Rural Sourcing, Inc. Announces Augusta Operation

Leader in domestic sourcing to create 100 jobs

Governor Sonny Perdue announced today Rural Sourcing, Inc. (RSI), an Atlanta-based provider of internet technology domestic sourcing, is opening a development center in Augusta in Richmond County. The company plans to create 100 direct jobs in the fields of computer and software engineering and programming.

“Georgia’s highly-skilled pipeline of talent for high tech companies will certainly be an asset to the Rural Sourcing Augusta development center,” said Governor Perdue. “The company’s expansion will boost the local economy and provide job opportunities for Augusta-area residents.”

RSI’s client list includes Fortune 500 companies, as well as small to mid-size businesses seeking cost effective alternatives to offshore staffing. The company leverages its pool of well-trained IT professionals in smaller markets to meet its clients’ critical IT resource needs.

“Our 300 percent annual growth rate is indicative of the market’s appetite for a low-cost, high-quality on-shore alternative to the traditional offshore India operations. We are extremely excited about our Augusta location because of the outstanding workforce in Augusta,” said Monty Hamilton, CEO of Rural Sourcing Incorporated. “RSI has an excellent working relationship with the Development Authority of Richmond County and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. As we look forward, our sights are set on continuing to put Americans back to work right here in Augusta and the surrounding area for many years to come.”

The company’s Augusta development center will locate at Augusta’s Enterprise Mill. During its location search, RSI considered communities with relative proximity to four-year universities in non-metropolitan areas that offer a high quality of life and low cost of living. This approach allows the company to pass along cost savings to its clients.

“I am very pleased that Rural Sourcing Incorporated has chosen Augusta for this project. Augusta shares RSI’s commitment to high quality information technology services,” said Terry Elam, chairman of the Development Authority of Richmond County. “We’re proud that Augustans will be at the forefront of this important information technology sourcing savings for companies around the world.”

RSI will hire from the local workforce in Augusta, and will be accepting employment inquiries from interested applicants via the company’s website, www.ruralsourcing.com.

“Rural Sourcing Incorporated will hire top-notch, skilled people with experience in computer operations and information technology, and will add greatly to the outstanding workforce here in Augusta,” said Walter Sprouse, the Executive Director of the Development Authority of Richmond County. Georgia Department of Economic Development statewide project manager Glen Whitley assisted the company with this location, in collaboration with the Development Authority of Richmond County.
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Baskin-Robbins Opens Albany, Augusta and Savannah, Georgia for Franchise Sales; Plans Nearly 30 New Stores

/PRNewswire/ -- Baskin-Robbins, America's favorite ice cream shop, is rapidly expanding its national footprint with today's announcement that Albany, Augusta and Savannah, Georgia are now open for franchise sales. Nearly 30 new stores are projected throughout the three cities and the surrounding communities.

Baskin-Robbins currently operates more than 6,000 stores in 35 countries and opened more than 600 stores globally in 2008. With a domestic footprint of nearly 2,700 locations, Baskin-Robbins is now seeking exceptional franchisee candidates in Georgia to be part of an unprecedented growth campaign designed to increase its U.S. presence over time. Built over the last 64 years, Baskin-Robbins currently enjoys 98 percent brand awareness across the country and was named for the second consecutive year the number one ice cream and frozen dessert franchise in Entrepreneur magazine's annual "Franchise 500" ranking.

To fuel this growth in and around Albany, Augusta and Savannah, Baskin-Robbins is actively seeking store developers who possess strong financial backgrounds, the desire to maximize their territory's sales and have a passion for the communities they will serve.

"As the Baskin-Robbins brand continues to develop in Georgia, we're excited to provide new store owners with the unique opportunity to capitalize on their territory's potential, serve as the face of the brand in the community, as well as set the direction of the market's growth," said Salman Siddiqui, vice president of global business development, Baskin-Robbins.

Baskin-Robbins enters 2009 with several new real estate concepts that provide interested area developers with a range of flexible real estate design options. Part ice cream indulgence, dessert-theater and test kitchen rolled into one, the revolutionary Cafe 31 model operates as a high-end dessert bar with unique ice cream and coffee products. Cafe 31 is currently being tested outside of Boston. The traditional concept is an updated, stand-alone store featuring all of Baskin-Robbins' standard equipment and offerings. Traditional stores can also support a drive-thru depending on the real estate selected. Lastly, the BR Express concept is a brand new soft serve-based kiosk design offering a convenient and simplified solution for malls, sports arenas, airports or other small co-branded real estate opportunities.

"By continuing our history of developing new product innovations and keeping our focus on customer service and business success for our franchisees, Baskin-Robbins is providing a completely new experience in 2009," said Siddiqui. "We share common objectives with our store developers, which focus on building and sustaining a profitable business and strong brand in this increasingly challenging economy."

Furthering its commitment to its franchisees, Baskin-Robbins also offers extensive training programs and comprehensive operating systems designed to help build business. A broad franchise support team is geared to simplify operations and includes development and construction experts, operational support professionals, training managers and field marketing managers. Baskin-Robbins also employs state-of-the-art technology and the latest point of sale terminals to help stores run more efficiently and cost effectively. Baskin-Robbins has proven to be a simple business to run with convenient hours of operation, minimal equipment, little waste and a majority of inventory that has a shelf life of one year with proper storage.

Over six decades ago, Baskin-Robbins was founded by ice cream enthusiasts Burton "Burt" Baskin and Irvine "Irv" Robbins who shared a dream to create an innovative ice cream store that would be a neighborhood gathering place for families. Today, over 300 million people visit Baskin-Robbins each year to sample the more than 1,000 flavors available in its ice cream library, as well as enjoy its full array of frozen treats including ice cream cakes, frozen beverages and sundaes.

"Baskin-Robbins will satisfy a growing demand in and around Albany, Augusta and Savannah for high-quality ice cream, specialty frozen desserts and beverages," said Siddiqui. "Over the past 64 years, Baskin-Robbins has become the brand of choice for consumers and has consistently delighted them with our irresistible flavors and treats. We look forward to being an important part of the community."

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New Organization Formed To Save Independent Medical Equipment Suppliers

/PRNewswire / -- To ensure that the independent home medical equipment (HME) providers have a voice in public policy and a seat at the table for any healthcare reform initiative, a group of home medical equipment suppliers formed the Committee to Save Independent HME Suppliers, LLC (CSI: HME). This non-profit business league was created to respond to growing threat recent policy changes pose to the future of independent medical suppliers and the patients they serve.

"For a long period, the industry has taken various positions and directions that have proven to be ineffective in changing political thinking about the home medical equipment industry," said David Petsch, owner of Petsch Respiratory in Augusta, GA, and Managing Director of CSI: HME. "CSI: HME will implement strategies designed to change political mindsets by embarking on a new path to ensure the concerns of the independent HME provider community are being addressed."

To advance its agenda, CSI: HME has retained the Capitol Hill Consulting Group, Inc., a Washington, D.C., lobbying firm to help advance its issues on Capitol Hill and the Baker Wright Group, LLC, a full service public relations firm that will work with the lobbying firm to raise consumer and media awareness of the independent home medical supplier industry. The message taken to Washington and the activities of both the lobby and public relations firms will be determined by CSI: HME's 15-25 member Legislative Activity Board (LAB).

CSI: HME's initial legislative priorities will be lobbying Congress to repeal the 36-month cap on oxygen reimbursement and the proposed competitive bidding restrictions for medical equipment.

Repeal of the 36-Month Oxygen Reimbursement Cap

Effective January 1, 2009, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) stopped payment to suppliers for oxygen equipment and services when patients reach 36 months (three years) of continuous use. Suppliers continue providing service and supplies to patients for an additional two years without payment, even if the patient relocates to another state.

This flawed policy will negatively impact patients' access to life-sustaining oxygen therapy to treat lung diseases and jeopardizes the ability for independent home medical equipment suppliers to stay in business. Other consequences include higher healthcare costs due to increased emergency room visits and nursing home care. One year of home oxygen service costs less than one day of in-patient care.

In an effort to reverse this bad policy, The Home Oxygen Patient Protection Act of 2009 (HR 2373) was introduced on May 12, 2009. CSI: HME will work with other industry partners and key legislators and their staff to gain co-sponsors and passage of the bill.

Repeal of the Competitive Bidding Program

Competitive bidding is another short-sighted policy where Medicare patients will receive diminished quality of care and denied access to the supplier of their choice with whom they've built a trusted relationship. CMS will award contracts for home medical equipment patient distribution to a limited number of suppliers who are the lowest bidders in selected regions across the country.

The program, which was initially scheduled to begin July 1, 2008 but then postponed by Congressional action last year, will be re-launched in 9 metropolitan areas and gradually expanded to include 70 other areas throughout the country. CMS will begin soliciting bids from suppliers this summer.

This policy will likely have a disastrous effect on patients who are forced to use suppliers far from where they live and will reduce the number of suppliers capable of serving Medicare in bid areas by 90%. This comes at a time when demand for such services is increasing due to the rise in Medicare beneficiaries. Durable medical equipment represents less than 1.7% of Medicare expenditures each year. In contrast, inpatient hospitals represent 27.5% and physicians 10.6% of Medicare costs.

According to CMS, about 85% of Medicare durable medical equipment suppliers are small, independent suppliers. Congress must repeal this program which will harm patient health and lead to higher costs because of reduced access to quality, experienced suppliers.

CSI: HME leadership believes that we cannot continue to do the same things and expect a different result. The organization intends to work with and compliment other organizations to further the goals of the industry. The organization will use contributions from the HME industry solely to support the lobby and PR efforts. Providers interested in helping the cause and having a voice in the message are urged to contact CSI: HME at or David Petsch at dpetsch@csihme.org.

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