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Augusta Tech to facilitate hiring through Georgia’s new online portal

As one of the 22 schools in the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Augusta Technical College (ATC) is ready to help students use the new Labor Exchange Platform (LEP). The platform, announced on Nov. 21 by Gov. Brian Kemp, is part of the state’s WorkSource Georgia program, which is administered by TCSG’s Office of Workforce Development. ATC President, Dr. Jermaine Whirl said they are waiting for some final instructions from the state to create portal access on the school’s website. “That information will be housed under our Career Services

dana-lynn-mcintyre November 30, 2023 No Comments

B2B Stories

Robust sales report kicks off Christmas buying

Gloomy predictions for a less-than-healthy holiday sales season were dispelled by a report this week from the National Retail Federation (NRF). During the five-day period from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, NRF found a record 200.4 million consumers hit stores and websites. That surpasses last year’s 196.7 million and far exceeds the NRF’s prediction of 182 million shoppers. “We attribute that turnout to a number of factors certainly,” said NRF President and CEO, Matthew Shay. “It speaks to the way consumers are feeling, but also the deals that were out

Dana Lynn McIntyre November 29, 2023 No Comments

B2B Stories

A boost is coming to businesses seeking Georgia employees

Georgia’s nationally recognized workforce development programs are now offering a direct link between job seekers and employers. The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) has launched an online Labor Exchange Platform (LEP) as part of the state’s WorkSource Georgia program, which is administered by TCSG’s Office of Workforce Development. “By seamlessly connecting job seekers with employers, we are not just filling job vacancies, but are building a robust, skilled community ready to drive Georgia’s economic growth,” said TCSG Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development, Karen Kirchler. Georgia’s ability to provide a

Dana Lynn McIntyre November 28, 2023 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Help from Augusta & Palmetto expert on Cyber Monday

Fire up your computers and grab your credit cards. Today is Cyber Monday, a day when your Christmas shopping can be done from your couch while wearing your jammies. Cyber Monday was coined in Nov. 2005 by the National Retail Federation, a time when online shopping was still in its infancy. Since then, it has grown into one of the biggest shopping days of the holiday season. According to the website, www.blackfriday.com, in 2022, shoppers spent an estimated 11.3 billion on Cyber Monday. That compared to $9.12 billion. Bloomberg, in

Dana Lynn McIntyre November 26, 2023 No Comments

B2B Stories

Small businesses hope shoppers think local for Christmas joy

CSRA small businesses hope shoppers will remember the old saying, “Home is where the heart is,” and support local merchants this season. The biggest shopping day of the year is Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when the Christmas shopping season officially begins. Traditionally, shoppers head to the big box stores to score bargains. But a day later, the spotlight turns to small, local businesses for Small Business Saturday. More than a dozen businesses in downtown Augusta will participate in the third annual Small Business Saturday (SBS) Crawl, sponsored by

Dana Lynn McIntyre November 21, 2023 No Comments

B2B Stories

Lower unemployment taxes for South Carolina businesses

A robust economy paved the way for South Carolina to ease a tax paid by businesses. For the third year in a row, the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) tax rates will decrease or hold steady in 2024. Gov. Henry McMaster (R) made the announcement earlier this month, saying there is no better time to be in business in the Palmetto State. “The state’s leadership has worked hard to make strong financial decisions that maintain a healthy unemployment insurance trust fund which will benefit employers in the coming year,” said McMaster.

Dana Lynn McIntyre November 20, 2023 No Comments

B2B Stories

Augusta University enrollment hits a high note

Augusta University is one of the largest employers in Augusta and according to Forbes, one of the best in the state. Now comes another feather in the cap. With a 7% growth this year, the highest ever for AU, the university has broken through the 10,000-student enrollment level. The final number was 10,564. By comparison, last year’s enrollment stood at 9,813. Leaders of Augusta University celebrated reaching and exceeding that milestone by inviting staff and students to a special announcement last week. “Our fastest growing college actually is our College

Dana Lynn McIntyre November 19, 2023 No Comments

B2B Stories

New athleisure brand opens to the pickleball-loving public

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the CSRA and America. It’s easy to learn and fun to play. It’s a racquet sport and a cross between tennis, badminton, and ping pong, but played on a smaller court. Pickleball is also good for your health which is what brought brothers, Dan and Jon Lawson and David Pope together to form the athleisure company Good Get Apparel. Jon is a pulmonologist, Dan and David were in the technology side of healthcare. “We all understood the health benefits of playing pickleball,

Mitzi Oxford November 16, 2023 No Comments

B2B Stories

Dividing the tax pie following huge event successes

It’s been a banner year for events in the CSRA and with that comes a healthy chunk of money collected through accommodation taxes. Building on those success stories and creating a new event resulted in requests for dividing up the bounty. The funds are collected through the state’s 2% accommodations tax (ATAX) from visitors staying in hotels and similar lodgings. North Augusta’s pot has grown steadily. In 2021, the city had $76,065 to distribute. That climbed to $140,450 last year. Members of the North Augusta Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee reviewed

Dana Lynn McIntyre November 15, 2023 No Comments

B2B Stories

Making sense of Georgia’s dollars and cents

Figures from the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) show tax collections declined during September, but are there reasons for concern? The net tax collections totaled nearly $3.3 billion in September 2023. Although that is an increase of just over $199 million, or 6.4 percent over September 2022, the increase is due in large part to the reinstatement Motor Fuel Excise Tax. When the motor fuel tax revenues are excluded, along with related local sales tax distribution adjustment, the September 2023 net tax collections dropped by just under $98 million, or

Dana Lynn McIntyre November 14, 2023 No Comments

Augusta Tech to facilitate hiring through Georgia’s new online portal

Robust sales report kicks off Christmas buying

A boost is coming to businesses seeking Georgia employees

Help from Augusta & Palmetto expert on Cyber Monday

Small businesses hope shoppers think local for Christmas joy

Lower unemployment taxes for South Carolina businesses

Augusta University enrollment hits a high note

New athleisure brand opens to the pickleball-loving public

Dividing the tax pie following huge event successes

Making sense of Georgia’s dollars and cents

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