With funding from Wells Fargo, and in partnership with the Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages, NewTown Macon just completed the third round of the Downtown Diversity Initiative. Today, NewTown Macon and the Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages announced the winners of the 2022 Downtown Diversity Initiative at Niche 385.

“These initiatives continue to generate progress in providing resources, training, and incentives which will result in more African American businesses establishing successful locations downtown,” said Alex Habersham, publisher of the Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages. “There are direct and indirect benefits of the program which are manifested regularly by all participants.”

The Downtown Diversity Initiative is a 10-week business training and recruitment program designed to attract more African American business owners and customers to the urban core. The 2022 cohort participated in virtual learning modules and in-person group work to develop an informed and complete business canvas and set of financial projections. The program curriculum focused on helping entrepreneurs develop their value proposition, target customer, customer success delivery, financial reports, and sustainable business funding and wealth-building strategies.

“We are starting to see real impacts after three years of our collaboration with the Macon-Middle Georgia Black Page to recruit and train more local BIPOC entrepreneurs,” said Bethany Rogers, Executive Director of NewTown Loans. “Graduates have opened storefronts, leased offices, launched home ventures, and acquired business financing. We have increased the percentage of our Black-owned businesses in downtown Macon by more than 10% since we launched the program in 2019. The Downtown Diversity Initiative sits at the heart of our ongoing efforts to create an inclusive and welcoming downtown for all of Macon-Bibb.”

Since the Downtown Diversity Initiative launched in 2019, the percentage of Black-owned businesses in downtown Macon has increased by 10%. Increasing the number of businesses owned by African Americans is a goal in NewTown’s current strategic plan, which launched July 1, 2022. By 2027, NewTown hopes to increase the proportion of Black-owned businesses from 18% to 30% and the net number from 45 to 53.

Thirteen entrepreneurs successfully pitched their concepts before a panel of judges and graduated as part of the 2022 cohort. The five graduates with the highest scores were awarded $5,000 to help start or expand their current businesses. Winners include:

Tedra Huston, MJM Consolidated Services: a consulting service that educates local Maconites on how to acquire and develop property in the community;

Geleesa Denton, Manicured: an upscale men’s grooming spa that offers progressive gentlemen a haven to relax and experience the art of grooming and spa services in an atmosphere that is both masculine and therapeutic;

Materra Drafts, Niche 385: an open-concept lounge and hookah bar that allows customers to “create their niche”;

ShaBrea Duffy, Perfect Party Solutions (better known as Triple P): a staffing agency that educates, trains, and partners with local business owners to supply emergency staff for local clubs and lounges;

Dr. Anissa Jones & Deon Aiken, Total Fuze Apothecary: a Georgia-based retailer of essential oils, candles, body scrubs, and custom blended oils. Our products are doctor formulated and 100 percent organically sourced from certified growers in the U.S.A.