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Thousands attend 11th annual TechNet Augusta

TechNet Augusta 2024 is a three-day event that kicked off on August 19. Activities are held at the Marriott Augusta, the Augusta Convention Center, and the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center. According to a news release from Destination Augusta, the 2023 conference brought almost 6,000 attendees, with more than half coming from outside Georgia and South Carolina. It translated to a $5.4 million economic impact last year. “Since 2013, Augusta has been proud to host this esteemed event, which brings together some of the brightest minds in technology, defense,

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Rest of 2024 Economic Outlook

As I write this week’s economic commentary, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is up over 500 points on lower initial claims for unemployment insurance, and lower inflation, and robust retail sales data. The rise in the DJIA is a leading indicator for the local economy as it is highly correlated with local firm’s share prices. Rising share prices reflect the markets’ expectation of future firm cashflows and profitability. Locally, initial claims for unemployment insurance lag the national releases, but climbed slightly in May and June. Inflation in the South

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Consumer Stories

School to open retail shop to help cause

Despite our volatile economy, thrift stores continue to be a consistent presence in the CSRA. The latest store to open will be at 316 8th Street in downtown Augusta between Broad Street and Greene Street. The Jessye Norman School of the Arts will operate the store and use proceeds to fund its FREE afterschool program. The new store in the 1,800-square-foot building will be called Second Act and be aligned with the JNSA by offering used musical instruments, new and used art supplies, graphic t-shirts, clothes, and eclectic furniture. Meybohm

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Consumer Stories

CSRA furniture store to open after big delay

ABD first told you the newest Ashley Furniture Store announced it was coming to Aiken in late January. Spring was the target date. Ashley reached ABD late yesterday to say that the grand opening is now set for August 29th at 11:00 AM. The new Ashley is moving into the former Aiken Furniture Company store and occupying more than 25,000 square feet. Ashley’s latest 7.0 store concept will be next to Target and Planet Fitness in the Aiken Exchange Plaza. Planet Fitness managers told ABD the vacant store had been

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B2B Stories

Meet the $2 million robot and the CSRA surgeons who use it

Aiken Regional Medical Centers is inviting the community for an up-close look and a chance to test drive their da Vinci Xi® Robotic Surgical System. A team of surgeons will also be on hand to answer questions about procedures used with the robot and the benefits of robotic surgery. The event will be held today, August 15, from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in Aiken Regional’s main lobby, at 302 University Parkway in Aiken. “The da Vinci Xi® Robot has taken minimally invasive surgery to a new cutting edge,” says Lorenzo Sampson,

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B2B Stories

Breaking ground on CSRA’s small business future

It’s a $2.3 million project that Augusta Technical College (ATC) and the city’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) predict will be a cornerstone for small business development in Downtown Augusta. A ceremony to kick off Accelerate Augusta was held yesterday to bring the region’s newest small business incubator and microenterprise to fruition. Dirt was shoveled, but this is really a renovation project led by longtime CSRA contractors, McKnight Construction. Housed in the former headquarters for Augusta Metro Chamber in the I. M. Pei Building located at 600 Broad Street, the center

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Interest rate cut would help CSRA economy

On Friday, August 2nd, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that U.S. employment increased by 114,000 in July. This represents a slowdown in job generation over the last four years. The slowdown in employment growth hit stock hard, but raised the prospect of an interest rate cut at the Federal Reserve’s September meeting. While July employment numbers are not yet available for the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area, employment growth has been static in the last six months. After increasing from 244,000 in July 2023 to 246,200 in November 2023, employment

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B2B Stories

Economic growth and business development accelerate tomorrow

Construction begins tomorrow for what is hoped to be a cornerstone for small business development in Downtown Augusta. The groundbreaking will bring the region’s newest small business incubator and microenterprise called Accelerate Augusta. Housed in the former headquarters for Augusta Metro Chamber in the renovated I. M. Pei Building located at 600 Broad Street, the center will offer essential resources, mentorship, and opportunities for growth. With a partnership between Augusta Technical College (ATC) and Augusta’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA), funding for the $2.3 million project was allocated through congressional funding.

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Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: How School Choice and Ratings Influence Your Home-Buying Decision

When buying a home, specific needs often narrow down the selection. Key factors include community amenities, the home’s size, proximity to work, and features like a garage or yard. One often underestimated element that significantly impacts property values and choices is school zoning. School choice and school ratings profoundly influence lifestyle choices, purchase locations, and homeowner happiness. Since back-to-school posts are flooding our feeds right now, I thought we could talk about how compelling this factor is when it comes to buying a home. Homebuyers are no longer merely checking

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B2B Stories

Update on multi-million dollar renovation project

Progress is being made on a comprehensive cancer treatment center to be located in the former Medac Building at 150 Bluff Avenue in North Augusta, SC. These development efforts represent total investments of over $35,000,000 into North Augusta, including $20,000,000 invested into the former Medac Building. Following Medac’s acquisition by Coronis Health, the Board of North Augusta Forward recognized the opportunity for the building to better support downtown revitalization by increasing the density of employees and customers using the building. Working with Palmetto Peach Development, a Master Plan was developed

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