell 10 percent from May. Residential building permits have been lower than the same month, one year earlier
If someone is hosting a party and tells you to BYOB, it usually means Bring Your Own Bottle, Booze, or Beer. Not this time. When you visit JoJo’s Flower Bar, the acronym stands for Build Your Own Bouquet. Josey Nina is an entrepreneur who has a love for all things floral. She has parlayed that passion into a business called JoJo’s Flower Bar. “I did a trial run at the Barnyard Flea Market in Augusta. It was an awesome day of meeting people and introducing myself and my flower bar
Medical illustration students at Augusta University got a taste of what it is like for competitors on the “Shark Tank” television program. Amanda Behr, chair of the department in the College of Allied Health Sciences, wanted to find a way to help students step out of their comfort zone. She turned to Lynsey Steinberg, a licensed medical illustrator at AU who created the Innovate Competition. It breaks students into smaller groups to create presentations and then pitch them to a panel of judges. Behr came up with the idea of
A local non-profit is hoping to reach a significant goal in just a matter of a few weeks. Mike Petchenik explains in the latest edition of Biz Bits.
There are more than 20 dance schools or academies in the CSRA. Besides offering classes in ballet, jazz, tap, or Hip-Hop, they all have something in common, a recital. Chances are mom, dad, sister, brother and maybe other family members will be there to applaud those budding ballerinas and dancers when the curtain goes up. Ticket, please. That’s where Dance Recital Ticketing comes in. Actually, way before the recital, the company works with each studio to provide seating charts, customizable sales pages and tickets, credit card processing, tiered seat pricing,
One of the long-lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic was the disruption in shipments of goods and materials. Aiken Technical College is partnering with Ancora Training to offer a new CDL Class A tractor-trailer course. In addition to CDL driver training, Ancora offers training in healthcare, Internet technology, and business. It operates six private, post-secondary school brands with 22 campus locations. “Trucks are the backbone of America’s economy,” said Athena Freeman, director of the Office of Continuing Education at Aiken Tech. “Every year, trucks move nearly $800 billion in total
International-based grocer, ALDI, has merged with Southeastern Grocers to expand their holdings. Look for more of their stores in the CSRA. Mike Petchenik has more in today’s Biz Bits.
