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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: Homeowners Insurance Woes

In recent months, I’ve noticed some concerning trends affecting homeowners across the country. You may have faced increasing difficulties in obtaining and retaining your own homeowner’s insurance. These challenges have become particularly pronounced, affecting both new and existing homeowners. After witnessing the rising insurance costs firsthand, I felt we could all use an update on what to expect moving forward. One of the primary issues homeowners face is the rising cost of insurance premiums. Several factors have contributed to this increase, including, a rise in natural disasters, a rise in

Shawna Woodward, Re/Max Reinvented Evans July 25, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

CSRA impacts from global Microsoft outage

Six days later and some CSRA travelers are still reeling from a global computer outage that began Friday morning, July 19. On that day, Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) announced delays from American Airlines and cancellations for Delta flights. At issue was the fact that Atlanta is the Delta hub. With the exception of AGS direct flights to Charlotte, Dallas, and Washington, DC, the bulk of Augusta flights, with Delta as the carrier, land in Atlanta and depart to cities across the country and around the world. Tabitha Butler, owner of

Mitzi Oxford July 24, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

Shining City on a Hill: A True Return to Greatness

Ronald Reagan liked to use the phrase, “Shining City on a Hill” to describe our country. He used that description both on the eve of his election in 1980 and in capping his eight years in office by discussing its meaning in his farewell address from the presidency in January 1989. The origins of that phrase came from a Pilgrim named John Winthrop in 1630, who used the term to describe what he hoped America would become. Reagan used Winthrop’s phrase (actually “Shining City upon a Hill”) to describe how

Dr. Rick Franza July 23, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

Former Pro Football player to open new CSRA restaurant

After growing up in Huger, SC near Mt. Pleasant, Fernando Washington played professional football for the Frankfurt Galaxy, the World League of America in Germany for two years. It was one of two original NFL Europe teams. He was a defensive end who moved to Aiken two years ago and has transitioned to a business owner and chef. It might seem like an unusual fit, but preparation and cooking come as naturally to Washington as sacking the quarterback. “I grew up in a large family of good cooks starting with

Mitzi Oxford July 22, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Tapping into underutilized workforces

Someone formerly incarcerated who successfully transitions back into society as a productive employee is something Goodwill has seen up close in Augusta. In 2013, Sean Walker was hired at Edgar’s Grill as a server assistant. Twenty years earlier, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder of his fiancée. Ultimately, Walker was promoted to banquet server at the Snelling Center. “This gave me the opportunity to meet Goodwill’s President and CEO, Jim Stiff, who continually encouraged me to strive for excellence. So, I

Dana Lynn McIntyre July 21, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Moving Augusta into the transportation of the future

Augusta will receive millions of dollars to develop its public transportation and Broad Street station. Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock (Ga-D) and Jon Ossoff (Ga-D) recently announced three cities will share $45 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for clean energy transportation projects. Augusta is in line to receive $12 million to use for the purchase of electric buses for the Augusta Transit Department. They will replace older buses and provide more reliable, quieter, and efficient buses. “This was a competitive grant. We were competing against hundreds of other transit agencies

Dana Lynn McIntyre July 18, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Rethinking economic development at Augusta Regional

Members of the Augusta Aviation Commission’s Opportunity Ad Hoc Committee are taking a fresh look at their mission. The committee had been formed to research how the airport could use the federal government’s Opportunity Zones, created in 2017 by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, to spark industrial, commercial, and residential development around the airport. “I think that word opportunity came up because, in the Trump administration, the opportunity zones were kind of a hot topic from a business development standpoint,” recalled Herbert Judon, Jr., Executive Director of the airport.

Dana Lynn McIntyre July 17, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

#4 in 2024: Georgia’s ‘Top State for Business’ Streak Continues

Last week, CNBC released its 2024 list of “America’s Top States for Business,” which ranks all fifty states. CNBC has been publishing this annual list since 2007 and for the 17th consecutive year (there was no published list in 2020), Georgia has ranked in the Top Ten, including a ranking of fourth both this year and last. While CNBC regularly makes changes to both the metrics and their relative weights used to determine the rankings, it is a credit to our state that it consistently remains highly ranked. There is

Dr. Rick Franza July 16, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

Road Construction Flips Festival Venue

Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival will be returning to Broad Street and the Augusta Common on September 20 – 22 this year. The decision to move back was made after the road construction schedule for Telfair Street was announced last week. The Telfair Street construction would have impacted the festival site. Road construction on Broad Street, which had initially prompted the relocation, will now start in 2025. The festival will feature over 150 juried Fine Arts and Crafts artists this year, with artists coming from all over the

Staff Report July 15, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

CSRA “backyard company” expands; on the move this summer

With 100-degree temperatures this summer, Chattels In Design is expanding and adding a new pool, patio department, and website. They will be moving on August 1st to a larger location that will now offer a showroom of composite deck brands, pergolas, fiberglass pools, patio furniture, and Sunroom samples. Chattels In Design USA Ltd Co, LLC has been serving Aiken for 2-1/2 years at their current location at Suite 216, 237 Park Ave Sw, Aiken, SC 29801 in “The Mill” building downtown Aiken. They will be open for business on August 5th at the new

Neil Gordon July 14, 2024 No Comments

Real Talk Real Estate: Homeowners Insurance Woes

CSRA impacts from global Microsoft outage

Shining City on a Hill: A True Return to Greatness

Former Pro Football player to open new CSRA restaurant

Tapping into underutilized workforces

Moving Augusta into the transportation of the future

Rethinking economic development at Augusta Regional

#4 in 2024: Georgia’s ‘Top State for Business’ Streak Continues

Road Construction Flips Festival Venue

CSRA “backyard company” expands; on the move this summer

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