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B2B Stories

Two-Way Courtesy Pays Dividends to Businesses and Customers

In the words of Michael Jordan upon his return to the NBA after his foray into baseball, “I’m back!” Maybe you didn’t notice, but I haven’t written a column for Augusta Business Daily (ABD) since the last Wednesday in August. I took the month of September off to help provide space for the sponsors of that month’s ABD Connections and Careers event. Then, my return was further delayed by the impact (both literally and figuratively) of Hurricane Helene. My wife and I have been refugees/vagabonds for the past couple of weeks. We were

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Dr. Rick Franza October 15, 2024 No Comments
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Simon Says: Positive labor news

Employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) continued to grow for the fourth consecutive month. In August, employment was 247,800, up 700 from July. 3,300 net new jobs have been created in the last year. Over two-thirds of the net new jobs were created in the education and health services sector, reflecting national trends. Private education and health services jobs have grown by 3.8 percent over the last 12 months. Government employment represented almost a quarter of the net new jobs in the Augusta MSA over the last year.

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe October 14, 2024 No Comments
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Business leaders/volunteers find a hub to combat Helene

An eight-day herculean effort by area volunteers from service organizations like the American Red Cross to the Chamber of Commerce came to an exhausting end late last week. Members of the Leadership Augusta Class of 2025 showed up on Thursday, October 10th, in lieu of a regularly scheduled activity. Sponsored by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, each month members set aside one day to immerse themselves in myriad opportunities to learn how the community works. The 2025 class is chaired by Al Dallas (far right) of the Georgia Cancer

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Dana Lynn McIntyre and Neil Gordon October 14, 2024 No Comments
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Hurricane destruction highlights need for tort reform

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has wrapped up a series of roundtable discussions collecting information on the need for tort reform in the state. The final session was held at Waffle House headquarters in Norcross, Ga, and was attended by elected officials and business leaders from 12 companies across the state. ABD sat in on the session virtually. In his welcoming remarks, Joe Rogers III, CEO of Waffle House, said Georgia has reached a crisis point in the civil litigation, one that will likely be impacted by the devastation from

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 9, 2024 No Comments
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Publix in the bullseye of Milton: Impacts to CSRA?

It’s been 13 days since Hurricane Helene slammed into the CSRA. Publix, which has seven locations throughout the area, is focused on continuing deliveries to those stores even as their corporate headquarters in Lakeland, Florida is in the middle of a direct hit from Hurricane Milton. As the CSRA recovers from Hurricane Helene, ABD contacted Jared Glover, Media Relations Manager for Publix. Glover’s area covers Augusta, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky. These are his responses to our questions regarding any impact. ABD: Will closures of more than 500 Florida

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Mitzi Oxford October 9, 2024 No Comments
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Chamber Candidate Meet and Greet goes on as scheduled

Even though several thousand residents remain without power, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is working towards a return to normal. The Chamber’s Political Action Committee is moving forward with its plans to host a Meet and Greet, featuring area candidates vying for crucial positions in the upcoming November election. Members of the community are invited to the event to be held this evening, Thursday, October 10th at Greenbrier High School at 6:00 PM. Doors to the auditorium will be open to the public free of charge at 5:30 PM.

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Staff Report October 9, 2024 No Comments
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Helene’s impact on large businesses in Richmond County

While small businesses across Richmond County are fighting their way back from Hurricane Helene, the county’s largest businesses are assessing their situation. “Most of our industries, from what I can tell, were spared,” Cal Wray, President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) told ABD. “Several of the larger ones were without power for four or five days. The last big one that I knew that came back online was last Wednesday. Think most of our manufacturing is back up and running.” A number of the largest employers are in

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 8, 2024 No Comments
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Savannah Rapids Pavilion Rentals Update from Hurricane Helene

Savannah Rapids Pavilion is indefinitely closed due to damage during Hurricane Helene.  All reservations will be canceled and automatically refunded.  If you would like to move your reservation to the Exhibition Center or talk to a staff member, please call 706-868-3349. The Savannah Rapids Pavilion staff is working out of the Community Services office in Building C.  The staff has begun contacting all future reservations in order of date to offer them the opportunity to reschedule/relocate their event to the Exhibition Center or be refunded. “ServePro is working in the

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Staff Report October 8, 2024 No Comments
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Taking steps toward recovery on post

Fort Eisenhower and Eisenhower Army Medical Center (EAMC) are beginning to phase in operations as the post and hospital recover from Hurricane Helene. Beginning on October 3, the post operated under controlled access. Only mission essential personnel, first responders, and residents were permitted on the post. MG Ryan Janovic, Commanding General at Ft. Eisenhower, said 37 of the post’s 780 family housing units were significantly damaged. “Significant damage, most often here now referred to as a large pine tree through the roof, as it is happening off the installation as

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 7, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Lessons from Hurricane Helene

It brings out the best in people and the worst. Best: Neighbors helping clear trees, providing water, offering lifts. Worst: Impatient drivers who yell at electricity workers repairing the infrastructure because they can’t go down their preferred road. Workers getting out of their vehicles to yell and point fingers at fellow workers. From an economic point of view, the free market is a great way to allocate resources. Publix understood what customers would demand and quickly got water, ice, and charcoal grills into their National Hills store (where I shop).

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe October 7, 2024 No Comments
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