Happy New Year! We have turned the page on 2021.

A new year brings renewed hope and a clean slate. As a city, and a nation, we have struggled through some of the most difficult challenges I can remember, but it appears we are coming out on the other side and I am extremely excited about the future of this magazine and our community as a whole.

In this issue, Abbigail Remkus talks with development officials to examine the expanding economic growth in the area. While many cities and communities across the country have suffered major economic losses during the pandemic, the Augusta area has continued to see growth in major industry sectors with the addition of Amazon in Columbia County and Generac in Edgefield County. In November, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that Aurubis, one of the leading recyclers of copper, precious metals and non-ferrous materials worldwide, will invest $340 million in a state-of-the-art recycling facility in Augusta. It appears the economic outlook for 2022 is poised for the same rising trajectory.

Also in the issue, Jim Garvey takes us inside the storied Okefenokee Swamp and explains the reasons for preserving this national treasure.

Lastly, editor Aimee Serafin sat down with Donnie Thompson, owner of Augusta’s favorite jewelry store, to chat about cars and how he built the Windsor empire.

Cheers to a great 2022!

This article appears in the January 2022 issue of Augusta Magazine.