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B2B Stories

Simon says: Augusta economic forecast gloomy as jobs continue post-pandemic lag

Edgefield County in South Carolina had the largest increase in average weekly wage in 2021 for the seven-county Augusta metro area. Wages there increased from $802 per week in 2020 to $874 in 2021, based on recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That equates to a 9 percent increase, just enough to compensate for inflation running at 8.6 percent. All counties in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) saw increases in average weekly wages, but not enough to keep up with inflation. Burke County in Georgia had

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Economics Professor June 15, 2022 No Comments
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Nonprofit leader to discuss creating opportunities for next generation

Phil Olaleye runs an Atlanta-based nonprofit that provides mentoring and exposure to post-secondary educational opportunities and careers for high school students. Olaleye will serve as the keynote speaker for this month’s Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Member Economic Luncheon, which will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza in North Augusta. His topic will be “Creating a Culture of Opportunity.” The event will also recognize 2022 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch. Much of his speech will come from his own story,

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Josh Heath June 15, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Local dessert entrepreneur recognized as a top businesswoman in Columbia County

Susan See was a local attorney, a career she loved, for more than 25 years until a friend told her about a franchise opportunity that piqued her interest – and she was recently awarded for her role in running that franchise. See and her husband, James, own Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise locations in both Evans and Aiken. Last week, she was selected as the 2022 Business Woman of the Year, presented by Bank of America, at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce Executive Luncheon Series. “I was really surprised,” See

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Josh Heath June 15, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Local gas station chain to expand with new Columbia County location

A locally-owned gas station and convenience store chain plans to open a new location next to Harvard Wine & Spirits at the corner of Old Evans Road and Martinez Boulevard. Gas World, which already has five other CSRA stores, including Walton Way, Dean’s Bridge Road, and Windsor Spring Road, will open its sixth store at 116 Old Evans Road in Martinez. The company specializes in buying and renovating older gas stations. It was founded by Deep Patel, who also founded Liquor Land, which has a few CSRA locations. Duckworth Development

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Josh Heath June 14, 2022 No Comments
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Mondays with Rick: Preparing for the coming recession

  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 preparing to successfully survive a recession. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: In a recent survey of CFOs, 100 percent believe we’ll be in a recession in the next 9-12 months. There seems to be no question of if there will be a recession, just how bad it’ll be. How should businesses approach this? Rick: The lesson we learned

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Gary Kauffman June 13, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Endurance Fitness co-owner provides a statement about Evans location

Cliff and Amanda Jennings have endured a serious setback in their efforts to launch a second fitness center located in Columbia County. ABD previously reported the couple, owners of Endurance Fitness in North Augusta, had spent several months preparing to open the new location at 4099 Riverwatch Parkway in Evans, but the project fell through. While Cliff is unable to provide specific details about what happened, he released a statement. “Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we will not be able to open our facility in Evans at this

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Josh Heath June 13, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Uncertain economy creates a nightmare for a local trucking company

The past couple of years has been a nightmare for trucking companies, especially the smaller outfits like Jax Transportation in Aiken. “Our business dropped off 87 percent when covid shut down everything, owner Dean Cavero said. “It was a fiasco when goods weren’t moving. It took six months for us to see any relief.” He also owns Phoenix One Logistics which oversees the heavy haul logistics for Jax. But there wasn’t much hauling going on at that time. Now that the trucks are rolling again comes a new set of

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Mitzi Oxford June 10, 2022 No Comments
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