Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com
The annual dinner for the Go!Augusta business community attracted 148 attendees who celebrated last year’s successes on March 25. The theme for the night was centered around building bridges through connecting people, ideas and opportunities.
The dinner was hosted at The Point Event Center, who also catered the food of the evening while Harrison of Front Porch Blues provided entertainment throughout the night. Several speakers were present to give updates to the community including Mayor Mike Rawlings, Eric Grooms with the Augusta Community Foundation, Klinton Warner with the Augusta Recreation Commission, and Connie Hummel, Interim Director of Go!Augusta.
Several members and businesses throughout Augusta received awards to recognize their hard work and dedication to the community. The awards given out were:
Business of The Year: The Holiday Bowl
Community Champion of The Year: Ignite Augusta
Supporter of The Year: White Eagle Credit Union
Volunteer of The Year: Patty French
Ambassador of The Year: Connie Daniels
Go!Augusta also introduced a new category called, “Businesses to Watch”, for 2025, which highlights businesses that opened in 2024 and 2025. The businesses to watch for 2025 are:
The Red Bud Brewery owned by Jeff Brown, Shane Scott & Denver Ridgeway
The Antique Forum owned by Sam Schrader
Med Spa Suites owned by Shane & Tonya Scott
Elite Body Works & Massage owned by Paige Harris
District Tan 316 owned by Christine Sims
Aligned Chiropractic owned by Co., Dr. Emilie McDonald
Bergamot Bloom & Massage Therapy owned by Kristin Glowaski
Park Bench Brewery owned by Adam & Julie Kraft
Mega Pines Mini Golf owned by Kelli Miller
Go! Augusta is an organization that is dedicating to promoting and improving local business and the quality of life within the Augusta community. They provide business connections, networking opportunities, and marketing initiatives while making them available to the community.
The organization, which hosts the town’s Chamber of Commerce, Main Street organization, and Convention and Tourism Bureau in one, used to be separate entities. In 2021, the organizations condensed into one to operate more efficiently. While each organization has it’s own board, they all are represented through one Executive Director.
The organization is currently on the look for a new Executive Director, Connie Hummel stepped in as the Interim Director earlier in the year. Go!Augusta is officed out of the historic Train Depot in downtown Augusta located at 618 State Street.
All photos by AHS student Ava Elliott.
