Pictured left to right: Felina Martin, HUB for Community Innovation Director; Shell Berry, Augusta HUB Collaborative President; Kim Evans, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Augusta CEO; Ian Mercier, MCG Foundation President & CEO; Jason Cuevas, Georgia Power Vice President, East Region.

The Georgia Power Foundation announced the latest in continued support of the transformation of the Harrisburg-Laney Walker Community – a contribution of $2.5 million for the HUB for Community Innovation (the HUB). Expected to open later this year, the HUB is located on the eastern boundary of Harrisburg and is designed to catalyze revitalization in the historic Harrisburg and Laney Walker neighborhoods, two of the most historically underserved communities in Augusta’s urban core. 

Georgia Power is a longstanding community partner of the Harrisburg-Laney Walker community. Recent efforts include engagement between Citizens of Georgia Power – Vogtle chapter, an employee led organization, and Turn Back the Block (TBTB) to purchase vacant lots and/or renovate previously uninhabitable homes, then work through community resources to identify buyers and make home ownership a reality. Georgia Power and the Georgia Power Foundation has also provided funding and support for financial literacy programs in the area, as well as assistance for the launch of the Challenge Preparatory Academy with financial support of STEM and cyber learning programs for area youth.

“The intentional, collaborative efforts by such a diverse group of stakeholders to effect change across the Harrisburg-Laney Walker Community is inspiring, and we’re proud to support the HUB in what we believe will be one of the most dynamic community and nonprofit centers in Georgia,” said Jason Cuevas, vice president, East Region for Georgia Power.

“The leadership and partners of the HUB for Community Innovation are incredibly grateful to the Georgia Power Foundation for this substantial investment in the work we are doing to provide access to essential services to the residents of Harrisburg and Laney Walker,” said Shell Berry, President, Hub Augusta Collaborative. “Not only have they provided critical financial resources, but they are a vital seat at the table as we bring these buildings online and continue our collective work in these neighborhoods.”

The centerpiece of the HUB will be a 33,000-square-foot facility that will house four locally-based nonprofits – Augusta Locally Grown, Augusta University Literacy Center, Harrisburg Family Health Care, and RISE Augusta. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the CRSA will also operate a 16,000 square-foot support center at the HUB that will help the organization extend the reach and impact of services that focus on youth mentoring, college readiness, workforce readiness, virtual programming and more expansion from its current headquarters. Learn more about the HUB atwww.CommunityHubAugusta.org.

Georgia Power’s Social Justice Commitment

Georgia Power, along with the Georgia Power Foundation, have committed to invest $87 million throughout 2021-2025 to continue advancing racial equity and social justice efforts in Georgia. This funding will support initiatives focused on education equity, criminal justice equity, economic empowerment, and energy justice. The company's investment is part of the overall commitment by Southern Company and its charitable foundations to invest a combined $225 million over five years to support these efforts. This financial commitment is a key component of Southern Company's Moving to Racial Equity framework to help guide and further define its actions and commitments around racial equity work.