http://chronicle.augusta.com/business/ Local business news from The Augusta Chronicle. en-us Copyright (c) 2009 The Augusta Chronicle. All rights reserved. Sun, 8 Nov 2009 00:18:16 -0500 5 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554860.shtml Until Friday, Gerald Shealy, of Lexington, S.C., said he didn't know where the Georgia Department of Labor was located. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554860.shtml Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:16:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554664.shtml Mary Galloway is a frequent shopper at discount stores. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554664.shtml Thu, 5 Nov 2009 22:06:04 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554517.shtml Wednesday's grand opening of Publix in Evans is the latest in a recent boom of grocery store openings in Columbia County. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554517.shtml Wed, 4 Nov 2009 19:36:04 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554395.shtml The highest bidder wasn't high enough, so a historic downtown department store building filled with unfinished condominiums is headed to Uncle Sam's balance sheet. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554395.shtml Tue, 3 Nov 2009 21:56:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/03/bus_554207.shtml The Aiken-based holding company for Security Federal Bank reported net income of $339,000 for the three months that ended Sept. 30, or 14 cents per share, compared with $785,000, or 31 cents per share, in the same quarter of 2008. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/03/bus_554207.shtml Mon, 2 Nov 2009 20:56:04 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554859.shtml President Obama signed the bill Friday that includes tax incentives to prospective homebuyers -- extending the benefit for first-time buyers and expanding the credit to existing homeowners. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554859.shtml Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:16:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554599.shtml WASHINGTON --- The most common deals under the government's $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program, aimed at putting more fuel-efficient cars on the road, replaced old Ford or Chevrolet pickups with new ones that got only marginally better gas mileage, according to an analysis of new federal data by The Associated Press. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554599.shtml Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:26:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554817.shtml ST. ANDREWS, Scotland --- The world's top financial officials sought a blueprint Friday for securing future global growth and worked to break a deadlock over who bears the cost of fighting climate change. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554817.shtml Fri, 6 Nov 2009 22:56:05 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554666.shtml NEW YORK --- October's retail sales results, the best performance since April 2008, show that Americans are spending a little more. But will they be willing to pay full price this holiday season? http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554666.shtml Thu, 5 Nov 2009 22:06:04 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554533.shtml WASHINGTON --- Moving to give a weak economy another government boost, the Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to provide the jobless with up to 20 weeks in additional unemployment benefits and expand a first-time homebuyer tax credit to include a far larger pool of people entering the dormant housing market. The $24 billion bill, passed 98-0, also provides tax relief for struggling businesses. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554533.shtml Wed, 4 Nov 2009 21:36:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554378.shtml NEW YORK --- The biggest name in investing is making what he calls an "all-in wager" on the U.S. economy -- $34 billion to own a railroad that hauls everything from corn to cars across the country. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554378.shtml Tue, 3 Nov 2009 19:41:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/03/bus_554208.shtml Golf car giant Club Car this week will begin shipping out its first electric, street-legal, low-speed, passenger vehicle, called the Villager 2 2. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/03/bus_554208.shtml Mon, 2 Nov 2009 20:56:04 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554824.shtml ATLANTA --- At the height of the nationwide salmonella outbreak nearly a year ago, FBI agents raided two peanut plants and carried away boxes of evidence. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554824.shtml Fri, 6 Nov 2009 22:56:06 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554665.shtml WASHINGTON --- Companies across the economy are finding ways to do more with fewer workers, dimming hopes that hiring will take off anytime soon. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554665.shtml Thu, 5 Nov 2009 22:06:04 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554530.shtml AUBURN HILLS, Mich. --- Chrysler plans to overhaul its cars with technology from its new Italian partner, Fiat SpA, and says it has the cash to pay for it, helped by the U.S. government and lower costs. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554530.shtml Wed, 4 Nov 2009 21:31:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554377.shtml DETROIT --- After months of roller coasterlike sales, the auto industry offered signs of recovery from its yearlong slump Tuesday, as most automakers reported higher levels of U.S. sales in October. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554377.shtml Tue, 3 Nov 2009 19:41:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/03/bus_554205.shtml DEARBORN, Mich. - One of the troubled Detroit Three automakers, Ford, is making money again and looking for better times in no more than two years. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/03/bus_554205.shtml Mon, 2 Nov 2009 20:56:04 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554526.shtml NEW YORK --- The early picture of October retail sales shows more signs of a spending recovery, lifting hopes for a slightly merrier holiday season and for the overall economy. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554526.shtml Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:31:04 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554380.shtml ATLANTA --- Mixed signals this week suggest the Georgia economy hasn't found its footing. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554380.shtml Tue, 3 Nov 2009 20:06:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554812.shtml CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- Regulators on Friday shut small banks in Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri, bringing the number of bank failures this year to 119 amid the struggling economy and a cascade of defaults on loans. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/07/bus_554812.shtml Fri, 6 Nov 2009 22:56:04 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554712.shtml WASHINGTON --- Missed out on Cash for Clunkers? Congress has another deal for you: Buy a home before May 1 and collect up to $6,500 from the government. If you're a first-time homebuyer, get up to $8,000. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554712.shtml Thu, 5 Nov 2009 23:51:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554529.shtml BERLIN --- General Motors Co.'s decision to scrap the sale of European subsidiary Opel raised new uncertainty Wednesday over the unit's future, astonishing politicians in Germany and Russia and prompting workers to plan walkouts in protest. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554529.shtml Wed, 4 Nov 2009 21:31:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554379.shtml The Georgia Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday named Rep. Ben Harbin, R-Evans, its Legislator of the Year during an event at Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/04/bus_554379.shtml Tue, 3 Nov 2009 19:41:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554658.shtml ANN ARBOR, MICH. --- Borders Group Inc. says it will close 200 Waldenbooks stores and cut 1,500 jobs in January to make the chain smaller and more profitable. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/06/bus_554658.shtml Thu, 5 Nov 2009 20:51:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554531.shtml WASHINGTON --- Toyota Motor Corp. released misleading information about an investigation into problems with stuck gas pedals that led to a massive Toyota recall, the government said Wednesday, stressing that the issue is still under review by federal safety regulators. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554531.shtml Wed, 4 Nov 2009 21:31:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554528.shtml WASHINGTON --- JPMorgan Chase & Co. has agreed to a settlement worth more than $700 million over federal regulators' charges that it made unlawful payments to friends of public officials to win municipal bond business in Jefferson County, Ala. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/05/bus_554528.shtml Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:46:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554111.shtml When Lee Muns has a headache, he reaches for his welder's mask instead of a bottle of painkiller. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554111.shtml Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:52:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554107.shtml Computer experts are reporting that scareware -- yet another sneaky technique used by hackers to steal personal information and spread viruses online -- is on the rise. Most recently, companies such as Google, Twitter and The New York Times were exploited by hackers as part of a massive scareware attack on consumers. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554107.shtml Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:46:44 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554084.shtml - Tuesday: Product Develop-ment Training Workshop; 8 a.m. to noon, Room 803, Aiken Technical College, 2276 Jefferson Davis Highway; Profit 101! Advanced Product Development Strategies; to register, call Bonnie Taylor at (803) 252-6976 ext. 6 or go to btaylor@scmep.org. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554084.shtml Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:46:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554086.shtml Corinne Curtis has been installed as secretary-treasurer of Selected Independent Funeral Homes. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554086.shtml Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:46:43 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554083.shtml Ribbon-cuttings from the Columbia County and Augusta Chambers of Commerce. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554083.shtml Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:46:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554109.shtml Listing of commercial building permits. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554109.shtml Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:51:03 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554106.shtml Mansfield Jennings (from left), the new chairman of MCG Health Inc., and outgoing President Don Snell presented a check for $7,139,605 on Wednesday to outgoing Medical College of Georgia President Dan Rahn. Every year since its inception, MCG Health Inc. has allocated 43 percent of its margin to the Medical College of Georgia to support education and research programs. Since October 2001, those payments have totaled $85.1 million. The presentation was made during the board's annual meeting, held at MCG Health's Children's Medical Center. http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554106.shtml Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:46:44 -0500 http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554108.shtml The Rotary Area Council, a coalition of clubs in the Augusta-North Augusta area (www.augustarotary.com), recognizes the following club member as Rotarian of the Week: http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/11/02/yrb_554108.shtml Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:46:44 -0500