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Simon Says: Hurricane Helene job impact

As the 2025 hurricane season gets underway, the first county-level data capturing the labor market impact of Hurricane Helene last September has just become available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Across the 13 Georgia counties of the Central Savannah River Area Regional Commission (CSRA), employment fell between the third quarter of 2024 and the fourth quarter in 6 counties. The largest decline was 1.75% in Lincoln County. Other counties that saw declining employment were Columbia (0.27%), Hancock (0.68%), Jenkins (1.21%), McDuffie (1.17%), and Washington (0.27%). In Georgia, employment increased

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe July 21, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Rezoning request for major Aiken County employer

The Aiken County Planning Commission has approved a request to rezone two parcels in Graniteville. The request was from Rolls-Royce Solutions America, Inc., on behalf of MTU Detroit Diesel, Inc., for its facility in the Sage Mill Industrial Park. The request calls for re-zoning 73.41 acres on Bettis Academy Road from Rural Development (RUD) to Industrial Development (IND). One parcel has access to Bettis Academy Road, the other has access to Sage Mill Parkway and Power Drive. The site has manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution operations. The rezoning application stated, “Rezoning

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Dana Lynn McIntyre July 20, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Using SPLOST dollars for a new mega site

The Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) has a request on the list of Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 9 projects going before the Augusta-Richmond County Commissioners. AEDA is requesting $25 million. It will be used for a pump station, gravity, and 24” force mains to extend residential, commercial, and industrial sewer capacity through South Augusta. The commissioners will review the $426 million worth of projects remaining after County Administrator Tameka Allen culled the original one-billion-dollar wish list that departments and organizations had requested. It will open South Augusta

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Dana Lynn McIntyre July 17, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

SPLOST project can help grow part of CSRA

Augusta-Richmond County Commissioners are preparing to finalize the list of projects for Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) 9. The initial wish list of projects totaled more than one billion dollars. County Administrator Tameka Allen whittled it down to $426 million over seven years, and the tax will be collected. One of the projects that made Allen’s list would have a substantial impact on developing South Richmond County. The Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) is requesting $25 million to extend residential, commercial, and industrial sewer capacity through South Augusta.

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Dana Lynn McIntyre July 16, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Augustan to lead organization contributing to $44 million arts industry

The nonprofit arts and culture sector is a $44.2 million industry in the Greater Augusta Area—one that supports 1,616 full-time equivalent jobs and generates $3.9 million in local and state government revenue. Whether it’s viewing paintings at Morris Museum of Art or taking in a concert at the Imperial Theatre, it pumps vital revenue into restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and other local businesses. The Augusta Symphony has been an important part of the arts scene for 71 years. They have a new Executive Director, Paige Tom, who is a familiar

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Mitzi Oxford July 15, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Out to pasture after running a successful business?

Imagine for a moment that your business contributes more than $70 million to the local economy, not to mention other support businesses that grow and reap the rewards in the entire CSRA. When you are ready to hang up the reins, what happens next? Aiken is horse country, and the real estate investments for horse farms, the events and visitors they attract, the trainers, farriers, veterinarians, and feed suppliers are all part of the economic equation. What happens to the retired thoroughbreds that provided years of excitement for the Aiken

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Mitzi Oxford July 14, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Report showcases impact of AI and high tech on job market

The importance of being tech-savvy about cutting-edge technology and artificial intelligence (AI) is the focus of the latest report from the Georgia Chamber Foundation. Titled “Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” the Q2 report breaks down how the state’s economy will be impacted by AI, new technologies, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers. This is one of the five Prosperity Pillars in the Chamber’s Georgia/2050 strategic plan. The report found that STEM is a significant contribution to the innovation economy. It finds that Georgia has more than 2.1 million STEM

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Dana Lynn McIntyre July 14, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

$12 million investment in CSRA

A manufacturer of paper towels and toilet paper is set to move into a South Carolina plant once occupied by another manufacturer producing similar products. Barnwell Tissues Solution’s $12 million investment will restore 50 new jobs at 285 Midfield Road in Barnwell. That is the former home of the Cascades Tissue Plant. It’s also good news for Barnwell County, which has struggled with a 4.9% unemployment rate, compared to Aiken County with a 3.8% rate and Edgefield County, which is 3.4%. Cascades used to employ 300 workers. Cascades Tissue Plant

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Mitzi Oxford July 13, 2025 No Comments
Closings

Electronics superstore closes after 21 months in CSRA

Apparently, Best Buy is the best choice for electronics customers in Augusta. BrandsMart U.S.A., its across-the-street competitor, is selling off its display items and shutting its doors as soon as next week. It was confirmed by a store manager. The store celebrated its grand opening in October 2023. According to a press release back then, the 40,000-square-foot discount superstore carried thousands of products from brands like Samsung, LG, GE, Whirlpool, and Sony, with an emphasis on having the lowest prices on electronics in the market. It was the first Georgia

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Neil Gordon July 10, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Clearing begins for North Augusta multipurpose development

Work clearing a wooded section of land between E. Martintown Road and E. Buena Vista Avenue has grown enough to begin attracting attention. The site preparation marks the first tangible progress on a development that initially went before the North Augusta Planning Commission in August 2021 as a sketch plan review. First known as the Mealing tract development, the official name was Bluegrass Place. The 53-acre multipurpose development went before the North Augusta City Council in early 2022 and was approved. Site work began early this year. “Finally, we have

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Dana Lynn McIntyre July 9, 2025 No Comments
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