Atlanta’s RYSE Creative Village Secures $125,000 Grant to Transform Historic School into Innovation Hub

Exciting News for Atlanta’s Creative Community!

Atlanta is buzzing with excitement as RYSE Creative Village, a dynamic talent incubator, has just received a generous $125,000 grant from Develop Fulton. This funding was approved unanimously by Develop Fulton’s Board of Directors during a meeting on December 3rd and is aimed at nurturing the county’s growing creative talent pool.

Transforming a Historic Space

Located at 1261 Lockwood Drive SW, RYSE Creative Village has big plans to transform a long-vacant Atlanta Public School building into a state-of-the-art content production studio. Can you imagine it? A tech-enabled hub where creative professionals can collaborate, innovate, and grow their talents right here in Atlanta!

This redevelopment project isn’t just about shiny new spaces, though. It’s also set to offer vital training and skills development programs that will prepare folks for exciting careers in Georgia’s thriving film, music, arts, gaming, and immersive media industries.

A First Step Toward a Bright Future

The Chairman of Develop Fulton, Kwanza Hall, shared the enthusiasm: “RYSE Creative Village is pushing forward a $30 million mixed-use development in an area that has been historically underserved. This is a game changer for Georgia’s creative industry, which is worth billions!” He went on to say that the $125,000 grant is just the first step in closing a $500,000 funding gap needed to realize this transformative project. How’s that for kick-starting an innovative journey?

Building Community and Opportunities

This project is all about community. RYSE Creative Village not only focuses on enhancing creative skills but also aims to create 91 affordable housing units right next to the main facility. This means more economic inclusion and accessibility for the people of Southwest Atlanta. It’s a brilliant way to blend the creative and living spaces!

Jay Jackson, a leader within the RYSE initiative, expressed profound gratitude: “We are incredibly thankful to Develop Fulton for this generous contribution. It shows a deep commitment to empowering our community through creativity, innovation, and opportunity.”

Future Plans and Beyond

The future looks bright for RYSE Creative Village! Plans include developing alternative educational pathways for creative professionals, catering to ongoing learning and skill enhancement. We are thrilled to see that Develop Fulton is even considering additional funding for RYSE Creative Village in 2025. This just keeps getting better!

A Call to Action

It’s time for Atlanta to unite and show some love for this worthy endeavor. Kwanza Hall encourages everyone to “Rise Up” and support RYSE Creative Village as it aims to become a cornerstone of innovation and opportunity in Southwest Atlanta and Fulton County.

If you want to learn more about this exciting project, don’t hesitate to visit www.rysecreativevillage.com. This is the start of something incredible, and you won’t want to miss out on the magic unfolding in your own backyard!