B2B Stories

B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Fort Gordon makes a significant impact on the local economy

  Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about Fort Gordon and its effect on the CSRA’s economy. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: How does having Fort Gordon in Augusta affect our economy? Rick: It’s a two-fold impact – there’s the direct spending, like with all the construction that’s going on out there now, and the other things that support the mission, like computers. But also obviously,

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B2B Stories

Washington Road antique shop to relocate

Mema Had One has been an Augusta landmark for more than a decade, but the antique shop will soon move to a new location. The shop’s current location at 2328 Washington Road will close on Wednesday, Aug. 31, and reopen at 135 Davis Road near Inner Bean Café. Co-owner, Pam Hayes said she and her business partner, Candice Lee, aren’t sure yet when Mema Had One will reopen in its new location. Hayes said the business is moving because the Washington Road property was sold, leaving them with the choice

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B2B Stories

Local IT firm to host an open house at new Augusta location this afternoon

This afternoon, a local IT company that serves business clients throughout the CSRA will celebrate the opening of its new state-of-the-art facility in Augusta. Premier Networx and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at 116 Cooper Drive off River Watch Parkway from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to tour the building and meet Auggie, the Augusta GreenJackets mascot. The business will also serve light hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine. “We’re excited for our clients, partners, friends, and

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Paine College will benefit from the grant for cyber education

Paine College in Augusta is one of several Georgia Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that will have more funds available to train students in cyber, thanks to a recently passed Senate bill. The bipartisan bill, the Cybersecurity Opportunity Act, was sponsored by Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff. The act establishes the Dr. David Satcher Cybersecurity Education Grant Program, to expand cybersecurity training programs at HBCUs, tribal institutions, minority-serving institutions, and other colleges and universities that serve a high proportion of Pell Grant recipients in Georgia and nationwide. Satcher was a

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Local marketing firm, nonprofit to discuss ADA website compliance

You may have hired another company to build and maintain your business website, but you’re still responsible for ensuring the site complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Rick Donaldson. Donaldson, CEO of the M3 Agency, a local marketing firm, will discuss that topic at this month’s Third Thursday Business Builder hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, August 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chamber Conference Room. He will be joined by two other presenters: M3 Digital Strategist, Mike Parsons and

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Sales tax revenues give city employees a pay boost

Like many businesses, the city of Augusta has plenty of unfilled job openings. But it has taken a step to help ensure it won’t have even more. The Augusta Commissioners recently approved a pay raise and incentive bonuses to help the city with employee retention. Employees who didn’t receive a raise last year will get a 3 percent boost this year. In addition, employees can receive bonuses of $1,000 to $2,500 if they reach certain incentives. The pay raises are expected to cost the city an additional $500,000 this year

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Simon Says: Mixed local variables present an uncertain economic outlook

Job openings in Georgia and South Carolina decreased in May from April. In Georgia, job openings fell 16 percent to 367,000. The fall in South Carolina was much less at just half of one percent. There were 179,000 job openings in South Carolina in May. Job openings in Georgia are at their lowest since May 2021. However, these numbers still show there are 2.3 job openings for every unemployed worker in Georgia and South Carolina. Job openings are one variable included in the Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI). Other variables

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Successful entrepreneurs share stories of perseverance at Global Leadership Summit

Like millions of business leaders around the world, Erik Smith attended this year’s Global Leadership Summit and was particularly inspired by British entrepreneur, Sahar Hashemi. Smith, the owner/operator of Chick-fil-A’s Grovetown location, watched the annual live broadcast event at TrueNorth Church, one of more than 500 host sites throughout the United States, on Thursday and Friday. The summit featured 14 speakers, including Hashemi, co-founder of Coffee Republic. She told her story and shared her motto: “Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” That resonated with Smith. “The learning process is

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B2B Stories

Governor extends gas tax suspension, local gas prices among nation’s lowest

Georgians will have at least another month to enjoy slightly lower gas prices, by order of the governor. Last week, Gov. Brian Kemp extended the suspension of the collection of the gas tax until Sept. 12. This is the third extension of the original executive order. The previous order had been set to expire at the end of this week. The gas tax in Georgia is 29.1 cents per gallon. By suspending that tax, Georgians have been able to fill up with some of the lowest gas prices in the

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