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Consumer Stories

Have a cup of joe to help young folks in transition

Sometimes, a good cup of coffee can bring friends and even competitors together. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, chances are you’ve supported some local cafes of a new coffee collective.  You’re invited to a special event the collective is hosting this Saturday. The group is the Augusta Coffee Collective, started by five local specialty coffee shops: Buona Caffe, headquartered on Central Avenue, Cavaliers in North Augusta, Commander in Downtown Augusta, Goat Kick in Evans, and Trellis on Walton Way.  The collective has met almost monthly since September 2025 to support

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Neil Gordon June 3, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Data center pros and cons in CSRA

Will Williams, President and CEO of Western SC, has three data center projects under construction in Aiken County. He has a few lessons learned he can share with his colleagues in other CSRA counties, ready to dive into the deep end of the data waters. In Aiken County, the Meta facility being built in the Sage Mill Industrial Park is the largest of three data centers under construction in Aiken County. Williams said a solar field in Orangeburg County will help power the Meta center. “Aiken Electric is the provider,

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Dana Lynn McIntyre June 3, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

420 Metro Augusta employers noticed by safety regulators

Aurubis Richmond and Nemak (formerly AGF Casting) have a lot in common: Both are in the smelting business. Both are neighbors in the Augusta Corporate Park, and both are leading the way in the hiring of workplace safety managers in the CSRA. Efforts from those manufacturers and other industries caught the attention of a national safety regulator. Researchers at Trace One analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics series. Metro Augusta ranked #7 amongst mid-market cities in the United States.

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Neil Gordon June 1, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Your guide to buying CSRA land this time of year

No one knows the local land landscape better than the DeFoor family, based in Appling and covering the CSRA.  Christie DeFoor has information on why now is a good time to buy, along with key day-to-day considerations, and a buyer’s checklist.

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Christie DeFoor May 29, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

CSRA Auto expert to lead workforce initiative and report to Georgia lawmakers

The planned Jim Hudson Automotive Institute for Augusta Technical College is celebrating two awards, one monetary and one for an instructor. Christopher Davis, an Automotive Technology instructor and department chair, was selected as the statewide winner of the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction. It is the highest honor a technical college instructor can receive in Georgia. The recognition comes with a $2,500 prize, and Davis will be a representative for technical education for the next year, including appearances before the General Assembly. Davis told ABD he is

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 27, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Mental health support at CSRA workplaces

A local expert is hoping professionals see the signs of unwellness in the workplace. “The cost of missing it is not just productivity, but what we’re missing is opportunities to be able to help people,” she said. “We see burnout, absenteeism, presenteeism, conflict, disengagement, turnover, safety issues, mistakes, and accidents, and most importantly, suffering in silence, ” said Dr. Cheryl Cummings. Dr. Cheryl Cummings is the Employee Wellness Service and Disability Manager for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS).  She brought her mental health expertise to the May Women in Business

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 26, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Job challenges in the hotel and restaurant space

Prior to Masters, the leisure and hospitality space lost 1500 jobs over a few months. In general, employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area continued to fall in March, shedding 200 jobs.  Private education and health services continued to add jobs, with another 200 added in March. Over the last year, this sector has added over 2,200 jobs, while the overall employment level has only increased by 200, confirming this sector as the major driver of employment growth nationally and locally. Locally, employment in private education and health services has

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor May 26, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Kemp signs off on major bill to create more jobs in the CSRA/Peach State

The importance of workforce development is in the spotlight for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R). For one of his final bill-signing ceremonies, Kemp put his signature on a series of bills to reinforce that Georgia is a top state for talent. He tied it to the state’s ability to continue as one of the best in the nation for business and economic growth. “Our skilled and highly qualified workforce is a major reason why job creators keep coming to and expanding in our state,” said Kemp. “I’m proud to sign

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 21, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

FOLLOW UP: Old (and Young) Men (and Women) Should Plant Trees

After the positive feedback I received from readers on last week’s column on Ben Sasse, I further contemplated two of the themes that Mr. Sasse has been espousing: delayed gratification and humility (i.e., others above self). As I reflected on these themes, I realized they could be captured by the ancient Greek proverb, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in,” that was popularized in the 1950’s by American author and theologian, D. Elton Trueblood.   The quote captures the willingness

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Dr. Rick Franza, Professor, AU Hull College of Business May 21, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Rallying support for EAMC

Local elected officials support keeping Eisenhower Army Medical Center functioning as a full-service facility. The Defense Health Agency (DHA) announced plans to transition EAMC into an ambulatory care center, ending inpatient care with the emergency room as an urgent care facility. The reaction is eye-opening. State Rep. Mark Howard (R-District 127) views the announcement through three lenses. As an elected official, a doctor, and a military retiree who served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He told ABD he was both surprised and disappointed at the announcement.  “Very disappointed, and

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 20, 2026 No Comments
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