As frigid temperatures take hold in the CSRA, it may seem odd to be discussing keeping your laptop cool. But Sharon Martin says, “Cool it or fry it.” Learn more in today’s blog that may save your small business some big bucks. Click here.
According to the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA), Augusta’s population grew by more than 25,000 people over the last five years and is projected to grow by another 26,000 by 2028. In that same time, jobs rose by 3,700 and are projected to increase by almost 12,000 over the next five years. As Augusta’s population and jobs continue growing, the city has become a prime location for businesses and plays a key role in the area’s economic strength. To continue this upward trajectory, local businesses need to understand and effectively
Later today, I will be meeting for the first time with each of the three classes I will be teaching during the Spring Semester. Two of the classes will be for upper-level undergraduates and one class will be for MBA students. While I will not cover much of the course subject (Operations and Supply Chain Management) material during these opening sessions, it likely will be one of the most important class meetings of the semester for each of these courses. The reason these sessions are so important is that they
Small business owners are targets for hackers. Most can’t afford an in-house cybersecurity expert, but there is an affordable alternative. On Thursday, January 9, Managed Nerds will become a regular contributor to Augusta Business Daily. In 2021 cybercrime against small businesses reached $2.4 billion targeting 40% of small businesses. Sharon Martin and her husband Matthew Chapman own a company that aims to provide cybersecurity solutions for small businesses without breaking the bank. “If a small business gets hacked, it’s brutally expensive because most will set a higher deductible for cyber
In a news release you may have missed on December 20th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported employment numbers for the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). It also revised the numbers for when Hurricane Helene hit October. The numbers for October were revised from a net gain of 100 to a net loss of 700. The good news is that employment recovered in November, increasing by 800. November was another record month of employment at 248,000. 2024 saw six months of new record employment with December data still to come.
Governments across Georgia, including metro Augusta, are seeing proposals for multimillion-dollar projects requesting zoning and building permits. The projects are data centers, networked computer servers for remote storage, processing, or distribution of large amounts of data. Documents for a Development of Regional Interest (DRI) have been filed with the Georgia Department of Community Affairs showing a property on Gordon Highway has been earmarked for a data center by a company listed as Eagle South, LLC. The DRI identifies the name of the development as Project Eisenhower. Although no company has
To prepare for Georgia’s 2025 Legislative Session, lawmakers traveled the Peach State collecting citizen input on specific needs. The tour included a stop at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in Augusta. It was a joint meeting by the members of the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee and the Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee. “Our intent was to go to areas where there was a pretty heavily veteran population and discuss this issue that’s very relevant to veterans, and that’s how they’re receiving their benefits from
Businesses in and around Augusta continue to grapple with the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The storm’s impact, which traced a path of destruction across our region, was especially hard-hitting for interior areas in Georgia and the Carolinas. While there’s no doubt that Augusta will recover and continue to thrive as a leading destination for business, it’s important to understand the residual effects businesses in our area face as they navigate the recovery process. Navigating insurance gaps Helene left local business owners stuck in a maze of insurance-related uncertainties. Interior
Businesses and individuals trying to recover from Hurricane Helene’s destruction are facing deadlines to apply for assistance, and they are different in Georgia and South Carolina. The Palmetto State has the most immediate deadline. It is on January 7. That is the final date businesses, homeowners, renters, and nonprofits can apply for the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) low-interest disaster loans. Stephen Clark, SBA Public Affairs Specialist, provided ABD with the latest information on how and where to apply. Applications can be filed online at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance. Clark said there are also
Editor’s note: As a follow-up to the venerable Rick Franza’s 2024 prediction outcome article, we wanted to ensure you didn’t miss what he believes will impact your business in the coming year. Grab some libation and dive into 2025! After wrapping up my grading for 2024 (both for my Augusta University/Hull College students and for my 2024 Predictions for the Augusta Business Daily), I am sitting on an oceanfront balcony on Hilton Head Island contemplating the year ahead. Unlike last year, when my prognostications spanned multiple areas (national economy, local
