Consumer Stories

B2B Stories

National workforce training program headed to Augusta

A program created by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is coming to Augusta, one of just nine locations selected. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce will partner with Augusta Technical College to select a cohort of adult learners of color who are underemployed or unemployed. The program will train them in an industry credential or degree. Details of the program are being worked out, but Sue Parr, President of the Augusta Metro Chamber, told ABD the first cohort will run for 18 months. “You know, it’s scary

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Awards/Celebrations

CSRA auto group celebrates 50 years with a big gift to the community

Gerald Jones Auto Group is celebrating 50 years of serving the CSRA by entering a 5-year commitment with Augusta Technical College, resulting in a $250,000 donation to the school’s Foundation. The Augusta Technical College Foundation helps create essential career pathways for the growing automotive landscape in Augusta. Andy Jones of Gerald Jones Auto Group said, “It is critical that we support Augusta Technical College in providing training and education for careers in automotive. It’s also important to the success of our dealerships and it’s great for our area residents.” The

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Consumer Stories

Anatomy of a Fall is a meal for audiences

One of the more intricate and exciting films released this year was Justine Triet’s French-English crime drama Anatomy of a Fall, starring Sandra Huller and nominated for five Academy Awards. With a mistrustful protagonist, an anxious setting, and an open ending, fans of murder mysteries, character studies, or psychological dramas will eat this flick up with a side salad. The film centers around the mysterious death of writer, Samuel Maleski, who falls from the second story of his chalet in Grenoble after sabotaging an interview of his wife, author, Sandra

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B2B Stories

Challenges get the best of local restaurant and take-out business

Editor’s note: The best part of my job is writing about new businesses. During the interview process, the excitement is palpable. The hardest part is telling the story of the ones that close. Telling those stories brings a different set of emotions to the table. Like most entrepreneurs, Jennifer Steller, owner of A Steller Kitchen, followed her dream which was to open a restaurant. Along the way, she endured some big challenges, including opening her doors in the midst of Covid and later her husband was diagnosed with two brain

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B2B Stories

Putting empty Augusta buildings back to work

Augusta-Richmond County will soon see a series of vacant buildings finding new life for different purposes. The most recent is the former Rite Aid/Eckerd Drugs store on Walton Way at 15th Street. It re-opened on Feb. 8 as a retail store and training center for Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA. That came on the heels of Goodwill turning the former Georgia Federal Bank on Washington Road at Furys Ferry Road into its welcome center for Helms College. Both locations had been commercial tracts, generating property taxes for

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Awards/Celebrations

3rd generation family business celebrates 75th year

Nuts and bolts go together and without both, you can’t produce strong equipment. They are designed to work so that they strengthen whatever they are holding together. Stafford Nut and Bolt understands the concept, which is why they’ve been around for 75 years. The family-owned business was founded in 1949 and acquired by owner and President, James Stafford’s grandfather in 1952. Based in Augusta, Stafford Nut and Bolt specializes in industrial supply and has become a cornerstone of the local business landscape. James Stafford, the president and owner, reflected on the company’s

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Consumer Stories

Revitalizing the Downtown Augusta/Medical District area

A building on one of Augusta’s main thoroughfares has been re-purposed and was re-opened for business on Feb. 9, while work is underway at a well-known building on Broad Street. Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA have converted the former Rite Aid/Eckerd Drug store on 15th Street at Walton Way into its newest Goodwill Retail Training Store and Donation Center. “We commend the Goodwill organization for their work and workforce development, job skills, training, and hospitality, all of which are represented in their retail stores and their donation

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B2B Stories

Sweet smell of baking success

With her husband’s encouragement, Angela Dragano started her own business three years ago, La Vita Bella, which means ‘It’s a beautiful life.’ Indeed, it’s been beautiful for this entrepreneur who has mastered custom cakes, catering, and event coordination from setup, to decorating and food. Last week, she moved her commercial kitchen from her home to a new location, 908 Dougherty Road in Aiken. La Vita Bella’s hours will vary depending on their custom catering and cake orders. The days and times the new shop will open to the public will

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Consumer Stories

CSRA businesses gear up to celebrate Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras celebrations kick off today, but tomorrow through Fat Tuesday, there are plenty of opportunities to Let the Good Times Roll right here at home! The party starts at NOLA Coffee tomorrow from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm. ABD has been following their progress from the beginning when they opened a popup cart in May of 2022. Owners, Mallory Adkison from New Orleans, and her husband, Jake serve up a cold brewed coffee that is rare in these parts, but a throwback to her New Orleans heritage. It caught

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Consumer Stories

Mental Health Matters: Love yourself, the helpers high

Next week marks the annual celebration of the national commercialized day of love, Valentine’s Day. A day to celebrate the ones we love through sharing cards, flowers, candy, gifts, and amazing dinners at our favorite restaurants. The cards, flowers, candy, gifts, and dinners will come and go within 24 hours. Will the impact of that day last and give us that ULTIMATE feel good to get us through another 365 days until the next Valentine’s Day? Probably not. Valentine’s Day is a day of giving, sharing, and love. The fact

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