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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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B2B Stories

Cybersecurity for smaller CSRA businesses and organizations

A center nestled within the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center (GCITC) offers support to organizations that are vital to Georgia’s economy, health and public safety, but are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. The Cyber Resiliency Center (CRC) works with small- to medium-sized manufacturing companies, local governments, municipalities, public school districts, and rural and community hospitals. Those segments have seen an increase in cyber-attacks ranging from ransomware to data breaches and operational disruptions. Not all are adequately equipped to guard against intrusions. John McLain, Project Four Lead with Georgia-AIM (Artificial Intelligence in

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B2B Stories

Georgia’s Governor signs his final budget with HUGE cuts

Gov. Brian Kemp (R) put his signature on a budget plan for FY 2027, marking the eighth and final time he will do so. Kemp is wrapping up his second term in office. Prior to signing the budget bill, Kemp cut $300 million in new spending to keep it in balance at $36.6 billion. Kemp said the cuts were necessary to address changes in anticipated revenue following his approval of the personal income tax cuts and property tax cap. Kemp said the cuts he made were to what he called

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B2B Stories

Hospital construction in the home stretch

Wellstar and AU Health leadership provided a tour and media briefing at the new hospital under construction in Columbia County.   The six-floor, 254,000 square foot hospital is being built off Interstate 20 exit 190, just below the Columbia County Exhibition Center. It remains on track to open from late August to early September. In addition to providing healthcare, the hospital and surrounding complex can act as a magnet to draw new businesses to Columbia County. The hospital itself will add about 1,200 jobs. “We have 300-plus staff already hired. We

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B2B Stories

Tax cuts in Effect for Augustans

A series of tax-cutting bills passed by the Georgia Legislature have been signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp (R). Kemp said the legislation will lower the tax burden on Augustans and all Georgians, while working to secure the state’s reputation as a top place to do business. Kemp said the cuts were possible because of budgeting conservatively. “That approach has allowed us to return billions of dollars to taxpayers, and the legislation I signed today will keep that momentum going as we further lower our state income tax rate,

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B2B Stories

CSRA Credit Union reaches major milestone

The SRP Affinity Debit Card Program reached $3 million. Early next week, the credit union is going to celebrate. The card allows SRP members to support local schools simply by using their school-branded debit card for everyday purchases. Each swipe helps generate contributions to these 46 local schools. The program provides critical funding to support educational initiatives, student programs, and school resources. The celebration will be huge as representatives from the 46 schools are invited to include school leaders, school superintendents, and Board of Education members. It will be held

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Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Best openings after graduation season

It is graduation time in our colleges, universities, and high schools, but which sectors are hiring? The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) releases monthly job openings for a variety of industries at the national level. The national job openings rate (job openings divided by job openings plus employment multiplied by 100) is 4.1% in March 2026, down from a peak of 7.5% in March 2022.  Healthcare and social assistance have the highest job opening rate at 5.4%, down from 9.4% in March 2022. Leisure and hospitality also has a job

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Consumer Stories

The CSRA runs on Dunkin’ x 16!

The Patel family is opening its 16 th local Dunkin’ Donuts this Friday in Columbia County, and you’re invited to nab some free swag. Three Patel brothers, Sam, Peter, and A.J are holding the grand opening at 8 A.M., Friday, May 15th.  The address is 755 Point Bluff Parkway in Harlem, near Piedmont Prompt Care and a strip center featuring Jersey Mike’s. The first 100 guests will receive 100 days of free coffee. Team members will hand out Dunkin’ branded items, while a DJ plays some music and an artist

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Consumer Stories

CSRA coffee company takes command of helping local military families

A locally owned small business is partnering with an agency at the United Way of the CSRA (UWCSRA) to support veterans one cup of coffee at a time. Commander Coffee has created a bag of a custom blend coffee, with 20% of sales going to Mission United for the next several months. “I actually invited the staff from the United Way to come down here and do a tasting,” Commander Coffee owner Randy Bradum explained for ABD. “I curated a couple of blends that I thought would be good fits

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B2B Stories

Huge tournament impact at Augusta Regional this year

Leaders at Augusta Regional Airport are still crunching the numbers, but the first review showed increased activity and revenue. Members of the Aviation Commission learned results are up across the board, from arrivals and departures to security screening and jet fuel sales. “The fact that what we pull off with the size of the facility, and what we try to do every year, it’s really miraculous. We kind of punch well above our weight come Masters Week,” executive director Herbert Judon, Jr. told commission members. Kenneth Hinkle, the airport’s Director

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