B2B Stories

B2B Stories

$7.6 Million grant spurs economic development in CSRA

Communities across South Carolina will share in a more than $1.36 billion pot of grant money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Some of the largest grants are coming to local governments in Aiken, Edgefield, and surrounding counties. The funds are being distributed by the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority through its South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP). The program was created by RIA to be a one-time initiative to invest in water, wastewater, and stormwater systems across the Palmetto State. “The vital infrastructure improvements these funds will deliver

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B2B Stories

Bill levels playing field in competition for state contracts

During his visit to Augusta on Monday, Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 128 which ensures equity for minority, women, and veteran owned businesses vying for state contracts. “It is going to streamline and expand access to state certifications for minority, women and veteran owned businesses as they navigate the procurement process for contracts,” Kemp explained. “This bill came out of the executive order issued last July directing the Department of Administrative Services to address the challenges these businesses faced in the procurement process. The shared goal of that executive

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B2B Stories

Hybrid working in the 15-minute city

Leading workspace provider IWG plc helps businesses worldwide embrace a new way of working: one that does not involve long, daily commutes, that offers a more satisfying work/life balance and that saves money. Recent new research shows how a new planning concept of the 15-Minute City is now being adopted around the world. In the future, communities will cater to our every need within a quarter of an hour of where we live. And the final piece of the jigsaw will be provided by flexible workspace solutions that offer all

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B2B Stories

Kemp visits Augusta and signs off on legislation to build new James Brown Arena

Gov. Brian Kemp was in Augusta yesterday to sign House Bill 230, which clears the way for a referendum where Richmond County voters can fund an Augusta Entertainment Complex, anchored by a new James Brown Arena. The bill, passed during the 2023 session of Georgia General Assembly, clears the way for a referendum to go before Richmond County voters creating a half cent Coliseum Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or C-SPLOST that will be added to goods and services purchased in the county. “That facility, well over four decades

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B2B Stories

Payroll options for your business

Whether you are a payroll processor or a payroll recipient the need to have things done correctly is imperative, because when you mess with employees’ paychecks it can cause unnecessary conflict in the workplace. Today, there are so many ways to avoid payroll mistakes in terms of software. One example is Paycom. You may have seen the Paycom commercials  lately. In addition to Paycom there are other options in todays fast paced workplace to process payroll efficiently. According to Tabitha Hollimon, Owner and Fractional Chief Financial Officer at Hollimon Strategic

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ABD Extra

Economic Update: Sweet Sound of Success

Who’s causing all that racket? Sounds like Columbia County! Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher Neil Gordon discuss a new deal that will allow for a public tennis court in the area. If you have a sweet tooth, you might want to check out Alumni Cookie Dough’s new location with a local coffee shop. In addition, Holdeman reviews three tips to help businesses create welcoming environments for employees. Be the first to get a big, cookie dough-sized scoop on these tips

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ABD Extra

Simon Says: Receding Recession?

The Augusta Leading Economics Index has reversed its slide from the summer of 2022 to the end of the year. The latest data for February 2023 shows the index up 0.6 percent using a three-month moving average. The unadjusted change from January is much bigger at 1.9 percent. However, given the fall witnessed in the last two quarters of 2022, the index is below February 2022 levels. Residential building permits increased in both January and February suggesting improvement in the overall housing market, including suppliers such as lumber, masonry and

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ABD Extra

Georgia Business Minute: Saying “no” to the dress?

Augusta’s own David’s Bridal location on Walton Way Extension will be affected by the move the company announced last week, stating that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Atlanta reporter Mike Petchenik discusses which other locations in Georgia will be impacted, as nearly 10,000 nationwide will lose jobs in this week’s Georgia Business Minute.

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ABD Extra

Get to know Azalea Investments LLC

Azalea Investments 699 Broad Street www.azaleaoutdoor.com Contact: President Derek May Phone: 706.823.3302 As a former professional table tennis player, Derek May knows a thing or two about winning. May, a former national collegiate champion from Augusta College and U.S. national team member, is the current over 50 national table tennis champion. In his day job as president of Augusta’s Azalea Investments, he draws from that competitive spirit to harness success in the business world. “I like to compete,” May told Augusta Business Daily.  “In sports, you learn discipline.” May’s ascent

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ABD Extra

Mondays with Rick: CSRA Economic Development: The Holes that Need to be Filled

In my previous two columns for this newsletter, I discussed many of the positive aspects of the CSRA when it comes to economic development. Remember, when we discuss an area’s potential for economic development, we have to consider the aspects of that area that would attract existing businesses to move or expand to that area and the area’s ability to provide an environment that stimulates the creation of new businesses. In my first column on March 20, I provided a number of reasons as to why the CSRA is a

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