(Featured photo is from the Mike & Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center at North Georgia, which opened in August 2018 and serves middle school students from Dawson County Schools, Forsyth County Schools, Gainesville City Schools, Hall County Schools and Lumpkin County Schools. Photo courtesy JA website)
Junior Achievement of Georgia announced on Dec. 15 that the Home Builders Association of the Greater Aiken-Augusta Region, the Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity, and the REALTORS® of Greater Augusta (RGA) have partnered to represent the housing industry, via a customized “storefront,” inside the JA Discovery Center of the CSRA.
JA of Georgia, in partnership with the Columbia County School District and the Richmond County School System, plans to open the JA Discovery Center of the CSRA, located at 4395 River Watch Parkway, on Jan. 9, 2024; a grand opening event that is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 11.
The housing storefront inside the JA Discovery Center of the CSRA will represent the entire housing market, including what it means to rent or own a home. The Home Builders Association of the Greater Aiken-Augusta Region, the Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity and RGA are partnering to create a customized space inside the JA Discovery Center that will help inform local students, and their parents, about the intricacies of the housing industry, according to a news release from Junior Achievement.
“We are most proud of the opportunity to share with participating students the American dream of what owning a home looks like,” said Tiffany Heitzman, IOM, Executive Officer of the Home Builders Association of the Greater Aiken-Augusta Region. “In addition, we will introduce students to the incredible careers in the home building industry. The partnerships between residential builders, mortgage lending and realtors is what makes this dream work. We are also so proud to be joining forces with Habitat for Humanity on this endeavor.”
This partnership is the first of its kind, and local housing leaders are looking forward to educating local students.
“This is an exciting opportunity for REALTORS® of Greater Augusta to partner with other industry leaders to help educate and inspire our youth to experience the process of becoming a homeowner,” said Eric Crawford, RGA President.
The Augusta/CSRA Habitat for Humanity and RGA have assisted in making the housing storefront possible by partnering with the Home Builders Association of the Greater Aiken-Augusta Region to fund the space inside the JA Discovery Center, and to share their own messaging inside the customized space. The two organizations will provide different perspectives within the storefront, the release said.
This partnership marks the first time that Habitat for Humanity has been represented inside a JA Discovery Center, a decision made by the organization’s CEO, Bernadette Fortune. She plays a crucial role in spearheading initiatives that prioritize affordable housing, leveraging her expertise to drive impactful change. Habitat’s mission is to build a world where everyone has a place to call home. This partnership at the JA Discovery Center of the CSRA will allow Habitat to highlight its philanthropic work and will educate future generations on what it means to give back to their community through volunteerism and advocacy.
“Augusta/CSRA Habitat is not just about building homes; we are committed to constructing futures,” said Fortune in the release. “Our partnership with the Home Builder’s Association at the Junior Achievement Discovery Center exemplifies our excitement and determination to create a space where young minds learn the importance of shelter, community, and the transformative power of giving back to their communities through advocacy and volunteerism. Together, we build not only houses but a legacy of compassion and civic responsibility for generations to come.”
The Home Builders Association of the Greater Aiken-Augusta Region had the opportunity to also partner with a few association members to bring this vision to life. These members include Bill Beazley Homes, Herbert Homes, Ivey Homes/Weyerhaeuser, Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia (Augusta) and R. Lewis Construction LLC, making this project a true team effort. JA Discovery Centers serve approximately 80,000 students per year across five Georgia locations – the JA Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center in Atlanta, the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett, the Mike and Lynn Cottrell JA Discovery Center in Cumming, the JA Discovery Center of Greater Dalton, and the JA Colonial Group Discovery Center in Savannah.
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