Augusta, GA

Accelerate Augusta launches to drive local economic growth

Published

6 months ago

October 11, 2025

Accelerate Augusta launches to drive local economic growth

AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Augusta has a new non-profit to help small businesses get off the ground. They cut the ribbon Friday morning for Accelerate Augusta.

Accelerate Augusta is a new program aimed at improving economic growth and innovation.
It’s a major resource for small business owners in the area.

“I’m proud. I’m ecstatic. We have a great crowd. We work with entrepreneurs. This means so much for the city of Augusta. And I’m just so proud to be here,” said Shaun Andrews, the recently announced Executive Director of Accelerate Augusta.

The idea for the organization came 4 years ago, when so many small businesses struggled to stay open during the pandemic. Dr. Jermaine Whirl, former president of Augusta Tech, and Margaret Woodard, the Executive Director of the Augusta Downtown Development Authority got together with other partners to discuss ways to help local entrepreneurs.

“During COVID, a lot of people started what I call cottage industries in their homes. We were quarantined and they started, you know, hobbies of making things, and a lot of small businesses came out of that. And this is just a center that gives them the resources to succeed,” Woodard explained.

Accelerate Augusta is a start up center for small businesses, providing a range of resources like mentorship, financial planning and access to funding.

“It is just to ensure that small businesses thrive, grow, existing small businesses expand. It’s just to be a training center where they get all the resources they need to thrive,” Woodard said.

The nonprofit’s executive director said the community support for Accelerate Augusta is impressive and he’s excited for the new journey.

“I came in from Charlotte. I’ve been here for about six weeks and I am floored with the amount of support that I’ve gotten from the community. And it really means a lot,” said Andrews.

The building, located at 600 Broad Street, is owned by the city of Augusta and they are providing it to Accelerate Augusta rent free for the next 20 years.

Accelerate Augusta is now open and ready to serve the CSRA’s entrepreneurs. You can find more information on how to participate at Accelerate Augusta’s Facebook page.

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Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

39 minutes ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

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Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

13 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

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