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Employment
B2B Stories

More graduates in the trades to support CSRA service companies in 2027 and 2028

Goodwill and Helms College are ready to train and graduate 400 more skilled workers in HVAC, Refrigeration, and Electrical trades. That’s all thanks to a $1 million benefactor. BlackRock Future Builders, a national philanthropic initiative funded by The BlackRock Foundation, is providing the money. Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA is one of 15 organizations to be selected from more than 1,000 applications for grants nationwide.  The grant will help Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA expand its established HVAC/R diploma program at the current Helms College campuses

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Neil Gordon October 7, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Economy heading in the right direction

The numbers add up for Augusta’s Leading Economics Index (LEI) in August. Overall—up nearly 3% as four of the key five sectors are surging ahead. Overall, the LEI increased 2.7 percent on the month, although the three-month moving average (3MA) was down 0.3%. I like to use the 3MA because local economic indicators can be very volatile on a month-to-month basis, so the 3MA gives a better idea of the trend.  Residential building permits increased 14 percent, and initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 45 percent. The Dow Jones Industrial

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor October 6, 2026 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

CSRA Company Earns National Safety Award

Based on the reason for this photo a few years ago, it’s probably not a surprise that Augusta-based Modern Welding Company of Georgia, Inc., won one of the national workplace Safety Awards of Excellence from the Steel Plate Fabricators Association. The Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association held the awards ceremony, which recognizes companies that demonstrate exceptional safety performance and measurable improvements in workplace safety. The company was among 11 companies nationwide to receive the honor this year. Modern Welding Manufacturers of underground, aboveground, ASME pressure vessels and many other

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Neil Gordon October 2, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Identifying priorities in the SPLOST 9 list

Members of the Augusta Commission’s Finance Committee approved a proposal to generate funds to kickstart seven projects on the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 9 list. Administrator Tameka Allen presented committee members with a recommendation to float a general obligation bond to get cash in hand to begin seven of the most impactful projects. The total bond issue would be $80.9 million.  “We looked at our respective priorities and listening to the respective priorities from the governing body. What you’ll see is the items that could actually be

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 1, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Big job losses in Augusta’s government sector

The good news is the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) didn’t see any overall job loss. The bad news is the drop in local, state, and federal jobs in our region. Overall, employment was flat at 253,700, although some sectors saw large job losses. The biggest job losses were seen in the government sector. Local government shed 425 workers in August. State employment fell by almost 300, and the federal sector lost 100 jobs. Even private education and health services lost 225 jobs. Mining, logging, and construction (MLC) and manufacturing both

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor September 29, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

New pathway for the healthcare workforce in the CSRA

One of the gold standards of working in the CSRA includes a position in the medical field at a local hospital, doctor’s office, or healthcare facility. A first-ever undergraduate degree program is being developed for Augusta University’s School of Public Health (SPH) to increase interest in the field.  Launched just three years ago, SPH’s goal is to promote healthy populations across Georgia. The new degree is a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH). “The work of public health professionals strengthens communities, addresses health challenges, and improves the quality of

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Dana Lynn McIntyre with photos by Michael Holahan September 28, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Companies need a deep bench to flourish

Key to the success of any CSRA business is the team behind it. The challenge for business owners is building and nurturing the team. The September Third Thursday Business Builder, sponsored by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, was “Pouring Into Your People – Building Your Bench.” Jennifer Murphy (Founder of Inspire & Transform Consulting) and Roxanne Hyer (Founder of Hyer Education LLC) led the program. Murphy said business leaders face tremendous responsibilities leading their company. “But at the end of the day it is about inspiring others to dream

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Dana Lynn McIntyre September 23, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Economic Development Leaders talk data, automotive, and future jobs

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s recent Future Forward: A CSRA Development Summit was an opportunity to learn about economic development, both short-term and long-term. Among the panelists was Cheney Eldridge, director of the Economic Development Authority of Columbia County. She was chosen for the position in February 2024. She recalled speaking at her first Future Forward summit and saying the county had the potential for billions of dollars in new investments. “At the time, we thought it was going to be somewhere around $2 billion, and now we’re looking

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Dana Lynn McIntyre September 22, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Volatile Economic Report in the CSRA

Four of five key economic indicators dipped in our region. The most volatile component may be the housing market. The Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) fell 0.7 percent in July. It remains 0.9 percent higher than July 2025. Residential building permits in the Augusta metro area fell 25 percent. This component is quite volatile; in June permits were at the highest level since March 2025. Initial claims for unemployment insurance were up 50 percent, not unusual in the summer months with school leavers entering the labor market.  Job openings in

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor September 15, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Repeat “Customers” at Augusta National

Among the job hopefuls in the crowd at AU was Joyce Li, a health science major studying to be a dental hygienist. Li was an old hand with the Masters job fair. “I worked there last year, and I had a lot of fun talking to a lot of people, and I made great connections with that,” she said. “It’s such a big tournament in Augusta, especially, and there’s a lot of people working here. I also really enjoyed the people that I worked with.” Li said the long, half-day

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Dana Lynn McIntyre September 11, 2026 No Comments
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