Mitch Kapor
MISSION
The Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE) is designed to connect the next generation of revolutionary entrepreneurs to the tools and relationships it needs to turn dreams into reality.
Currently still in the development stages for a 2018 opening, RCIE will house a 40,000-square foot world-class small business center located in Atlanta’s historic Castleberry Hill. RCIE will be a collaborative, co-working ecosystem for aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs that connects a customized curriculum and corporate experience. RCIE also plans to help foster and grow relationships between venture capitalists and Atlanta’s top entrepreneurial talent. The mission of RCIE is to empower entrepreneurs and innovators to create, invent, and learn while being engaged and motivated to develop game-changing new ideas to promote economic empowerment. RCIE will honor Herman J. Russell’s legacy by revitalizing the area and creating a 40,000-square foot location of innovation, imagination and opportunity for Atlanta’s entrepreneurs.
About RCIE
With the adaptive reuse of the 40,000-square foot H.J. Russell & Co. headquarters at 504 Fair Street near downtown Atlanta, the Russell family envisions a world-class innovation center. RCIE will feature programming that pays homage to the legacy of Herman Russell, while promoting a citywide and national dialogue around innovation, start-ups and venture capital. In other words, RCIE is a high-energy, inclusive community with lab-to-market resources for emerging industries that will drive real diversity, inspiration and collaboration among Atlanta’s thought leaders.
The Russell family is establishing this anchor institution to spur the development of a broader innovation space that will benefit the city and serve as a hub for ‘creating without boundaries.’ This investment in Atlanta will be a catalyst for broader economic and real estate development, as well as progressive social change.
RCIE is strategically located near and partnered with the Atlanta University Center and several HBCUs including Morehouse College, Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University and Morehouse School of Medicine. RCIE will help with the growth of these forward-thinking next generation of entrepreneurs.
The Russell Family Legacy
The Russell family, led by H.J. Russell and Russell Construction, quite literally built Atlanta, as we know it today. H.J. Russell & Co., founded in 1953 and headquartered in Atlanta, is the largest minority-owned real estate and construction company in the U.S. Over the past six decades, the company has demonstrated its commitment to urban renewal and community building via thoughtful real estate development. In addition to H.J. Russell & Co., the Russell family also owns Concessions International, the largest African American-owned airport concessions company in the country. The Russell family is composed of highly respected entrepreneurs with deep roots in the City of Atlanta and across the nation.
The Russells are also historically and politically influential African-Americans, who have provided decades of significant support for the civil rights movement, the advancement of students and entrepreneurs, and the development of the city of Atlanta.
The second and third generations of Russells are committed to honoring H.J.’s legacy by revitalizing the area and creating a 40,000-square foot location of innovation, imagination and opportunity for Atlanta’s entrepreneurs. The corporate relocation makes room for a truly catalytic venue in a way that deepens the family’s dedication to the neighborhood.
Contact Us
504 Fair St SW
Atlanta, GA 30313
Tell Us More
Thank you for your interest in the Russell Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. As we transform the former H.J. Russell & Company headquarters into RCIE over the next several months, we know you will likely have questions. We will do our best to provide you answers, however, because this is a transformational project in progress, developments are continuing to evolve.
To stay abreast of our progress, please fill out the following information and follow us on our many social media platforms to see updates: