Consumer Stories

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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Awards/Celebrations

Busby’s Celebrates 80 years in Business and Welcomes New President

Busby’s Heating & Air Conditioning marks its 80th anniversary, and with it, a momentous milestone in the company’s history—Kristen Munn, Rick Busby’s daughter, has been named the new President, and is the third generation of leadership. JC Busby, Rick’s father, founded Busby’s shortly after World War II in Millen, Georgia. The company has since grown into a trusted name in the heating and air conditioning industry. Over the past eight decades, Busby’s has continually expanded its services, introduced new products, and built a reputation for exceptional customer service. The company

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B2B Stories

Food and “Fun“raising moving North Augusta Forward

After a busy week at work, Melodies & Masterpieces may provide just the ticket to unwind, enjoy great music, and local chef food favorites. It’s North Augusta Forward’s second annual Melodies & Masterpieces fundraising event tomorrow, Saturday, February 22, at the Crowne Plaza in Riverside Village, North Augusta. An evening of dueling pianos, a chef showcase, local artists painting live, and raffles all to benefit the mission to inspire, lead, and implement a united vision that provides the best possible quality of life for the community of North Augusta, SC.

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B2B Stories

Step forward for Georgia’s second public medical school

A new medical school set for the University of Georgia (UGA) campus in Athens has been approved for the next step in the accreditation process. A news release said the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) announced it had granted candidate status for the UGA School of Medicine. The approval indicates the medical education program for the school has progressed toward meeting LCME’s accreditation standards. “I am proud of the tremendous progress we have made toward enrolling the first class of students in the UGA School of Medicine,” said President

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B2B Stories

Savannah River Site boosts opportunities for job seekers

A program used by school districts to determine if students are ready for careers after graduation has been embraced by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). Called the WIN (What I Need) assessment, or the South Carolina Career Ready Test, it is administered to all eleventh-grade students. It measures students in four key areas employers believe are foundational for career readiness. Those are soft skills assessment, math assessment, reading assessment, and date assessment. It can also be used by businesses, and SRNS has now integrated the program for some job applicants.

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B2B Stories

Check Your Heart at the Door Tomorrow

Women constitute half the population, workforce, and community and are responsible for over 80 percent of a family’s medical decision-making. Therefore, women’s well-being plays a pivotal role in shaping the overall health of families and communities, according to the McKinsey Health Institute. The North Augusta Chamber has joined in February’s Go Red for Women Month, the American Heart Association’s national movement to end heart disease and stroke in women. Tomorrow is the Chamber’s Women in Business How to Be Heart Smart luncheon. It will be held at the North Augusta Community

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