Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Valvoline Oil takes on competitor in West Augusta

Valvoline Oil is now open on 3632 Wheeler Road and George C. Wilson Drive in West Augusta. The fairly newish quick oil change shop has racked up a near-perfect 5.0 review score on Google after almost 100 experiences. Valvoline promises a 15-minute turnaround and is across Wheeler Road from the Atrium office complex and close to Doctor’s Hospital. Jiffy Lube’s multi-care shop is just a block away at Wheeler and Perimeter Parkway. Valvoline’s car care center is on land once used for the Hull Property Group corporate headquarters and then

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Mixed job news after COVID correction

Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics adjusted employment numbers for Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the U.S. to accommodate updated information and census data. The revisions go back to 2020. For Augusta, this meant a revision downwards of employment numbers totaling 6,000 over the last four years. Employment in December 2024 was 246,900, 1,500 less than previously reported. The revisions were particularly prominent in the last year with 2,800 fewer jobs now being recorded. The good news is that employment did increase to 247,400 in January which is the

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Awards/Celebrations

Local cafe reaches milestone

Local music artist, Abigail Lord (@abigaillord_music) led the celebration recently during the two-year birthday party at Goat Kick Coffee in Evans. Evans Towne Center is the flagship location for the military-veteran families who turned their passion for coffee into a community hub. The store is located near the Lady A park. Locals were served all-day specials from discounted signature drinks to sweet deals on their popular pastries. Families lingered on the patio, friends caught up over steaming mugs, and newcomers discovered a place known for a blend of small-town charm and big-hearted

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B2B Stories

Donations Continue to Drive Automotive Institute’s Future

The need is critical for a CSRA-skilled workforce in the automotive industry. Businesses are continuing to step up to the plate with donations for Augusta Tech’s Automotive Institute to accomplish the goal. Just this week, another $350,000 was given to support the program’s future. Once completed, this new training center will provide workforce training for more than 1,000 skilled technicians each year in the high-demand automotive and auto body fields. Georgia Power Foundation awarded $250,000 to support Augusta Technical College’s training center which when complete, will provide workforce training for

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Consumer Stories

Entrepreneurial family to open a children’s boutique on Saturday

The McBride family is adding “retailer” to their business portfolio. Noah McBride operates Century 21 Magnolia, and his wife Holly is the founder and operator of the new Cuddles & Carriages in Evans. There is a grand opening celebration on Saturday morning in the former Cudos2u store at 400 Town Park Boulevard just off North Belair Road. That home décor and gift boutique moved into Mullins Colony, leaving the prime piece of real estate to lease. Many Cuddles & Carriages items are out on the sales floor in advance of

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B2B Stories

Scholarship donors meet success stories

Businesses and individuals who contribute to the Augusta Technical College Foundation meet the students benefiting from their donations. The annual scholarship celebration on March 18 introduced students who have received endowed scholarships through the foundation to donors, including Aurubis Richmond, LLC. Patrick Raley, HR Director, told ABD supporting students with the Aurubis Family Scholarship and Aurubis Women4Metals Scholarship is a win-win. “We need to have employees that are trained and have a good manufacturing base to come to work for us,” he said. “It’s a way of giving back to

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B2B Stories

Rallying financial support for Augusta University

Augusta University is holding its 6th Annual Day of Giving today, an opportunity for supporters of the university to donate across a broad list of programs. This annual event is a community-driven initiative driven by social media posts and shares. There are opportunities to support health care, education and research, and innovation. Funds can be designated for a specific area, such as the scholarship fund to support first-generation college students. “That’s our Augusta Promise program that we’ve just started this year,” Kelly Schulte, the Director of Annual Giving, told ABD.

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Paychecks beating inflation in several CSRA counties

Average weekly wages increased in four counties of the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the third quarter of 2024 and fell in the other three. Average weekly wages increased by $26 in McDuffie County, $19 in Richmond County, $4 in Aiken County, and $10 in Edgefield County. In percentage terms, only the Aiken County wage increase did not better inflation over the three-month period. Average weekly wages in Burke County fell $123 to $1275, the lowest level since 2006. (See why below) Columbia County wages fell $10 to $922, and

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Consumer Stories

Hiring High School Graduates Right Away

The second annual Hire Summit Aiken is set for April 22 at Aiken High School on Rutland Drive. It is a partnership between the Aiken County Public School District, the Career and Technology Center, and the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW). It also involves the Barnwell and Edgefield County school districts. Joni McDaniel, the Lower Savannah Regional Workforce Advisor with DEW, told ABD they are calling on area businesses and industries to participate. The event is for high school seniors preparing to graduate and join the workforce.

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B2B Stories

United Way’s goal surpassed despite company decline

The United Way of the CSRA (UWCSRA) held its annual luncheon on March 11 to mark the end of its capital campaign. Brittany Burnett, President and CEO of UWCSRA, told ABD the luncheon is an opportunity to recognize companies and individuals that went above and beyond to support the annual campaign. This year’s Spirit of Community Award was presented to Aurubis Richmond for its commitment to strengthening the CSRA through community involvement. Donnell Jenkins, a volunteer at MACH Academy, received the 2024 Alvin W. Vogtle Volunteer of the Year Award

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