Consumer Stories

B2B Stories

Goodwill Takes Global Center Stage for Workforce Development Conference

Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA will host the 2025 Annual Meeting of Conference of Executives (AMCOE), bringing together Goodwill leaders from around the globe to exchange best practices in workforce development, innovation, and sustainability. The conference will take place March 2 to 5, 2025, at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. Recognized by Forbes as one of the most inspiring companies, Goodwill continues to create opportunities for people facing employment and career advancement barriers. AMCOE is the premier gathering for Goodwill leaders to share strategies that improve job

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B2B Stories

SRMC Donation to Educate Workforce

Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), the liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS) has donated $5,000 to the scholarship fund for the Augusta Technical College (ATC) Adult Education Program. The donation will be used in the Adult Education Program to provide financial assistance to students who have to take the General Education Diploma (GED) test. GED testing is a computer-based high school equivalency exam. ATC offers in-person and online testing formats for people interested in attaining a GED diploma. SRMC President and Program Manager, Dave Olson stated that

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Consumer Stories

Raising the bar on cancer research funding

An organization that has generated millions of dollars for local cancer research projects is coming back stronger after Hurricane Helene. PACELINE is a nonprofit organization working with the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Foundation to support the Georgia Cancer Center (GCC) at MCG. It had to cancel its signature event, PaceDay 2024, in the wake of the hurricane. Leaders used the opportunity to survey their supporters on how to make the October 2025 event a comeback year. The decision was to make 2025 more inclusive by adding walking and running

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Awards/Celebrations

Spherion Staffing and Recruiting Owner Receives National Award

“Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get.” – Zig Ziglar This quote could have been written about Angela Swarts, franchise business owner of Spherion Augusta. She was recently named a 2024 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA). Swarts received this prestigious award at the 65th IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, for her exceptional contributions to the franchising industry, community impact, and business leadership. The Franchisee of the Year Award is given to leading franchise

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Awards/Celebrations

Local Fast-Casual Franchise Celebrates 4 Years with Giveaways

If you have a heart for I Heart Mac & Cheese, today may be your lucky day. The eatery at The Village at Riverwatch Center, 826 Cabela Drive is celebrating its fourth anniversary today starting at 11:00 am. If you are one of the first 25 paying customers, you’ll win a Free Grilled Cheese Sandwich once a week for a year! The Augusta location of I Heart Mac & Cheese is owned and operated by local businesswoman, Brandie Taylor, who oversees daily operations. The restaurant specializes in customizable, made-to-order macaroni and cheese bowls

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B2B Stories

Franchised Coffee stand about to open 3rd location in CSRA

A drive-thru coffee stand that was supposed to replace an iconic gas station in March 2024, is set to open sometime in May, according to local managers. The land is cleared for the newest 7 Brew Coffee stand at the corner of Walton Way Extension and Wheeler Road in West Augusta. Smith’s Chevron occupied the near one-acre lot for 37 years, before the owner retired and left travelers by the busy intersection to wonder, “What’s next?” 7 Brew will only need approximately 500 square feet for the building to allow

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Who’s Hiring in the CSRA?

For the last two weeks, I reported the 2024 growth in total employment numbers for the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This week, I will examine which sectors contributed the most to the overall growth in 2024. Education and health services saw the largest change in employment and the largest percentage change. Employment increased by over 2,300 in this sector, or 6.0%. (SEE CHARTS BELOW) The growth in this sector represents somewhat of a double-edged sword for the economy. Some of the growth no doubt comes from changing demographics, such

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Consumer Stories

Retail Store Closes & Makes Way for New One!

A small business shipping store is about to make downtown Augusta a more colorful destination. Pretty Package Store will be opening what is believed to be their first retail location on 12th Street near Broad. A husband-and-wife team with design and business experience created the brand after having challenges finding pretty supplies and packaging to ship out their orders for another business of theirs. Their durable poly mailers come in different sizes and designs. Their variety pack of approximately 35 (6 x 9, 10 x 12, and 14.5 x 19)

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Consumer Stories

Sweet entrepreneurship

Cookie lovers everywhere look forward to a bright spot as winter begins to wind down in February: The return of Girl Scout cookies. A portion of the money raised through the sale of cookies pays the bakery company that produces the products. The majority of the funds remain within the originating council. Each council determines how the funds are used, including supporting local camps, community projects and helping girls in underserved areas participate. However, the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s February Women in Business luncheon demonstrated how participating in Girl

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Consumer Stories

Crazy for Charcuterie? New Franchise opens in Evans

It almost didn’t happen. About a week after Hurricane Helene hit, Clint and Cheryl Hardy were supposed to sign franchise papers to open a Graze Craze location at The Shoppes at Blue Ridge in Evans. “Looking around at the destruction, there was every reason not to move forward but we felt the opportunity was too good to pass up,” said Clint Hardy. Clint and Cheryl worked at SRS and in cyber security for a combined 75 years.  When Clint retired, he kept looking for something to do. Cheryl had a

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