Housing/Construction Industry

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

Dana Lynn McIntyre September 4, 2024 No Comments

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

Mitzi Oxford September 3, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Rehabilitation work continues on major project in the CSRA

While North Augusta was celebrating a new access point to the Greeneway and the announcement of a second restaurant for the Beacon Bluff project, work continues across the street on a multi-million-dollar renovation to the former Medac Building. Palmetto Peach Development is transforming the building into space for the Augusta Oncology (AO) Multispecialty Clinic. It is a partnership with Coronis Health to create a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center on Bluff Avenue, across from the North Augusta Municipal Building. “The whole place has been gutted. There are no walls in it

Dana Lynn McIntyre June 24, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Winding down the life of the James Brown Arena

Members of the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum are taking steps to close the James Brown Arena and prepare for demolition. Members held what is expected to be their second to last monthly meeting at the arena just before the ribbon cutting to re-open the renovated and expanded Bell Auditorium. Ed Enoch, the authority’s legal counsel, updated members on the hiring of a construction manager for the $250 million project that includes a concourse to connect the new JBA to the Bell. “I got to fill out an RFP (Request For Proposal)

Dana Lynn McIntyre May 30, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

All systems go for JBA staff moving day

Plans have been approved to lease space for administrative staff working at the James Brown Arena. It was one of the items approved by members of the Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority during their April 23 meeting. The authority will rent 3,300 square feet on the 14th floor of the Augusta University building on Broad Street at Seventh Street. The space will be used by the employees of the Oak View Group (OVG360), the management company that oversees the operations of the JBA and Bell Auditorium. “This is intended to

Dana Lynn McIntyre April 24, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Tiny homes coming to Augusta

A plan to build a tiny home village on Merry Street received the green light from Augusta Commissioners during the April 16 meeting. Commissioners approved two re-zoning requests for just over three acres at 1140 Merry Street. The land had been a city-owned park, but was turned over to the Land Bank three years ago due to lack of use. The plan put forth by the non-profit organization Bridge Builder Community, calls for a total of 25 tiny homes to be built in phases. The first phase would be 10

Dana Lynn McIntyre April 17, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

Simon Says: Can you afford to live in Augusta?

I ask my students at the beginning of an introduction to an economics course, “What are the most pressing problems economists should be addressing today?” The top answer recently has always been inflation, but this year, housing made the top three problems (the other was healthcare costs). The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta produces a Home Ownership Affordability Monitor (HOAM – get it?) for all Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the US. The monitor measures the ability of a median-income household to afford a median-priced home. Affordability is defined as

Dr. Simon Medcalfe April 15, 2024 No Comments

Awards/Celebrations

Winning in the real estate market

The Homebuilders Association of the Greater Aiken-Augusta Region recently recognized top performers at their Stellar Awards presented by Colony Bank and D.R. Horton. Yesterday, ABD revealed the three top performers. Today, we give you the list of other award winners who contribute to making homes happen from inside to outside in the CSRA. Member Choice Awards Best Cabinets and Countertops: Looper Cabinet Company Best Accounting Firm: Cleveland Group, CPAs Best Closing Attorney: David L. Huguenin, PC Best Concrete and Concrete Finishing Company: Augusta Ready Mix Best Electrical Work: Rob Zapata

Staff Report April 9, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Change of plans for North Augusta mixed-use development

North Augusta City Council has called a public hearing to explain significant changes proposed to the Master Development Agreement (MDA) covering Riverside Village (RSV), the city’s “Live, Work, Play” development near the Savannah River. The agreement between the city and master developer, Greenstone Hammond’s Ferry, LLC was originally reached in March 2017. North Augusta is proposing a fourth amendment and adding a developer to move forward on still undeveloped parcels. The announcement of the public hearing specified five steps included in the Fourth Amendment. “The Fourth Amendment provides for (1)

Dana Lynn McIntyre March 31, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

We’re paying for JBA construction starting Monday

If you’re among the tens of thousands of people who buy goods and services in Richmond County, you will begin paying an additional half-penny sales tax on Monday, April 1. Money collected will cover the cost of building a new James Brown Arena. Demolition of the existing arena is expected to begin in July. The $250 million bond issue was approved by voters in November 2023. Mike Harvey, Vice President of Project Design with Nations Group, owner’s representative for the Coliseum Authority, told ABD they are ready to bring in

Dana Lynn McIntyre March 27, 2024 No Comments

Bracing for demand of skilled workers in building trades

New program to boost CSRA construction workforce

Rehabilitation work continues on major project in the CSRA

Winding down the life of the James Brown Arena

All systems go for JBA staff moving day

Tiny homes coming to Augusta

Simon Says: Can you afford to live in Augusta?

Winning in the real estate market

Change of plans for North Augusta mixed-use development

We’re paying for JBA construction starting Monday

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