North Augusta making their own plans for cyber growth (Washington: lease, hotel)

[Airforceguy]

It's good to see the entire region benefiting from this

Without even a brick laid yet, City Councilman Fletcher Dickert says companies are already flocking to North Augusta's Riverfront.

"We've actually had I think I'm being told that half of the office building is pretty much leased up with cyber-related business," Dickert said.

Music to the ears of business owners downtown.

"When you have local businesses or offices, lawyer offices, medical offices, that's an instant customer base that you're looking at right there," Russ Hamilton said, who owns Hamilton Bros food truck at The Truck Stop.


Part of the draw is the Crowne Plaza hotel, contracted with the Department of Defense, so high-ranking officials will stay there when visiting Cyber Command. The office building in the project is also being developed with cyber in mind.

"Secure meeting space that a lot of these cyber-related businesses are required to have by the government," Dickert said, "There is no SCIF space in Augusta currently."

North Augusta has been advertising to cyber-related businesses for more than a year with ads in cyber-related publications. And the results could impact downtown North Augusta.

"We're seeing a push and so much desire that it's going to push into downtown some and I could see us having other office buildings in our downtown," Dickert said.

North Augusta making their own plans for cyber growth

[AUGnative]

NA has really been ahead of the curve on smart growth in the region. Hammonds Ferry and The Greeneway are real gems

[Airforceguy]

I agree, NA has really embraced smart growth. Hopefully Augusta will experience the same thing with all the planned projects.

eople who are coining the term "Cyber District" say downtown is just one pocket of the district starting with the Woolworth becoming Augusta Innovation, down to Riverwalk where Unisys and Reynolds with Augusta University Cyber Institute. Area businesses and people who come down here are excited for the foot traffic and the new business.

No one is more excited than Nacho Mama's owner Shannon Carpenter about what cyber promises to bring downtown.

"I mean I think any growth is wonderful for downtown," said Shannon Carpenter.

Her restaurant's been cooking up food for people in Augusta for 21 years and a lot has changed.

"A lot more people. The crowd is younger mix with middle mix with older it's a good mix of people on a regular basis," said Carpenter.

She's expecting a lot more people in line for lunch with all the Cyber businesses moving in.


"Not just for us down here but North Augusta and of Washington Road anything the more the merrier there really," said Carpenter.

Developers like John Cates are embracing that "more the merrier" attitude courting new business to the area, but they are also ditching the phrase CSRA and capitalizing on all the Cyber growth labeling the area the Fort Gordon Cyber District.

"Because you're going to see so many things happening at the fort that is going to bring more private industry to our area," said Meybohm Realty Vice President of Development John Cates.

Augusta's "Cyber District" expanding to the entire CSRA