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B2B Stories

EXCLUSIVE: Upgrades underway on security checkpoints at the airport

Construction is underway on improvements at Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) that will help passengers get through security more quickly. The work is the terminal checkpoint modernization project. It will change the existing two-lane Transportation Security Administration checkpoint initially to three lanes with the ability to add a fourth lane. “We are reorienting the lines in a different direction, and with that, we’re able to add two extra lines, so we will start out at the end of this project with three full security lines with the potential to expand to

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Dana Lynn McIntyre September 3, 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
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

Pricey transportation projects underway in the CSRA

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has released a report showing the impact the Transportation Investment Act (TIA) has on the CSRA. TIA is a 1% special-purpose tax designed to fund transportation programs in GDOT districts that approved it. In 2012, voters in District 2, which includes the CSRA, were one of only three districts to approve the tax. That 10-year term, now called TIA 1, raised $746.9 million for 84 projects across the district. Kyle Titus, Columbia County Engineering Services Director, told ABD that the TIA funding has been

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Dana Lynn McIntyre July 6, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

June Event$

Destination Augusta and the Augusta Sports Council said that as of this weekend, 11,000 visitors will be attending meetings, reunions, events, and sporting events in June—in Augusta’s River Region. At least $1,413,989.98 will be generated in total estimated economic impact (EEI) in June 2025. A portion of the total number of events and meetings in Augusta’s River Region in June is listed in the chart below for more event details. These are groups that Destination Augusta, or the Augusta Sports Council, has worked with at some point in the site

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Staff Report June 9, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

May Meetings and Events Pack an Economic Punch

Some have already been held, one is wrapping up tomorrow, and yet another is coming up later this month, but May is shaping up to be pretty profitable for the CSRA. According to Destination Augusta and the Augusta Sports Council, 3,465 visitors are attending meetings, conferences, and events this month, generating more than $838,000 in total economic impact. Both organizations agree that recruiting and hosting these events play a critical role in sustaining the nearly 30,000 jobs that are part of the Leisure and Hospitality industry, the fourth largest employment

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Staff Report May 8, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Masters Surveys on Ticket/Housing Prices

Publisher’s Note: The following data was compiled earlier in the week by a couple of marketing and survey companies. Your individual experiences may be that Masters ticket prices and housing/hotel rates are higher or lower than the following survey results. According to Victory Live, a ticketing technology company that analyzes trends across the secondary market, average daily prices increased year-over-year for every day of the tournament, with the most notable spikes on Sunday’s final round (+33%) and Tuesday’s practice round (+32%). The most expensive ticket on the market is for Wednesday’s practice round

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Neil Gordon April 10, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Masters Week 2025 Taking Flight

This week marks the beginning of the arrivals of golfers and golf fans, with the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) leading the way. The first practice round is on April second at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Columbia County. The final round is at the Augusta National Golf Club on April fifth. Leaders at Augusta Regional Airport said they are ready to welcome visitors. “We’ve had multiple planning meetings. We talk with all of our partners, the TSA, the airlines, the air traffic control, the rental cars. We all have

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Dana Lynn McIntyre March 31, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Security changes at Augusta’s airport

The Augusta Aviation Commission gave the green light to the next step to expand security checkpoints at Augusta Regional Airport. Members approved a work authorization of $449,438 for consultant Mead and Hunt for the terminal checkpoint modernization project. “This is testing. This is everything outside the bounds of the contract is included in this. It is also extra oversight,” explained Elizabeth Giles, Senior Construction Project Manager at the airport. “This is a very technical project. It’s a critical project. It affects every aspect of our operations inside this building. So,

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 3, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Divvying up tax $ for CSRA tourism

The committee that oversees income collected through the accommodations tax heard from North Augusta organizations hoping for a financial boost for next year. Members of the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee received 13 requests from nonprofit organizations and the city’s Parks, Recreation, and Tourism (PRT) departments. The city’s 3% tax is collected from people who visit the city and stay in local accommodations. Some events attract major crowds with people staying one or more nights. John Felak, owner of Lookaway Inn and Chairman of the committee, told ABD the city is

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Dana Lynn McIntyre November 20, 2024 No Comments
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