Consumer Stories

B2B Stories

Donations Continue to Drive Automotive Institute’s Future

The need is critical for a CSRA-skilled workforce in the automotive industry. Businesses are continuing to step up to the plate with donations for Augusta Tech’s Automotive Institute to accomplish the goal. Just this week, another $350,000 was given to support the program’s future. Once completed, this new training center will provide workforce training for more than 1,000 skilled technicians each year in the high-demand automotive and auto body fields. Georgia Power Foundation awarded $250,000 to support Augusta Technical College’s training center which when complete, will provide workforce training for

Mitzi Oxford March 19, 2025 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Entrepreneurial family to open a children’s boutique on Saturday

The McBride family is adding “retailer” to their business portfolio. Noah McBride operates Century 21 Magnolia, and his wife Holly is the founder and operator of the new Cuddles & Carriages in Evans. There is a grand opening celebration on Saturday morning in the former Cudos2u store at 400 Town Park Boulevard just off North Belair Road. That home décor and gift boutique moved into Mullins Colony, leaving the prime piece of real estate to lease. Many Cuddles & Carriages items are out on the sales floor in advance of

Neil Gordon March 19, 2025 No Comments

B2B Stories

Scholarship donors meet success stories

Businesses and individuals who contribute to the Augusta Technical College Foundation meet the students benefiting from their donations. The annual scholarship celebration on March 18 introduced students who have received endowed scholarships through the foundation to donors, including Aurubis Richmond, LLC. Patrick Raley, HR Director, told ABD supporting students with the Aurubis Family Scholarship and Aurubis Women4Metals Scholarship is a win-win. “We need to have employees that are trained and have a good manufacturing base to come to work for us,” he said. “It’s a way of giving back to

Dana Lynn McIntyre March 19, 2025 No Comments

B2B Stories

Rallying financial support for Augusta University

Augusta University is holding its 6th Annual Day of Giving today, an opportunity for supporters of the university to donate across a broad list of programs. This annual event is a community-driven initiative driven by social media posts and shares. There are opportunities to support health care, education and research, and innovation. Funds can be designated for a specific area, such as the scholarship fund to support first-generation college students. “That’s our Augusta Promise program that we’ve just started this year,” Kelly Schulte, the Director of Annual Giving, told ABD.

Dana Lynn McIntyre March 18, 2025 No Comments

B2B Stories

Simon Says: Paychecks beating inflation in several CSRA counties

Average weekly wages increased in four counties of the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the third quarter of 2024 and fell in the other three. Average weekly wages increased by $26 in McDuffie County, $19 in Richmond County, $4 in Aiken County, and $10 in Edgefield County. In percentage terms, only the Aiken County wage increase did not better inflation over the three-month period. Average weekly wages in Burke County fell $123 to $1275, the lowest level since 2006. (See why below) Columbia County wages fell $10 to $922, and

Dr. Simon Medcalfe March 17, 2025 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Hiring High School Graduates Right Away

The second annual Hire Summit Aiken is set for April 22 at Aiken High School on Rutland Drive. It is a partnership between the Aiken County Public School District, the Career and Technology Center, and the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW). It also involves the Barnwell and Edgefield County school districts. Joni McDaniel, the Lower Savannah Regional Workforce Advisor with DEW, told ABD they are calling on area businesses and industries to participate. The event is for high school seniors preparing to graduate and join the workforce.

Dana Lynn McIntyre March 17, 2025 No Comments

B2B Stories

United Way’s goal surpassed despite company decline

The United Way of the CSRA (UWCSRA) held its annual luncheon on March 11 to mark the end of its capital campaign. Brittany Burnett, President and CEO of UWCSRA, told ABD the luncheon is an opportunity to recognize companies and individuals that went above and beyond to support the annual campaign. This year’s Spirit of Community Award was presented to Aurubis Richmond for its commitment to strengthening the CSRA through community involvement. Donnell Jenkins, a volunteer at MACH Academy, received the 2024 Alvin W. Vogtle Volunteer of the Year Award

Dana Lynn McIntyre March 16, 2025 No Comments

Awards/Celebrations

Future Employees Buzz in for the Win

Future scientists, engineers, and mathematicians recently put their knowledge to the test during the annual U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Regional Science Bowl® Competition at the University of South Carolina Aiken. Coordinated by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) Education Outreach Program, the event attracted 14 teams from South Carolina and the greater Augusta, Georgia, area. “Sponsoring STEM events like the Science Bowl is crucial for DOE and SRNS because it brings awareness and exposure to students,” said Cindy Hewitt, SRNS Education Outreach Specialist. “They see how math and science impact the

Staff Report March 12, 2025 No Comments

B2B Stories

Construction Almost Finished on $35 Million CSRA Development

A two-part development in the heart of North Augusta, combining new construction with historic preservation, is getting close to completion. Beacon Bluff, a mixed-use project announced in late 2023, is a 36,000-square-foot project across the street from the North Augusta Municipal Building. It is renovating a historic building that once housed a skating rink and later a carpet shop, on Georgia Ave. It also has a new building which will include retail, restaurants and professional space. “We are working on the courtyard that is between the two buildings, the rink

Dana Lynn McIntyre March 12, 2025 No Comments

B2B Stories

Online Clearinghouse for Employers and Job Seekers

The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce provides an online resource to help businesses find employees, job seekers looking for work, and students planning their futures. Talent2Work launched in May 2021 as a regional workforce solutions platform. “It is a job marketplace platform that curates open positions, typically within about a 50-mile radius of Augusta-Richmond County. And it pulls from everything, from USAJOBS, Monster, Indeed, LinkedIn,” Angie Cox, President and CEO of the Chamber, explained for ABD. Cox added it is also a tool local businesses and industries can use to

Dana Lynn McIntyre March 11, 2025 No Comments

Donations Continue to Drive Automotive Institute’s Future

Entrepreneurial family to open a children’s boutique on Saturday

Scholarship donors meet success stories

Rallying financial support for Augusta University

Simon Says: Paychecks beating inflation in several CSRA counties

Hiring High School Graduates Right Away

United Way’s goal surpassed despite company decline

Future Employees Buzz in for the Win

Construction Almost Finished on $35 Million CSRA Development

Online Clearinghouse for Employers and Job Seekers

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