Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

CSRA construction project set to hire 4,000 workers

The Savannah River Site (SRS) is opening new early construction work fronts to accelerate building the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF), including an agreement with the Augusta Building and Trades Council. The construction is an effort to re-establish the nation’s capability to produce plutonium pits in support of sustainable nuclear deterrence, according to the SRS. “It’s amazing to see the scale and urgency at which dirt is moving around the SRPPF worksite with the early site preparation scopes in progress,” said Jeff Griffin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Savannah

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B2B Stories

Hungry college students get help

The Community Foundation for the CSRA (CFCSRA) and Golden Harvest Food Bank are continuing their partnership to attack food insecurity head-on on a local college campus. The Knights Corner Food Pantry opened in Aiken Technical College’s Student Activities building in the fall of 2024. That anniversary was celebrated during a recent open house. A study by the Government Accountability Office found that 3.8 million college students, that’s an estimated 23%, face food insecurity. Of that number, 2.2 million are classified as very low food security, meaning they often skip meals

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Consumer Stories

Third value-based retail chain store opening in CSRA

If you’re shopping for a bargain, a store with most items priced below $5 will open this Friday, September 19, in Augusta. Five Below is set to open its newest location in the space formerly occupied by Party City in the Augusta Exchange Shopping Center, 249 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Pkwy. The Augusta Exchange store is the third in the area. A Five Below is located in Mullins Crossing in Evans and in Aiken at the Aiken Exchange, 2529 Whiskey Rd. Suite 415. It’s described as a trendy store for

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B2B Stories

Perfect timing for CSRA business expansion

With an occasional touch of fall in the morning air and hunting season in the crosshairs, the addition of an outdoor store couldn’t come at a more appropriate time. Alicia Byars, owner of Autumn Outdoors, is opening in the North Hills Shopping Center, at 401 Martintown Road in North Augusta. The store will focus on men’s apparel and accessories for the outdoorsman. “God created an opportunity for our family to expand brands beyond our Autumn Grace Boutique, which is two doors away from our new place. We filled a need

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Consumer Stories

One year later, recovery from Helene

Columbia County is getting ready for the design, RFP, and construction phase in renovating the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. In the early morning hours of Sept. 27, 2024, Metro Augusta experienced something it had never had before: a direct hit by a hurricane. The extent of damage was being tallied across the region in the days that followed. One of the most popular venues for meetings and events was among the heavily damaged buildings. Savannah Rapids Pavilion, noted for its large, glass windows, sits 80 feet high on the bluff overlooking

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Consumer Stories

Major CSRA employer building tomorrow’s leaders

Young minds are making waves and leaving an indelible mark during Savannah River Nuclear Solutions’ (SRNS) summer internship program. Through hands-on experience in fields ranging from Information Technology (IT) and Supply Chain to Pit Production Operations and Programs (PPOP), these young talents are not only shaping their futures but also contributing to mission delivery at SRNS. “Since its inception in 2009, the SRNS Internship Program and its dedicated management team have excelled in creating employment opportunities that provide real-world, hands-on experiences,” said Bryan Ortner, SRNS Senior Vice President, Workforce Services

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B2B Stories

Fall in Augusta means art, music, and money

For more than 40 years, Arts in the Heart of Augusta (AITH) has had a growing impact on the local economy. This year, it is closing in on $2 million. Destination Augusta estimates AITH draws approximately 100,000 to Augusta, and the impact has grown exponentially. The 2023 AITH brought in $1,739,000. That grew to $1,849,000 in 2024. The tourism experts are predicting that this year could be bigger, with an estimated $1,872,000 impact. “Our hotels are full; our rental car agencies are full. We employ for the festival, a lot

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Consumer Stories

New COO named for future CSRA medical center

Citing a 25-year record of leadership across various healthcare settings, Wellstar Health System has appointed a familiar face as Chief Operating Officer for their medical center opening next fall. Nelson So has led startups, managed change, and fostered collaborations, making him a strong fit for Wellstar and the CSRA, according to Ralph Turner, President of Wellstar MCG Health and Senior Vice President for Wellstar. So will assume responsibility for all aspects of Wellstar Columbia County Medical Center, scheduled to open in the fall of 2026. A retired Colonel with the

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Consumer Stories

Masters job expos today and tomorrow at AU

Counting down the days (212 to be exact) until The Masters? Here’s your chance to work it. Augusta University will once again host two job expos where AU students, faculty, staff, and alumni can learn about opportunities to work during the tournament held each spring. The first job expo will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Jaguar Student Activities Center Breezeway on the Summerville Campus. The second job expo will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the lobby of the Health

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B2B Stories

Rebranding for an Augusta charter company

A local company that offers private charter jet service has unveiled a new look. Bravo Air, based at Augusta Regional Airport (AGS), revealed the rebranding in mid-August. Co-owner and CEO Pamela Davison said the change was the outcome of a period of restructuring and a new management team. “As we did that, we realized we were developing a brand new identity, and we were creating something amazing, and it was very different than what we originally had,” she said. “We decided we didn’t want to change the name, but we

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