Consumer Stories

B2B Stories

Multi-million dollar hiring plan

One of the Augusta area’s largest employers is hanging out the “Help Wanted” sign. Augusta University’s targeted student enrollment growth means the university itself needs to grow. Just over $6 million will be allocated for the immediate addition of 43 new faculty, 24 new full-time staff, two temporary positions, and 42 new student-worker positions. A portion will be used to add infrastructure supporting the new hires. The university needs additional faculty and staff after notching a student enrollment of 10,546 for fall 2023. That is a 7.5% increase over fall

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B2B Stories

Major retailer coming to North Augusta

A former grocery store in North Augusta will become a third location in the Aiken-Augusta area for a major national retail business. Hobby Lobby has signed a lease to move into the former BI-LO on Edgefield Road. It is in the Edgewood Square Shopping Center at 101 Edgewood Drive. BI-LO closed the store in 2019. The space briefly was home to the OTB Bargain Outlet. The location is halfway between at least five grocery stores on Edgefield Road from Walnut Lane to E. Martintown Road, making finding a new tenant

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B2B Stories

Familiar face in the CSRA becomes first dean of UGA medical school

The current Dean of Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership, Dr. Shelley Nuss, will be the first dean to lead the University of Georgia School of Medicine. “There is no one better equipped to lead this important initiative than Dr. Shelley Nuss, with her exemplary, widely recognized leadership in medical education,” UGA President, Jere Morehead is quoted in the news release. “I look forward to working with her as we seek LCME (Liaison Committee on Medical Education) accreditation and build an outstanding medical school in the coming years.” This fulfills

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Wellbeing check in GA and SC

South Carolina ranks 13th and Georgia 14th for wellbeing across all 50 states according to new research by David Blanchflower and Alex Bryson. Hawaii ranks number 1 followed by a slew of upper midwestern states including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa. Blanchflower and Bryson use eight measures of well-being from 2008 through 2017. Four measure positive elements of well-being and four measure negative elements of well-being. The first positive element asked about 2 million participants in a poll to indicate where they are on a scale of ten

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Consumer Stories

United Way falls $300,000 short of workplace fundraising goals

Augustans are known as generous people, but perhaps, our volatile economy caused a downturn in giving in 2023. The agency received donations totaling just over $2.2 million through the workplace campaign. That is 12% shy of the goal of $2.5 million announced last August. The United Way of the CSRA (UWCSRA) shared these campaign results at its annual meeting on March 5. The highlight of this annual event is to acknowledge and thank the businesses and individuals responsible for the successes. The Campaign Champion Awards were presented to Savannah River

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Consumer Stories

New hotel opens just in time for upcoming big events

A few years ago, Hilton Hotels debuted a new brand concept designed to appeal to younger, tech-savvy travelers on a budget. It’s called Tru-by-Hilton and features a large open space for eating, gaming, and socializing. Mayor Briton Williams and the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed the hotel to one of the city’s busiest areas. The Tru-by-Hilton Hotel is on Austin Graybill Road off Edgefield Road at Interstate 20 exit five. It is next to the ER at Sweetwater. Williams said the welcome was a long time coming, noting

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Consumer Stories

The Oscar Will Go To…

Editor’s note: Watching movies has been part of our family as much as gathering around the dinner table. By the time our son was in second grade, he was a fan of great motion pictures, including Gone with the Wind, Singing in the Rain, Funny Face, African Queen, and any movie with Hepburn and Tracy. Aren’t we lucky that ABD has Dylan James who also appreciates the classics and keeps us up on future classics including the local movie productions? We hope you entered our Oscar competition for a chance

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B2B Stories

Big bucks bouncing into the CSRA

More than 500 visitors are expected to generate an economic impact of nearly a quarter of a million dollars for three days of basketball competition that starts today at Riverview Park in North Augusta. Eight high school basketball teams will face off in the Nike EYBL (Elite Youth Basketball League) Scholastic League, created by a partnership with the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC). Teams from Canada and across the U.S. including, New York, Arizona, and Kansas will face off beginning tonight at 6:00 pm and continuing through Saturday, March 9.

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Awards/Celebrations

Scholarship students meet their benefactors

Students who receive scholarships through the Aiken Technical College Foundation had the opportunity to meet with the businesses and private citizens who help finance their education. After suspending the gathering for a few years because of the pandemic, the annual breakfast bringing together Foundation donors and scholarship students was held on February 27. “Often, it’s one of the most fun events that we do. Because it’s a time of celebration of philanthropy and making a difference in students’ lives,” Foundation Director, Beth LaClair told ABD. The benefits of the breakfast

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Awards/Celebrations

CSRA real estate firm wins prestigious award

Blanchard and Calhoun has been honored with the Diamond Award by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE). The award, presented at the annual LeadingRE Conference in Las Vegas, recognized Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Co. as a top performer among the world’s premier real estate firms. The Diamond Award is the highest accolade bestowed by LeadingRE, awarded to member companies that demonstrate exceptional performance across a broad range of categories, including business generation and development, participation in global events, and a commitment to excellence in real estate services.

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