AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta is getting ready to launch the next generation of business owners in a new business incubator at 600 Broad St.

If you ask Margaret Woodard, she will tell you Augusta is in need of some economic recovery — and the new micro-enterprise center downtown couldn’t have finished up renovations at a better time as the downtown area is currently struggling with some business.

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We’re getting a first look today as Woodard, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority, shows us the ins and outs of the Accelerate Augusta building that’s been designed to support both Augusta Technical College students and local entrepreneurs in the state-of-the-art space.

Several local businesses shut their doors just last week, and Woodard says there’s an urgent need for economic stimulation and support for small business growth.

She feels the incubator could be the answer.

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“We’re providing training mentorship and a space for entrepreneurs to develop their micro-business ideas into sustainable ventures,” she said. “They get to train and create their ideas in this building, and then they get to take them out and they get to work alongside these business owners here in our beautiful downtown.”

She said downtown Augusta needs this resource.

“We want to keep them here and help them out,” she said.

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We’re learning how any aspiring entrepreneur can come to this program build their model, either spending a couple of days or a couple of months refining the plan.

They’ll be able to meet with local business owners to see if they’re on the right track to success.

Right now, the only thing holding the incubator from opening its doors is an executive director to make the magic happen.

We’ll be updating this story throughout the day online and on News 12 at 6 p.m.

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