Class of 2026 Economic Development Day Recap Sponsored by Aurubis
Seeing Augusta's Future First
This fall, the Leadership Augusta Adult class of 2026 (affectionately known as "The Best Class Ever") heard from local movers and shakers who are working tirelessly to push Augusta forward. Throughout the day we had the opportunity to learn and engage with folks from various parts of the community, including the Economic Development Authority, Downtown Development Authority, Aurubis Richmond, Georgia Power, Breakwater Development, and the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce.
Our day chairs, Cal Wray, President of Augusta Economic Development Association, and Margaret Woodard, Executive Director of Augusta Downtown Development Association, thoughtfully planned an experience that painted a full picture of where Augusta is heading. From the morning sessions at the Chamber to our afternoon site tours, each speaker built on the one before, helping us understand how public and private partnerships come together to grow our region. Andrew Carnes from Georgia Power walked us through the fundamentals of economic development, while Matt Brendle of Breakwater Development shared success stories in downtown revitalization and the power of place making. At lunch, Angie Cox and the Chamber team helped us understand the policy side of the work that makes all of this possible.
One piece of the experience that we found really insightful had been the ways in which industry, both local and beyond, works together with community agencies to enhance our Augusta River Region. David Schultheis from Aurubis Richmond shared how he partnered with Cal Wray and the AEDA to bring a branch of the German company to Augusta. Through their collaboration, Augusta is now home to one of the largest and most technologically advanced secondary smelters ever built in the United States. This $800 million investment has resulted in 240 high quality and well-paid jobs for the region, strengthening American supply chains and driving innovation for generations to come.
Our afternoon took us on a bus tour through downtown to see the King's Mill Development, then out to Augusta Corporate Park along the Marvin Griffin Corridor. Walking through facilities like GF Casting Solutions, the Starbucks Roasting Plant, and ultimately Aurubis Richmond gave us a firsthand look at the capital investment and workforce pathways shaping Augusta's industrial future. Seeing the scale of these operations in person hit differently than hearing about them in a conference room.
Days like this remind me why programs like Leadership Augusta matter. Economic development is not just about recruiting companies or breaking ground on new facilities. It is about the relationships between people like Cal, Margaret, and the dozens of community partners who show up every day to advocate for this region. For those of us in the Class of 2026, Economic Development Day gave us both the knowledge and the connections to be better advocates for Augusta ourselves.
Mark Myers, Class of 2026
