Downtown Augusta is home to a growing list of retail shops, restaurants, and other businesses, thanks to the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta. The agency was created in 1974 to oversee and promote downtown redevelopment. Its board meets monthly to discuss a variety of topics, including projects and initiatives. ABD visited this month’s meeting, which was held on Thursday. DDA Executive Director, Margaret Woodard presented the Director’s Report and discussed current projects. For example, as ABD previously reported, The Brunch House of Augusta plans to relocate from Greene Street to

  Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about Fort Gordon and its effect on the CSRA’s economy. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: How does having Fort Gordon in Augusta affect our economy? Rick: It’s a two-fold impact – there’s the direct spending, like with all the construction that’s going on out there now, and the other things that support the mission, like computers. But also obviously,