B2B Stories

B2B Stories

Bracing for demand of skilled workers in building trades

A new program launched at Aiken Technical College, envisioned as a short-term way to address thousands of construction jobs at the Savannah River Site, could turn into a regular offering. “My expectation is that’s going to be short term for the immediate need, but that need is so great that we’ll probably be running these courses for quite some time,” Dr. Steven Simmons, Dean of the School of Technical and Continuing Education told ABD. “One of the benefits is that the state of South Carolina has allocated a lot of

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B2B Stories

Augusta businesses poised for continued long-term growth

Augusta remains one of Georgia’s economic success stories, having steady population growth, strong employment numbers, and a sturdy real estate market. Alongside this, a robust private sector and a prominent government presence in Fort Eisenhower contribute to the area’s success. The local business scene continues to thrive post-pandemic thanks to growth in private industry, government, and healthcare. While there is much to be optimistic about in and around Augusta, business owners are keeping an eye on a few trends that might impact their businesses in the coming months. Based on

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B2B Stories

Georgia’s tech colleges notch big enrollment increase

The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) announced a 9.3% increase in enrollment for the upcoming academic year. Total enrollment is more than 148,000 across the system’s 22 campuses in Georgia. It is the highest enrollment since 2013. “With the highest enrollment in more than a decade, this growth underscores the strong need for technical education and skilled workers in Georgia,” said TCSG Commissioner, Greg Dozier in a news release announcing the enrollment numbers. “Our 22 colleges remain focused on delivering the kind of education that makes a real difference

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B2B Podcasting

What TV judges teach us about litigation or mitigation

Judge Judy, Judge Penny, Judge Jerry, reality or fiction? Can they teach us anything about litigation or mitigation? HR expert and Professional Mediator, TeKay Brown Taylor has the final word. For the full segment with TeKay and Neil, tune into Classy 1230 AM this Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m.

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B2B Stories

New program to boost CSRA construction workforce

There are more than 400 construction worker job listings in the CSRA and a new program at Aiken Technical College (ATC) is gearing up to help fill them. The pre-apprenticeship program offered this fall will prepare students for careers in construction. The Savannah River Site and more than 15 local trade unions have partnered with Aiken Tech for this initiative. The program is being offered at no cost to South Carolina residents, thanks to state-funded grants. The program tuition for out-of-state residents is $1,000. Free tuition for South Carolina students

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B2B Stories

Facebook parent company coming to Aiken County

Meta, one of the top five U.S.-based information technology companies, will build a new data center in Sage Mill Industrial Park. Rounding out the top five are Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple and Microsoft. “Meta’s decision to locate its newest operation in Aiken County is a major win for South Carolina’s thriving technology industry. Meta’s $800 million investment will significantly impact our economy, creating valuable jobs and further driving innovation. We look forward to building a strong partnership with Meta that will benefit our communities and enhance our state’s reputation as

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B2B Podcasting

Why mediate through your conflict

Conflicts are everywhere. At the office. With employees. Colleagues. At home. How do you solve it without going to court? TeKay Brown-Taylor of Brownstone Mediation has some solutions in this Mediation Minute. Listen to the full episode Saturday morning at 7:30 A.M. on 1230 AM.

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: SAHM rule and recession

The “SAHM” rule is named for economist, Claudia Sahm. The national U.S. unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in July, the highest since 2021. It also marked another milestone. According to the Sahm indicator, the U.S. economy is now in recession. The Sahm indicator says that if the three-month average unemployment rate rises by more than a half percentage point above the lowest three-month average for the previous 12 months, then the economy is in recession. By this measure, the Sahm indicator hit 0.53 in July. The unemployment rate for July

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B2B Stories

Augusta business celebrates its first 50 years

A company that has been part of Augusta-Richmond County for half a century celebrated that milestone yesterday morning. StandardAero first opened in 1974. It moved its operations to Augusta Regional Airport about 15 years ago. Russell Ford, CEO of StandardAero, sent a video greeting to the dozens of employees and guests. He said they built StandardAero as a family, and it now has the highest credibility across the aerospace industry. “When I think about our culture and justice, the phrase private workmanship comes to mind,” he began, “The intense focus

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B2B Podcasting

Getting management buy-in for employee retention

When employees stay on the job for some time, they tend to feel a sense of belonging, which can contribute to higher morale among their colleagues. TeKay and Neil discuss some simple ways to accomplish the retention goal. Tune in for the full segment this Saturday at 7:30 a.m. on Classy 1230 AM.

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