Augusta businesses continue recovery nearly 2 months after Helene
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - It’s been a rough last five months for downtown Augusta from damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
The Ironman Triathlon was canceled due to the streets being heavily damaged.
So, how are business owners feeling after the recent times?
This year, Augusta brought in $845 million in visitor spending.
It would have been more, but with the devastation of Hurricane Helene, events like Ironman were canceled.
Hurricane Helene changed life as we knew it, and many are still trying to recover.
‘Making progress’: Augusta Utilities provides update on canal closure
The Augusta Canal between the water pump station and Savannah Rapids remains closed due to damage from Hurricane Helene.
“That event, kind of historically, has brought in about between a $5 to $6 million economic impact,” said Michelle Pippin, CEO of Augusta Sports Council.
But the Ironman cancellation didn’t just impact athletes.
“Especially because it comes right down Broad Street. That’s probably our biggest day of the year, even bigger than Arts in the Hearts,” said Alaina Cane, barista at New Moon Cafe.
Cane says they were expecting a lot of foot traffic during Ironman weekend.
“They want healthy food options. They want breakfast eggs, smoothies, that kind of thing. So, we see a major, major turnout for them every year,” said Cane.
And she says they prepared for the event, just like they do every year.
“As a small, locally owned business, that’s potentially devastating even because you put all the money and effort into securing the resources you need to do the service that day, just the loss that we took in of not bringing in that extra profit,” she said.
How S.C. small businesses can get help paying their utility bill
Small businesses, nonprofits and places of worship in South Carolina facing financial challenges have just over a month remaining to apply for utility assistance.
Not only did they miss out on the marathon, Cane says they had to shut down for nearly two weeks.
She says they still aren’t back to normal.
“We’re still kind of running on what I call a skeleton crew, just kind of trying to recover from the storm,” said Cane.
But despite the losses, there is still optimism.
Pippin said: “If there’s a lot of damage still on roadways. We’ll kind of tweak the course if needed so we can make up that distance.”
Cane said: “Just hoping that we can maintain the extra little bit of foot traffic we have now. Maybe telling people like, ‘Hey, you’re coming home, you know, bring your friends, bring your family.’”
Pippin says the cancellation of Ironman wasn’t a total loss.
The organization donated $20,000 to the Augusta Sports Council, which was used for Hurricane Helene relief efforts.
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