Consumer Stories

Residential Real Estate

Real Talk Real Estate: Top 10 Affordable Gift Ideas for Homeowners, or Anyone Really!

Christmas is quickly approaching and finding the right gifts for our favorite people can feel like a burden. Today, I thought I would share some of the best gift ideas for anyone you know who just moved into a home. Buying a home is a big milestone; finding the right gift to celebrate doesn’t have to break the bank. Practical, thoughtful, and affordable gifts can make a new space feel like home while helping new homeowners settle in. Here are my favorite gift ideas for young or first-time home buyers—all

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Awards/Celebrations

Best in Business Winners

At the Augusta Metro Chamber’s annual Best in Business award celebration, Innovation and Growth Through Collaboration was the overarching theme, and both recipients have displayed not only the endurance it takes to succeed in business but also a strong commitment to our community and a positive impact on our local economy. Augusta’s Entrepreneur and Corporation of the Year awards were presented by South State Bank. Yesterday, at their final Member Economic Luncheon of the year, the Chamber honored Nader & Lisa Khatib of Laziza Mediterranean Grill as Augusta’s Entrepreneur for

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Consumer Stories

Generous donation to help CSRA babies

Call it the Christmas spirit or perhaps the giving nature of those pursuing a healthcare career, but Aiken Technical Colleges Student Medical Assisting Association (SMMA) came through in a big way for young CSRA mothers and their babies in need. Aiken Technical College’s Student Medical Assisting Association collected and donated baby-related items to local nonprofit, Prepare for Babies. The student organization held a campus-wide collection drive and was able to donate more than a thousand diapers, 3,400 wipes, 120 containers of baby food, as well as baby clothing, bouncers, walkers,

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B2B Stories

Record-breaking holiday spending expected

The just-wrapped-up five-day holiday shopping kickoff over Thanksgiving shows promise for the rest of the period. The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported an estimated 197 million shoppers participated in the traditional start of the holiday shopping season. That surpasses the prediction of 183.4 million shoppers. The full holiday shopping season is Nov. 1 through Dec. 31. The findings were in a survey conducted for NRF by Prosper Insights and Analytics. ABD joined a virtual briefing NRF and Prosper Insights organized for news reporters. “Thanksgiving is a single five-day shopping period

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Awards/Celebrations

Locally Grown nonprofit named Neighborhood Champion

Their motto is: “A community is healthiest when it feeds itself.” Augusta Locally Grown is a nonprofit organization promoting local, seasonal, sustainably-grown food as integral to the health and economic well-being of the CSRA. Bank of America (BoA) must agree. They have recognized Augusta Locally Grown as a Neighborhood Champion for their work in addressing food insecurity by providing access to healthy food and nutrition education. Augusta Locally Grown is awarded a $50,000 grant over two years, leadership training resources for the organization’s executive director, access to technical coaching, and

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B2B Stories

$3 million project building for the future

Construction on a project that will help young adults prepare for their future and contribute to the economy is underway on Merry Street in Augusta. Demolition has started on a building at a former Augusta park, clearing the way for a tiny homes community. It is for young people who are aging out of the foster care system with little or no ability to transition into society. Spearheading the project is Bridge Builders Communities, Inc. (BBC). Penny Wasden with First Citizens Bank is on BBC’s Board of Directors. She told

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B2B Stories

Local baker competing for national title

When ABD first introduced Joey Blackwell to our readers two years ago, he had just competed in a New York Bake Off against fellow macaron bakers. His concoction, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, won Best Color at the event. Now the owner of Mac Daddy Macarons is going for a national title in the Greatest Baker competition. “Someone on social media tagged me about the event and I signed up, not knowing where it might lead,” said Blackwell. It has led to the Aiken home baker being in the top 4 in

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B2B Stories

Near $25 Million “Artconomic” benefit in CSRA

An annual event sponsored by the Greater Augusta Arts Council (GAAC) highlighted the impact the arts community has on Augusta’s image and as a magnet for tourists. The Arts Day Luncheon featured guest speaker, Susan Irish, National Association of Women Artists, South Carolina Board. Joining Irish was Bennish Brown, President and CEO of Destination Augusta, who stressed the importance of public arts. The numbers tell the story. A 2022 study by Americans for the Arts, a Washington, D.D.-based nonprofit organization, reported a $24.6 million economic impact in Richmond County from

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Consumer Stories

Fulfilling a commitment to the community

More than 30 local service organizations and nonprofit agencies received a financial boost, thanks to a commitment made by then-University Hospital, now Piedmont Augusta. The groups will share in the $1.9 million total contribution announced on Nov. 21. It fulfills an agreement made by the University Health Care System (UHCS) to become an affiliate of Piedmont. UHCS committed to providing $2 million each year for 10 years to support nonprofit organizations that match the Community Health Needs Assessment and Implementation Strategy for Piedmont’s Augusta Hub. “In many ways, University Health

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Consumer Stories

Parker’s Kitchen opens newest store in Evans

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, Parker’s Kitchen opened its newest convenience store/restaurant in Evans on the corner of Washington Road and William Few Parkway. ABD checked and Parker’s sold unleaded gasoline for as little as $2.45 per gallon. Drivers heading towards the lake from Washington Road in Evans will find it easy to make a right-hand turn into the 2-acre lot. Those heading from the lake, Riverwood subdivision, or Windmill area subdivisions will find it easier to turn right into the TPS store that’s located across the street from Parker’s

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