With a solid year of leadership under his belt, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson delivered his first-ever State of the City address on Tuesday.
Johnson said being designated as one of five workforce hub cities by the Biden-Harris administration is what he is most proud of when he reflects on the previous year. He highlighted two events from 2023 that will continue moving the city forward in 2024 and beyond.
“Our goal is to build momentum for actions and partnerships that will connect a broad range of people to good quality careers related to major federal and private sector energy investments,” he said. “Together, we are committed to expand an inclusive workforce Pathways to Careers and advanced manufacturing. The Biden-Harris administration also named Augusta a regional tech hub. This designation is a strong endorsement of the region’s plan to supercharge the critical technology ecosystem and become a global leader over the next decade. It makes us eligible to apply for the next phase of the tech hubs program that will invest between $50 and $70 million.”
He thanked voters for approving the half-penny Construction Special Project Local Option Sales Tax (C-SPLOST) in November. Money raised will fund the construction of a new James Brown Arena, which Johnson said will create jobs and pump millions into the local economy.
Moving forward, Johnson said, must also mean investing in the next generation. He said that will be enhanced by the opening of the Junior Achievement Discovery Center of the CSRA. The 30,000-square-foot center will provide 15,000 area middle school students with financial skills and career readiness to help them succeed in school and in life. The ribbon cutting for the center will be next week.
Johnson also focused on community development, specifically housing programs funded with grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development. The projects included new housing, rehabilitation, demolition, construction, and home buyer assistance. He said more than 12,000 Augustans were helped in 2023.
“This progress will continue in 2024 for the construction of the Lenox Project, scheduled to begin in the first quarter of this year,” he continued. “This project addresses the need for affordable housing in Richmond County and will continue to contribute to the continued revitalization of our downtown core. This $20 million investment in the Laney Walker/Bethlehem corridor represents 64 quality affordable rental units and a 5,000 square foot retail space.”
Johnson said Augusta-Richmond County needs to increase its inventory of affordable and workforce housing. To that end, the Housing Authority received approval for more than 230 apartments on Deans Bridge Road, representing a more than $60 million investment.
Johnson spoke in commission chambers prior to the regularly scheduled commission meeting. Those attending included county commissioners; former Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver; Herbert Judon, Jr., Executive Director of Augusta Regional Airport; Bennish Brown, President and CEO of Destination Augusta and Margaret Woodard, Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority.
Johnson also hopes the local legislative delegation will take the necessary steps to pass a measure allowing the mayor to vote on commission items. The 2024 legislative session begins on January 8.
