Augusta, GA
Augusta’s booming startups to shine at national summit event
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta will host a conference called the Startup Champions Network Fall Summit this week.
More than one hundred startup community leaders from across the country and Canada will be in attendance.
But it’s more than a conference; it’s an opportunity to showcase the depth and diversity of Augusta’s innovation ecosystem.
Each year big and small cities are chosen to show how their businesses and small startups succeed.
Since 2012, theClubhou.se has helped launch and grow thousands of startup businesses in Augusta.
And that is why this year the summit is coming to Augusta to see its success.
“We’re spending two and a half days basically talking about what does it look like to build a startup ecosystem? And because we’ve been doing this in Augusta for over 12 years, we want to share with them some of the stories and some of the startups that have come out of our community,” said Grace Belangia, Co-Founder of Make Startups.
The Startup Champions Network Chairman of the Board, said he has learned a lot since being here in Augusta.
“I’ve been here less than 12 hours, but I learned a lot and understand what’s going on. I’ve seen all of the revitalization going on in downtown because of the storm. All this stuff is building up, went to walk down mainstreet, saw some of the local businesses and you just want to see how we can increase the energy and activity that’s going on here,” said Mark Lawrence.
This conference is from today until Friday, 8am to1pm at TheClubhouse.se.
Click here to purchase your tickets.
Augusta, GA
What is the cheapest city in Georgia to live with a roomate?
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
Augusta, GA
Augusta nonprofit hosts family financial literacy day
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
Augusta, GA
Lane Bryant to close Augusta Mall store this weekend
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shoppers in Augusta will soon lose a longtime retail option, as Lane Bryant’s store inside Augusta Mall is set to close for good this weekend.
Employees at Lane Bryant inside Augusta Mall confirmed that the store will permanently close starting Sunday, April 19.
After the closure, the nearest Lane Bryant location for customers will be in Lexington.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
-
Lifestyle5 minutes agoNine non-negotiable items for a well-designed life
-
Politics11 minutes agoSupreme Court weighs phone searches to find criminals amid complaints of ‘digital dragnets’
-
Sports23 minutes agoRyan Ward has a solid debut, but bullpen blows it again as Dodgers lose to Rockies
-
World35 minutes agoSchools, shops shut in northern Israel to protest the Lebanon ceasefire
-
News1 hour agoCommunities launch cleanup after severe weather and tornadoes churn across Midwest
-
Detroit, MI3 hours agoGame 21: Tigers at Red Sox, Garrett Crochet battles both Detroit and the weather
-
San Francisco, CA3 hours agoWhy do gray whales keep dying in San Francisco’s waters?
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoDallas Mavericks Owners Might Be Making Big Mistake in Search for New GM