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B2B Stories

While Tariffs May Hurt, Uncertainty Kills

Editor’s note: In today’s ABD, we are focusing on an article that Dr. Franza wrote about tariffs, which are essentially the same as import duties. This is especially timely for two locally based manufacturers, which just got word about a big win against Chinese imports of their products. Much to the chagrin of many of my readers, particularly those who are University of Georgia football fans, I am an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame and an avid fan of its football program. Unfortunately, although it came close this

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Dr. Rick Franza July 22, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Hurricane Helene job impact

As the 2025 hurricane season gets underway, the first county-level data capturing the labor market impact of Hurricane Helene last September has just become available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Across the 13 Georgia counties of the Central Savannah River Area Regional Commission (CSRA), employment fell between the third quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter in 6 counties. The largest decline was 1.75% in Lincoln County. Other counties that saw declining employment were Columbia (0.27%), Hancock (0.68%), Jenkins (1.21%), McDuffie (1.17%), and Washington (0.27%). In Georgia, employment increased

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe July 21, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

NOAA and NWS cuts could impact CSRA

Today we are battling deadly heat index readings, or “feels like temperatures” of more than 100 degrees. Based on flooding of historic proportions in Texas recently, you might be surprised to learn extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard, causing more fatalities than other weather events, including hurricanes, floods, or tornadoes. The cuts from President Trump for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) amount to more than $1.5 billion and a staff reduction of 1,800 employees. That is the beginning as more cuts are

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Mitzi Oxford July 21, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

The ethical side of AI in the CSRA

The explosive growth in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) brings new tools into the hands of business leaders, schools, and individuals. It provides improved potential for workflow and creativity, but it has also opened up questions about how it is used. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s July Third Thursday Business Builder focused on “Minds and Machines: Advancing Ethics in AI.” Led by Matthew Jay, CEO of PC Techware, Inc., the session looked at guidelines to keep AI use transparent and ethical. “I know when I say ethics, everybody’s

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Dana Lynn McIntyre July 21, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Company helps 1,000 students prepare for the fall

Felice West lives in Grovetown and takes care of her elementary school-aged granddaughters for the summer. The girls will go to classes in Savannah next month. “They needed paper, pens, and notebooks. This really helps me out, “the grandmom said. More than 100 families were in line outside the Bell Auditorium starting an hour before the Hawk Law Group Bookbag Bash on Saturday. The annual event is a perfect fit within the “Hawk Helps” ongoing campaign. “We do personal injury law and try and help families every day, “said Marketing

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Neil Gordon July 20, 2025 No Comments
Food and Fun

“Family Affair” at the Lake

By day, Samantha Valkenburg and her husband Matt (far right) have a routine. He runs a manufacturing company in Greenwood, South Carolina, and she is a stay-at-home mom with her three children under age eight (pictured playing together). “Sometimes I need a break, “said “Sam”, as her family and friends call her. Her first cousin, Trey (far left), and his wife, Jasmine, also love to come to Hester’s to decompress. They are willing to travel 3.5 hours each way from Charleston to go to the campground with their two children.

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Neil Gordon July 20, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Rezoning request for major Aiken County employer

The Aiken County Planning Commission has approved a request to rezone two parcels in Graniteville. The request was from Rolls-Royce Solutions America, Inc., on behalf of MTU Detroit Diesel, Inc., for its facility in the Sage Mill Industrial Park. The request calls for re-zoning 73.41 acres on Bettis Academy Road from Rural Development (RUD) to Industrial Development (IND). One parcel has access to Bettis Academy Road, the other has access to Sage Mill Parkway and Power Drive. The site has manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution operations. The rezoning application stated, “Rezoning

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Dana Lynn McIntyre July 20, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Using SPLOST dollars for a new mega site

The Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) has a request on the list of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 9 projects going before the Augusta-Richmond County Commissioners. AEDA is requesting $25 million. It will be used for a pump station, gravity, and 24” force mains to extend residential, commercial, and industrial sewer capacity through South Augusta. The commissioners will review the $426 million worth of projects remaining after County Administrator Tameka Allen culled the original one-billion-dollar wish list that departments and organizations had requested. It will open South Augusta

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Dana Lynn McIntyre July 17, 2025 No Comments
Food and Fun

Week in the Life of a Working Vacation

The Work I’ve had thousands of assignments through the years. NONE were as fun as my week at Hester’s Bottoms Campground. Not many campgrounds have Wi-Fi service. Hester’s does. Ironically, WC Fiber is the company providing service to Hester’s and Gordon’s home office. In a normal week, I work remotely from my home, preparing our Augusta Business Daily publications. I’ll take this view any day of the week! Excuse my 5 o’clock shadow (and beyond). Part of my job this week was gathering photos and video with my wife, Melissa,

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Neil Gordon July 17, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Franchise expands more in CSRA

The newest 7 Brew Coffee drive-thru will be opening on Whiskey Road in Aiken. The signs are up, and the next step is clearing the land. The Walton Way Extension store opened in June on the former Smith’s Chevron property. Once the land was cleared, the store opened in less than two months. There is also a Peach Orchard Road location open in the CSRA. Visit the number 7brew.com for menu information.

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Neil Gordon July 17, 2025 No Comments
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