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B2B Stories

FBI man becomes CSRA businessman to continue investigations

Chuck McKee spent 20 years working for the FBI. Now he leads the FBIS (Forensic Brothers Investigation Services) unit in the Augusta/Aiken area and TrustVault.  TrustVault is a “Good Housekeeping-like seal of approval” for people’s character and perhaps the companies they work for. McKee’s FBI career brought him to the Augusta region in 2005, and he worked in the following fraud divisions: Healthcare Mortgage—McKee investigated those who misrepresented their mortgage applications related to employment, bank account information, property repairs, and more. Counterintelligence—McKee looked into employees at Fort Gordon, NSA, Plant

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Neil Gordon January 26, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Teaching veteran business owners how to thrive

A training program designed for Metro Augusta’s large veterans’ community is underway at the Accelerate Augusta microenterprise center on Broad Street.  ABD first wrote about Mission: Accelerate Lab in the Jan. 5 edition. It is a partnership with Accelerate Augusta, Mission United, and the United Way of the CSRA. It was created to help veteran-owned businesses succeed and develop a pipeline to hire veterans and military spouses.  “If you’re brand new, or if you’ve been in business for a few years, the goal of the program is to help vets

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 23, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Georgia joins new federal tax credit program; Augusta benefits

A new education tax credit will soon be available to Georgia families following a Tuesday announcement by Gov. Brian Kemp (R).  Kemp said the state is opting in to a program through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The credit became available as a provision of the Trump Administration’s most recent tax package, approved last year. It is an individual, dollar-for-dollar tax credit.  During his press conference, Kemp said this latest step is in the same vein as the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, through which families can use tax dollars to choose education

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 22, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

The Federal Debt and Annual Federal Deficits: Why You Should Care

Last week, I shared with you my disappointment related to the possible threat to the Federal Reserve’s independence by President Trump. In particular, I expressed how limitations on the Fed’s independence could negatively impact our nation’s economy and each of us. Fortunately, this week, I have some better news.  Earlier this month, a bipartisan resolution (House Res. 981) was introduced to the House of Representatives, which set a goal of reducing the annual federal deficit to 3% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product…the primary measure of the size of our national economy). As a frame

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Dr. Rick Franza, AU Hull College of Business Professor January 22, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Investment firm acquires iconic Augusta hotel

A West Augusta hotel is about to get a serious makeover to the tune of $12 million. It’s the largest investment in upgrading an area hotel since a $10 million investment was made about four years ago in Augusta. The DoubleTree by Hilton Augusta on 2651 Perimeter Parkway near I-20 and I-520 was recently acquired by an affiliate of Flacks Group, a Miami-based investment firm. Flacks has selected StepStone Hospitality to manage the property. The planned renovation will include refreshed guest rooms, upgraded public areas, a reimagined food and beverage experience, new

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Neil Gordon January 21, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Steady Georgialina Economy

We finished strong in 2025. The Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) increased by 0.4 percent in October and 0.1 percent in November. In November, the LEI was 1.3 percent higher than a year ago. Residential building permits increased in October but fell back in November. Initial claims for unemployment insurance increased in both months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its strong growth in the fourth quarter. After several months of declining job openings, October and November saw increased job openings. The November employment weighted average of job openings in

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor January 20, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Military Monday: In the World of Disability

It’s a Military Monday! Each month on a Monday, Africa Thomas will be sharing her expertise on VA disability claims, ratings, and navigating the process for a successful submission. She is a retired United States Army veteran with a combined 29 years of honorable service. Her first column centers on proof of your injury. I am grateful for the opportunity to share information on VA service-connected disabilities in my first article for our local business paper. Filing a VA claim can be a daunting task, and it can feel even more

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Africa R. Thomas, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CME, CCM January 19, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Governor Kemp’s bittersweet State of the State address

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) delivered his final State of the State address, wrapping up his second term in office, with a focus on improving affordability for all Georgians. He began by announcing an income tax rebate and a call to reduce the state income tax. “My budget proposal will include a fourth, one-time, 1-billion-dollar tax rebate this year that will return or save the average filer 250 dollars and a married couple up to 500 dollars,” he explained. “With this rebate, my administration and this General Assembly will have

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 19, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Setting business owners up for success

There is a workshop next week, organized by experts who can point business owners to successful outcomes. This is the 12th year for the CEO Breakfast Workshop, sponsored by the Augusta office of the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The two-hour workshop will feature a panel of experts who can address the three topics for this year’s event. “We’re going to discuss the HR component, the financial component, and the risk assessment component,” Rebecca Mixson, Director for the Augusta office, explained for ABD. “We’re going to talk

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 16, 2026 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

Kicking off the next 50 years protecting consumers

The South Carolina office tasked with protecting businesses and individuals from fraud and scams is reflecting on its golden anniversary. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) was created on Jan. 1, 1975. The South Carolina Consumer Protection Code established it. Its mandate is to create a healthy marketplace through education, complaint mediation services, regulatory filings, and guidance for identity theft victims. As part of the agency’s outreach programs, it has kicked off a new series of “Wednesday Webinars.” “Education is a core component of our mission,” explained Carri

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 15, 2026 No Comments
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