NewTown Macon announces winners of Downtown Diversity Initiative

Vice President of Community Development at Newtown Macon, Lauren Marshall, says this program was created to see a change in the number of African American owned businesses. 

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – NewTown Macon and the Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages announced the winners of the Downtown Diversity Initiative during a news conference on Thursday. 

The event took place to award five up-and coming African American entrepreneurs. Participants were selected through a competitive application process and completed a 6-session business training program designed to help participants successfully scale their business idea or concepts. 

Vice President of Community Development at Newtown Macon, Lauren Marshall, says this program was created to see a change in the number of African American owned businesses. 

“When we started the program in 2018, only 18 percent of business in downtown Macon were owned by black entrepreneurs,” she said. “Today that number is 28 percent,” says Marshall. 

Marshall says this program is to help future entrepreneurs understand what their future goals are.  

“What I think is really valuable is the community and the network that they get from fellow entrepreneurs,” she said. “In this case, 26 entrepreneurs that are there now in a community with, network and can lean on as they start their entrepreneur journey.” 

Owner of The Upper Echelon WRLD clothing store and one of the winners for the initiative, Lonzo Hennessy, says he decided to participate in this program because as an inspiring and growing entrepreneur, he just want to know the facts. Hennessy says he wants every starting entrepreneur to experience and love their own journey.  

“Nobody has a perfect journey for entrepreneurship; millionaires, billionaires, no one has a perfect journey,” Hennessy said. “So, I would just say keep going. I’ve had times I’ve wanted to give up, but I say keep going and just keep that goal in mind and stay consistent.”