Top Story

B2B Stories

Club Car Leads Fight Against Chinese Imports in D.C.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will soon make a final determination in the antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) case concerning Chinese low-speed vehicle imports. Club Car leaders and other representatives of the coalition representing the United States’ leading manufacturers of golf and personal transportation vehicles (PTVs) recently traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional leaders and seek support. The above picture on Capitol Hill features Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12), who met with leaders from Club Car and EZ-GO in Washington, D.C., to address the impact of illegally dumped

Read More »
B2B Stories

Final numbers for Masters Week impact at the airport

The initial numbers looked good, and the final numbers look even better for how Augusta Regional Airport fared during Master 2025. Ken Hinkle, Director of Aircraft Services, provided members of the Aviation Commission with the impact of aircraft traffic on jet fuel sales and broke down the fees versus expenses and operational costs. Hinkle said one difference this year was the decision to begin parking aircraft on the other side of the runways. That increased the number of aircraft they could accommodate. The report breaks down operations, which are every

Read More »
B2B Stories

Federal money to expand, renovate, and equip Augusta airport

Members of the Aviation Commission learned how two federal grants, first approved by the Augusta-Richmond County Commission, will be used at Augusta Regional Airport. In all, the grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) total just over $5 million. The grant for the Airport Terminal Program (ATP) is $4 million, the remainder is an Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG). Herbert Judon, Jr., airport Executive Director, told ABD the funds for the ATP became available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021. “It was a competitive grant. We were awarded that

Read More »
B2B Stories

Regional Manufacturing Ripple Effect

The recent announcement that a primary metals manufacturing facility is coming to South Carolina shows how growth in one place can promote growth in another. Mega Metal, a Turkey-based company, is investing $34 million to build a copper wire manufacturing plant in Fairfield County, just north of Columbia. It will create 135 jobs and is expected to be operational by September 2025. “Fairfield County celebrates the arrival of Mega Metal, bringing 135 new jobs and a $34 million investment to the central region of South Carolina. With a strong foundation

Read More »
B2B Stories

Aiken Projects Have Regional Impact

Tuesday’s groundbreaking for two projects at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) will be felt across South Carolina and Georgia. The South Carolina National Guard (SCNG) is building a 26,000 square foot Cyber Integration Center (CIC) next to the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative. The CIC will include a student-run Regional Security Operations Center (RSOC). Regional was a word heard often during the groundbreaking ceremony. Speakers told attendees the work done at CIC will benefit both South Carolina and Georgia. “In leveraging the power and proximity with a centralized location, bridging

Read More »
B2B Stories

Multimillion $ project underway at USCA

Leaders from education, local, state, and federal government, along with the military, gathered at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA) to kick off the largest investment by the South Carolina National Guard (SCNG) since World War II. The SCNG Cyber Integration Center will be a 26,000 square foot building for cyber defense activities. It will also host training, education, and applied research to support national security. There will also be a Student Readiness Center to provide USCA students mentorships and real-world experience while supporting training for two SCNG units.

Read More »
B2B Stories

$34 million manufacturing project in South Carolina

South Carolina’s governor announced on May 13 that a primary metals manufacturer was heading to Fairfield County. That same day, a site selection company released a report on the economic impact of such businesses. Mega Metal, headquartered in Turkey, selected the site just north of Columbia for its first location in the Palmetto State. The copper wire manufacturer’s facility is a $34 million investment, creating 135 jobs. “Congratulations to Mega Metal on establishing its first South Carolina location,” said Gov. Henry McMaster (R) in the news release. “Manufacturing is thriving

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Progress on the new Augusta Arena

The old James Brown Arena is no more, and crews continue the step-by-step process to prepare the site for the construction of the new arena. News crews were given a walk-through at the now-empty tract where the new arena will be built. John Rawlins, project manager with Nations Group, said the current step is using engineered backfill materials in what used to be the old arena’s basement. The material has a better compaction rating. Rollers are then used to help complete the process. “We’ve got a special inspection sub (contractor)

Read More »
B2B Stories

How to grow Augusta’s airport

Members of an Augusta Aviation Commission committee heard about ways to maximize the use of Augusta Regional Airport and potential obstacles. The Opportunity Ad Hoc Committee talked about existing, available land, options on how to use it, and public development versus private development. Committee members first heard a presentation from Pamela Davison, CEO of Bravo Air. The company provides private jet charter services from the airport. She said the company began in 2021 with one aircraft, a King Air F90 turboprop plane. They soon upgraded to a larger King Air

Read More »
B2B Stories

Large Southeastern Engineering Firm Expands in CSRA

Multidisciplined architecture and engineering firm Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) has announced the opening of its new geotechnical engineering laboratory in Aiken, South Carolina. This laboratory is designed to expand the firm’s capabilities in geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing services in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) market. GMC offers both geotechnical engineering and construction materials testing for large multidisciplinary designs and as a single service.  From preliminary design and analysis through testing and observation during construction, the firm’s geotechnical engineers and construction specialists can provide expertise for long-term, cost-effective

Read More »