The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce had two ribbon cuttings last week, one of them in tandem with the chambers of both Augusta and North Augusta.
On Thursday afternoon, the Chamber, the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce hosted a joint ceremony at the Imperial Theatre for the theater company.
The event marked both the 78th theatrical season for the Players, which started in 1945; and preceded the opening night of its production of “The Music Man” on Friday evening.
On the same day, the Columbia Chamber also hosted the opening of First Stop, the Salvation Army’s new community resource center on 1763 Broad St.
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The facility is designed to aid people facing homelessness or the threat of homelessness with “a place to go where they can meet with multiple non-profit agencies,” according to the Salvation Army of Augusta Website.
Through connecting with these organizations via First Stop, persons in need can receive a variety of support services, such as assistance with housing, healthcare, employment or help with rent and utilities.
The Columbia Chamber also welcomed a new Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers location at 945 Husk Box Way in Grovetown on Friday morning. The auto repair shop chain, based in Birmingham, Ala., has more than 300 locations nationwide, and already has branches in Augusta on Cabela Drive and in Evans on Washington Road.
The Evans Market has ended its summer hiatus to kick of the fall. The last Evans Market was July 2. On Saturday at 9 a.m. the outdoor bazaar camped out at the Plaza, in front of the Columbia County Performing Arts Center, until 2 p.m., as it is scheduled to do every Saturday through Nov. 19.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
