W H AT ’ S I N S I D E
SEPTEMBER 2014 • THE CSRA’S ONLY MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Baby Boomers impact market................3 CSRA a technology hub............................7 Buzz Bits...................................................... 8,9 Small Business conference.................... 19 EDA brings job growth to area............ 23 BAH 100th Anniversary Special Section
Goodbye store fronts? E-commerce booms N. Augusta wins lawsuit, awaits appeals By Stephen Delaney Hale Another domino fell from the long line of obstacles to a major development on the shores of the Savannah River in North Augusta. South Carolina Circuit Court Judge J. Ernest Kinard, Jr., ruled on Aug. 20 that North Augusta has acted according to the law in promoting the multi-million future development code named “Project Jackson.” The proponents have weathered contentious debates in the halls of government and in the headlines for more than a year to achieve what might be final approval of the estimated $141 million project. Project Jackson has succeeded in debate in the North Augusta City Council, Aiken County Board of Education, Aiken County Council and now the South Carolina 3rd District Circuit Court. Still, no ground is being broken as the developer, Greenstone Properties of Atlanta, and the City of North Augusta wait to hear if plaintiff Steve Donohue appeals Judge Kinard’s decision to a higher court. Donohue, a resident of the River Golf Club in North Augusta, brought suit against the city on Dec. 23, 2013, seeking to stop the development by contending that the city’s financing method, a Tax Increment Financing District (known as TIF financing) is not allowable in the area to be developed because it does not meet two major parts of the definition of a TIF district. One was that the area to be developed had to be a blighted area and that it could be shown that it would not otherwise be developed if this development is not allowed. Donohue also contended that the City of North Augusta held illegal executive sessions in which they made decisions on the project out of the hearing of the public or the press. Judge Kinard found for the City in each matter. He ruled that the same area had already been designated as blighted by the establishment of a previous TIF district and that the state statute that created TIF financing requires that the blighted designation need only be found the first time. “The Court finds that in amending the TIF Plan under See LAWSUIT, page 2
More stores, like La Dee Da of North Augusta, are catering to the online customer. Photo by Gary Kauffman
E-commerce will increase as customers change habits
By Gary Kauffman Hope Seamen is closing her North Augusta store, but she’s not going out of business. Far from it. Seamen, owner of La Dee Da Gifts, is joining the growing number of businesses who will rely on e-commerce – selling online – rather than through a storefront. “I still believe in shop local and I support the community whenever I can,” Seamen said. “But in this economy you do whatever it takes. People are more driven to the web, more driven to e-commerce.” That is exactly what Tony Lever predicted at the Small Business and Entrepreneur’s Conference held at the Legend’s Club in Augusta on Aug. 12. He should know – he
started a business selling pine straw around the United States, all from a website. “I predict in the future store fronts will get smaller,” he said. “You can sell to the entire world from your office.” He said with a store, a business might have 30 potential customers walk through the front door on a Saturday afternoon. But online, double or triple that many potential customers may view your products in the same time period. Seamen understands that. Her website kept the business going through tough times. “If not for the website, especially during the ice storm, I See ECOMMERCE, page 2