Consumer Stories

B2B Stories

84 Scholarships, 200 Students, $260k

Businesses and individuals who give financial support to students at Aiken Technical College (ATC) were introduced to their beneficiaries. The Aiken Tech Foundation sponsored its annual breakfast, bringing together students receiving scholarships with the businesses or individuals whose financial contributions support their education. “Our students come away from this experience with a little bit of gratitude in their heart, and then our donors come away with this feeling fulfilled that they’ve done some good in the world today,” Kym Johnson, Foundation Director, told ABD. Will Williams, President and CEO of

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B2B Stories

Older Buildings in the CSRA require expert inspectors

Across the CSRA, there are many factors as to why there are moisture issues in some of our buildings: Some are historic and on shady lots with thicker tree cover. Across the river in Aiken, some are older farmhouses and horse properties—and then there is humidity much of the year! EnviroPro 360’s Joseph Galpin writes below, you might have mold and offers some suggestions. Who Do I Call To Check For Mold In Aiken SC? – EnviroPro 360

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B2B Stories

Inaugural event organizers calling on support from businesses

Earth Day will look a little different this year. Businesses have an opportunity to support an organization that is dedicated to preserving a unique park near the border of North Augusta and Augusta. The North Augusta Brick Pond Park Committee, in partnership with the North Augusta Beautification Foundation, has scheduled an event calling people to visit the park near the municipal building. “We’re so gifted in North Augusta. We have 36 city parks, and we have this beautiful water feature of the Brick Pond right here in downtown,” committee member

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Consumer Stories

Facebook’s parent company gives grants to CSRA entrepreneurs and others

As the parent company to Facebook and Instagram, Meta targets its grants to projects that support technology-centric education and community programs in communities where they have a data center. The Aiken Data Center is under construction in the Sage Mill Industrial Park. Among the grant recipients is the Make Startups Institute, an extension of MakeStartups.org, based in theClubhou.se, in collaboration with the Aiken Chamber of Commerce and Western SC. “We’ve been helping to get the Aiken Innovation District really up and running,” explained Eric Parker, co-founder of Make Startups. “We’re

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Consumer Stories

Countdown to Masters with a twist

In less than four weeks, golfers and fans from around the world will begin arriving in Augusta for the traditional spring events. Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) has rolled out a virtual welcome mat, and management is trying to show financial appreciation to staff for the long hours ahead. First to step on the golf course will be the competitors for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA). Beginning April first, two practice rounds will be played at Champions Retreat, with the final round Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC).  Young

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B2B Stories

CSRA Businesspeople to Make Cotton Exchange A Thriving Space for Work & Fun

In September 2004, this reporter attended a huge grand re-opening of the Cotton Exchange building when Georgia Bank & Trust opened a downtown Augusta branch. After South State bought GB&T in 2017, it remained a bank until closing within the last few years as Augusta’s Riverwalk lost its luster and some businesses. Soon, Dr. Troy Akers and his wife, Nancy, will restore the historic Cotton Exchange building, after recently purchasing it. It’s reopening as corporate office space and an upscale event venue. They’ll honor the building’s legacy, which was constructed

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Consumer Stories

Using the cyber world to advance innovations in the medical field

A partnership with the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center (GCITC), Augusta University (AU), the Advanced Technology and Development Center, and the Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) brought together a diverse group of individuals for a workshop at GCITC. ABD first highlighted the effort to accelerate medical device innovation and commercialization in our Friday issue.  In the news release announcing the event, Dr. Guido Verbeck, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at AU, said academia is a fantastic platform for launching ideas. “But there must be an understanding of how to

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B2B Stories

Augusta Positioned to Become a Leader in Medical Device Entrepreneurship

AUGUSTA, Ga. —  The Georgia Institute of Technology and Augusta University have launched a collaborative effort to boost the city’s medical device innovation ecosystem. Leaders are going to talk about it today at the Innovate Conference at Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center. The advocacy nonprofit Georgia Life Sciences designated the region a BioReady Gold community. Augusta is known as a desired choice for biotech companies looking for suitable sites to expand. Leading the work at Georgia Tech are the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (GaMEP) and the Advanced Technology Development

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Consumer Stories

Retailer holds moving sale as it relocates to smaller store

HobbyTown is moving across town for the second time in three years. This major downsizing in the next few weeks will result in a move to one of the newest shopping centers in the CSRA. The leisure retailer is moving into the Davis Square Shopping Center, which will now be 75% occupied, according to Jordan Trotter Commercial Realty, which handles the leasing in the center. HobbyTown will be next to the Back Nine golf simulator experience and near Baldino’s Giant Jersey Subs.  What’s significant is that it is moving into

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Consumer Stories

Big changes at AU after Hurricane Helene

AU’s three campuses, Summerville, Health Science, and Forest Hills, lost thousands of trees in the hurricane-strength winds during Hurricane Helene in 2025.  The Community Foundation for the CSRA (CFCSRA) and Sand Hills Garden Club joined with Augusta University (AU) to repopulate its tree canopy following the damage wrought by Hurricane Helene. The most noticeable was the huge Deodar cedar tree at the main entrance to the Summerville campus. That is where the garden club and CFCSRA stepped in. Shell Berry, President and CEO of CFCSRA, told ABD the garden club

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