Consumer Stories

B2B Stories

New business is painting the way across the CSRA

From engineering in Houston to dabbling in real estate, Andrew Hughes has landed in Augusta with a paintbrush in his hand as the new owner of a Fresh Coat Painters franchise. In the beginning, he followed in his father’s footsteps working in Houston’s oil and gas industries. As an engineer, Hughes designed Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) that were used underwater. When Covid hit, much of that work dried up. He traveled north to Plant Vogtle in 2018 for an opportunity. “My family and I fell in love with Augusta and

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B2B Stories

Second annual festival draws support from CSRA businesses

If you are ready for a business break this weekend, here’s a great idea for a calming treat for the senses. King George Lavender Farm and Mercantile will host their annual Lavender Festival Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. In many ways, this event is tailor-made for business owners and employees who lead a hectic lifestyle. Located in Barnwell, SC on 115 acres, the family-owned farm features more than 8,000 lavender plants including three different varieties. George and Elinor Poole moved to the area in 2016 from New York.

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B2B Stories

Paceline kicks off PaceDay 2023 in event happening tomorrow

As part of its year-round movement to cure cancer faster, Paceline is inviting the cancer-fighting community to participate in the “PaceDay Kick-Off Celebration” this Saturday, June 3, at Savannah River Brewing Company located at 813 Fifth Street, Augusta, GA 30901, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The event is open to the public and includes a social bike ride and yoga, followed by missional beer all in the spirit of fighting cancer as a community. The bar will open at 11 a.m. and the event will conclude at approximately 2 p.m. According

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Freddy’s

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”. Food

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B2B Stories

Local entrepreneurs to offer luxurious camping experiences

Growing up in small Georgia towns, Jana Murphy and Paige Williams loved camping, which is what inspired them to launch their own glamping business in a local small town. On Sunday, June 11, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Murphy and Williams will celebrate the grand opening of Untamed Honey Glampsites at Soap Creek Marina and Resort located at 3000 Soap Creek Lodge Road in Lincolnton. Glamping means glamorous camping, which, unlike traditional camping, resembles sleeping in a luxury hotel room with all the conveniences of home, such as beds,

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B2B Stories

Center for Primary Care (CPC) forms long-term partnership with agilon health, bringing value-based primary care to the CSRA

EVANS, GEORGIA & AUSTIN, TX, MAY 31, 2023 – The Center for Primary Care (CPC), an independent practice that provides comprehensive preventative and specialized care, announced in a press release this week that it has formed a new partnership with agilon health Inc.(NYSE: AGL). According to the statement, the trusted partner empowers physicians to transform health care in the community which will accelerate access to value-based primary care in the area. CPC will deliver a new model of primary care beginning in 2024 through the partnership to further enhance preventative

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Consumer Stories

Local restaurateur strikes while the waffle iron is hot

You’re probably familiar with chicken and waffles, but Dallas Hooks offers a unique twist on the Southern favorite. On Friday, April 26, Hooks launched Café on 8th, a waffle bar located at 226 Eighth St. in downtown Augusta. The eatery serves not only a variety of traditional waffles, but also savory options, such as The Down Home, which is chicken and collards baked into a waffle. Other flavors include shrimp and grits and biscuits and gravy. “There are a lot of things we can do with a waffle,” he said.

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B2B Stories

Local meal prep business owner makes healthy eating more convenient

In April 2020, LaTreal Strickland started her meal prep business for local truck drivers and hospital employees who were working around the clock. Strickland owns DSD Boards, Meals, and Treats, which serves healthier versions of popular dishes, desserts, and charcuterie boards. DSD stands for Do Something Different. About a month ago, her business joined OPP Kitchen, a shared kitchen space located at 359 Furys Ferry Road in Martinez. One of the meals she serves is chopped steak with smashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes. “You’ll never know it’s cauliflower unless

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B2B Stories

Pioneering women honored for blazing a trail in local history

Art and commerce met on James Brown and Laney Walker boulevards in an area that was once vibrant with black-owned businesses. The art featured a mural by artist, Salonika Rhyne, honoring a group of six pioneering women who helped shape those neighborhoods. The “Women of Empowerment” mural features the faces of Ursula Collins, Rosa Tutt, Marjorie Carter, Margaret Louise Laney, and Rosa Beard, all of whom are no longer alive. The sixth woman was Ruth Crawford, who, at age 108, attended the event and was honored by the crowd. The

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Consumer Stories

CSRA personal injury attorney helps local students pay for college

Chris Hudson worked in a grocery store while attending college and understands the financial burdens many students face. Hudson owns the Chris Hudson Law Group, an Augusta practice that specializes in various types of personal injury cases, including accidents, workers’ compensation, and product liability. Since 2021, the Chris Hudson Foundation has provided need-based scholarships to students living in Columbia, Richmond, and Burke Counties. Each year, two students are selected to receive one-time awards of $2,500 each. “We choose two deserving, smart, motivated but underprivileged high school seniors to help with

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