High Tech/Creative Class... The high tech sector and the creative class both continue to grow... Local citizens are finally beginning to realize you dont need the government to create positive change.. Augusta ranked 2nd in the nation for high tech job growth between 2006-2011, 12th between 2010-2011, and is currently the second fastest growing tech sector in Georgia behind Atlanta in 2014.. The creative class is thriving in the urban core of the city and will only bring high paying manufacturing jobs to South Augusta/East Augusta and office jobs to West Augusta/North Richmond.. The city of Augusta can accomplish great things when the city becomes progressive.. 1. Diamond Lakes-the majority of residential growth in South Augusta is located within 10/15 minutes of the park 2. Kroc Center- helped raise $20 million for the $100 million facility 3. Demolish Gilbert Manor- Became the $112 million dental school & $76 million Medical Commons 4. TEE Center-multiple new businesses including $6 million hotel 5. Laney Walker/Bethlehem revitalization-Builders of Hope will build 75 new homes in the area Thanks to the efforts of the Augusta Regional Collaboration(ARC).. The Technology Association of Georgia(TAG) will hold a forum in the former chamber of commerce building in the middle of Broad street.. The city donated $100k in order to renovate the building and the private sector donated $300,000(Starbucks gave $200,000) to the ARC.. Thirty of the employees from Starbucks volunteered to help renovate the property back in May.. augustacollaboration.org/ In the past two years, the 24 startups that use theClubhou.se have returned $5 million in revenue, company spending and employment expenditure, Parker said. Augusta’s startup community also is now interconnected with additional investment and market resources in 17 other cities across the Southeast, he said. “We really have a vast network at this point so that people can come, and they can create a startup,” Parker said. “They actually have a much higher chance of it succeeding because they’re not just dealing with a local Augusta market anymore. We’ve really expanded this to a regional network.” chronicle.augusta/news/business/local-business/2014-09-24/augusta-startups-making-presence-felt?v=1411593161 The Technology Association of Georgia will hold the forum Oct. 8 at the former chamber of commerce building at 600 Broad St. The event, from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., is designed to inform participants about activities from the 2014 Georgia General Assembly and to preview initiatives from the upcoming 2015 session. chronicle.augusta/news/business/local-business/2014-09-24/technology-town-hall-meeting-focus-legislative-topics?v=1411585459
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 02:52:49 +0000