Groundbreaking Begins on Junior Achievement Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center

It’s called the Junior Achievement’s Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center.

Level 3 in building C of the Georgia World Congress Center is on its way to becoming a mini business town and finance park.

There will even be a mayor of Biz-town.

Businesses like Wells Fargo will be involved.

Area President Chad Gregory says the banking giant is thrilled to be more than just a major financial sponsor.

“We have meetings coming up over the next week to outline a calendar throughout the entire year of going into the classrooms, educating the students and to make sure Wells Fargo and our team members are committed to financial education.”

Wells Fargo will also have a bank in the biz-town.

Rodney Bullard is the executive director of the Chick-Fil-A Foundation.

He says the financial literacy center is much more than just a business education model.

“We talk about it takes a village to assist children and to raise children and we want to be part of the leadership of this city/continue to be a part of the leadership of this city in a very evident way. ”

Beginning in the fall semester, the Atlanta Public Schools, DeKalb and Fulton County will integrate Junior Achievement’s financial literacy and work readiness education into a core curriculum for middle school students.

By then, the Junior Achievement’s Chick-fil-A Foundation Discovery Center is scheduled to open.

As he stood before the corporate sponsor and educators, Atlanta City Councilman Ivory Young, Jr praised those coming together to provide a much needed student opportunity.

“So that we can open the minds of these young people to see their potential, to see the opportunity that exists beyond the walls and believe me there are walls all around so many of the neighborhoods that I represent because they don’t walk across the street. They’re so focused on just living.”

7^th grader Nicolas Delporte attends Sutton Middle School.

He hopes to be a CEO one day and is looking forward to being a part of the program.

He also has a message for his friends.

“It’s a great opportunity for future students coming to Biz-town and Finance Park. I think it’s a great opportunity for them to learn about business and their future.”