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Consumer Stories

Connecting CSRA medical needs with business good deeds

The founder of the nation’s largest human resource company for small and medium businesses has made a $50 million investment in the Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia (WCHOG).  The investment by Tom Golisano, founder of Paychex, brings WCHOG into a national consortium of children’s hospitals.   “Children’s hospitals are essential to the health and future of our communities, and each one serves families with unique needs and challenges,” said Golisano in the news release announcing the investment. “The team at Wellstar Children’s Hospital of Georgia has a deep commitment to advancing

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 23, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Georgia joins new federal tax credit program; Augusta benefits

A new education tax credit will soon be available to Georgia families following a Tuesday announcement by Gov. Brian Kemp (R).  Kemp said the state is opting in to a program through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The credit became available as a provision of the Trump Administration’s most recent tax package, approved last year. It is an individual, dollar-for-dollar tax credit.  During his press conference, Kemp said this latest step is in the same vein as the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, through which families can use tax dollars to choose education

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 22, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Investment firm acquires iconic Augusta hotel

A West Augusta hotel is about to get a serious makeover to the tune of $12 million. It’s the largest investment in upgrading an area hotel since a $10 million investment was made about four years ago in Augusta. The DoubleTree by Hilton Augusta on 2651 Perimeter Parkway near I-20 and I-520 was recently acquired by an affiliate of Flacks Group, a Miami-based investment firm. Flacks has selected StepStone Hospitality to manage the property. The planned renovation will include refreshed guest rooms, upgraded public areas, a reimagined food and beverage experience, new

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Neil Gordon January 21, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Steady Georgialina Economy

We finished strong in 2025. The Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) increased by 0.4 percent in October and 0.1 percent in November. In November, the LEI was 1.3 percent higher than a year ago. Residential building permits increased in October but fell back in November. Initial claims for unemployment insurance increased in both months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average continued its strong growth in the fourth quarter. After several months of declining job openings, October and November saw increased job openings. The November employment weighted average of job openings in

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor January 20, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Governor Kemp’s bittersweet State of the State address

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) delivered his final State of the State address, wrapping up his second term in office, with a focus on improving affordability for all Georgians. He began by announcing an income tax rebate and a call to reduce the state income tax. “My budget proposal will include a fourth, one-time, 1-billion-dollar tax rebate this year that will return or save the average filer 250 dollars and a married couple up to 500 dollars,” he explained. “With this rebate, my administration and this General Assembly will have

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 19, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Setting business owners up for success

There is a workshop next week, organized by experts who can point business owners to successful outcomes. This is the 12th year for the CEO Breakfast Workshop, sponsored by the Augusta office of the University of Georgia’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The two-hour workshop will feature a panel of experts who can address the three topics for this year’s event. “We’re going to discuss the HR component, the financial component, and the risk assessment component,” Rebecca Mixson, Director for the Augusta office, explained for ABD. “We’re going to talk

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 16, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Financial Group expands up the road

A financial planning firm in the CSRA since 1974, is expanding from one end of Stevens Creek Road to the other. Richard Young Associates now has seven certified financial planners (CFP’s), nearly 20 employees, and will be moving into a new, large facility on Stevens Creek Road across from the West Hills subdivision and Dollar General on the west side of the Riverwatch Parkway. Part of the reason for the company’s growth is their association with Dave Ramsey and its Money MD programs, first on the radio and then through

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Neil Gordon January 15, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

McMaster releases his final budget to put more $$ in taxpayer pockets

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster laid out his fiscal year 2026-2027 budget. He was joined by Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. The plan included many of the themes that have been a hallmark for McMaster, such as reducing the state income tax and improving teacher pay. Just five years ago, South Carolina had the highest personal income tax rate in the southeast at 7%. McMaster pushed to have it lowered incrementally to its current 6%. He proposes dropping it to 5.9% and continuing to reduce it with the goal of eliminating

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 14, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

CSRA lawmakers lead today’s 2026 SC legislative session opening

Members of the South Carolina General Assembly have gathered in Columbia for today’s opening of the 2026 session. This is the second regular session of the 126th General Assembly. State Sen. Tom Young (R-District 24, Aiken County) told ABD he sees a wide range of topics facing lawmakers this session, ranging from education to workforce initiatives, and modifying the state’s income and property taxes. South Carolina has been incrementally lowering the personal income tax from 7% to the current 6% on income over $17,830. Young anticipates a vigorous debate on

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 13, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Augusta area legislator pushes for more $$ in our paychecks

Georgia lawmakers are returning to Atlanta for the opening of the 2026 Legislative session. The House will be gaveled into session at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Democratic Senator Harold Jones represents Georgia’s 22nd Senate District, covering Augusta and parts of Richmond County, Georgia, as the Minority Leader in the Georgia Senate, told ABD he expects reducing or eliminating the personal income tax will be one of the session’s key issues. “Other than that, things have been kind of quiet as far as what the major issues are going to be out there,”

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 12, 2026 No Comments
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