Meet the Newest Winners of Downtown Diversity Initiative
Tuesday, January 14th, 2025
In partnership with the Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages and with support from Wells Fargo, NewTown Macon has officially wrapped up the fifth round of the Downtown Diversity Initiative (DDI), and last week we announced the winners at Upper Echelon WRLD Clothing on Forsyth Street.
The Downtown Diversity Initiative has been a game-changer, supporting local entrepreneurs and helping close the racial wealth gap by providing training, resources, and grant funding. Over the last five years, we’ve trained 167 entrepreneurs, graduated 99 participants, and provided $120,000 in funding!
This year, we are proud to celebrate 5 amazing entrepreneurs who were awarded $5,000 each to help grow or scale their businesses:
Alison Booker – Wonder Media: A multimedia production company bringing impactful stories to life through innovative video and photography.
Rachel Solomon – TheRadiantPop: A digital advertising agency helping small businesses and nonprofits thrive with expert marketing services.
Kia Nikole Sutton – Fee Simple Law: A mobile real estate law firm providing exceptional services for closings and refinances across Metro Atlanta and Middle Georgia.
Keysha Foster Washington – Simply Grace Aesthetics: A luxury facial and wellness studio focusing on healthy skin results and total body wellness.
Lonzo Whitfield – Upper Echelon WRLD Clothing: A downtown streetwear boutique with unique, trendsetting fashion.
Since 2021, the percentage of Black-owned businesses in downtown Macon has risen from 18% to 27.96%, and we’re on track to continue building a thriving, inclusive community. Congratulations to all the DDI graduates and winners!
