Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Thanks to CSRA businesses, non-profit makes changes

A CSRA nonprofit that supports cancer patients has a new name, but its mission hasn’t changed. As of April 29, The Lydia Project is now Cancer Support Services, thanks to Powerserve, a local advertising agency that helped with the rebranding effort free of charge. The Lydia Project was founded in 2004 to provide female cancer patients with hope and encouragement by distributing free tote bags created by volunteers, which contain a journal and other items. Patients also have the option to receive supportive cards, emails, or phone calls monthly for

Read More »
Consumer Stories

SRP opens new branch in Aiken at a former branch location

What’s old is new again. SRP Federal Credit Union recently celebrated its Grand Opening of a new branch at 3559 Richland Avenue. If the address sounds familiar, it’s the same site of the branch that closed during the covid pandemic. The original building was torn down and the new branch revealed some updates at a Chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, including innovative technology with several Interactive Teller Machines that serve as both ATMs but also provide personal service. With the press of a button, a live SRP teller is available

Read More »
B2B Stories

Chamber event will help businesses avoid social media pitfalls

Whether your employees post selfies on Facebook or videos on TikTok, you should be aware of the possible legal consequences of social media in the workplace. That will be the topic for this month’s Women in Business Program hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Enterprise Mill Events Center located at 1450 Greene St. The guest speaker is Katrell Nash, a local attorney. Nash will present “Avoid the Legal Landmines: Social Media in the Workplace.”

Read More »
Consumer Stories

New Olive Garden coming to Aiken

If you’re tired of driving from Aiken to Augusta to satisfy your craving for Olive Garden’s breadsticks, you won’t have to do that much longer. The popular Italian restaurant plans to open a new location in the former Golden Corral Buffet & Grill in front of the Aiken Mall. The city of Aiken plans to redevelop the building located at 2265 Whiskey Road in the next nine months, according to Meybohm Commercial Properties. This restaurant will be the second Olive Garden location in the CSRA. The other one is at

Read More »
Consumer Stories

New Fastest Labs facility will provide fast results

If you need to fill a job quickly, you don’t want to wait days to receive a candidate’s drug test results. But a new Fastest Labs location coming to Martinez promises to have those results sent to you within a few minutes, according to Travis Evans. Evans, franchisee of the new location at 4106 Columbia Road, Suite 102 in the Columbia County Medical Center, plans to open the business early next month. He said Fastest Labs provides a variety of lab services but specializes in pre-employment drug screening and DNA

Read More »
B2B Stories

Faith Friday: Twin beauty duo says God rewards their faith doubly

They answer to Jocelyn or Jasmyn, depending on which one you’re attempting to talk to. They’ve become accustomed to answering “Hey, Twin!” Even their husbands’ names, Bryan and Ryan, rhyme, though they’re not brothers. However, the title Jasmyn Wright and Jocelyn Budgett are most proud of and prefer is “business owner.” It’s a blessing they say came only from God, with a little inspiration from some faithful clients early in their business. “We actually started in college,” said Jasmyn. “Jocelyn was already taking clients and I had started playing in

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Mi Rancho on Furys Ferry

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

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Familiar Japanese restaurant moves to new location

A Japanese restaurant that has served the area for 15 years has a new home. Yosko’s is bringing familiar menu items and new ones to the former Flying Biscuit Cafe location in the shopping center outside the Riverwood subdivision in Evans. The restaurant opened in late April. Yosko’s once served its hibachi-style food in the current Laziza’s building in the Publix Shopping Center in Evans and most recently in the Fairway Square Shopping Center. New items include Sukiyaki Steak. Yosko’s version is sirloin steak cooked with a soy ginger and

Read More »
Consumer Stories

North Augusta artist offers rainbow of services for children and adults

Art store owner Erica Price is much more interested in helping kids have fun and feel special than discovering the next Picasso. Price, owner of Rainbow Factory located at 1367 West Martintown Road, Suite 3 in North Augusta, opened her storefront on Friday, April 1. She offers birthday parties, art camps and classes, as well as adult paint parties. “I like to offer fun, unique parties you won’t find elsewhere,” Price said. These parties allow kids to create jewelry, crafts and even slime. She also hosts mobile parties and face

Read More »
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Numbers don’t always match the words spoken about them

I am sometimes a little skeptical of some numbers bandied around by politicians and economic development folks, but I do understand they are cheerleaders and need to present information in the best light. So, it was with interest that I read in Augusta Business Daily last week that Pat Wilson, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said Georgia had added 35,000 jobs in the Fiscal Year 2022. The state fiscal year began in July 2021. I looked up the job numbers on the Federal Reserve Economic Data website

Read More »