Staycation raffle draws 123 entries in 2 months in downtown Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Destination Augusta is running a staycation raffle to support local businesses on Broad Street. In two months, the campaign has drawn 123 entries, and receipts show $11,000 spent at downtown businesses.Breannah Newton, director of operations for The Frog Hollow Group, said spending at downtown businesses can have a direct effect on the people who work there.“A gift card purchase, buying a Christmas present at a bookstore or the record store, can mean that somebody gets to pay their light bill,” Newton said.Destination Augusta Chief Strategy Officer and Senior Vice President Jennifer Bowen said the campaign is founded on that idea and that the community has taken part.“It’s been so cool, and since it started in September, really the response has just been automatic and very quick and a little bit unexpected,” Bowen said.Bowen said some businesses have reported changes since the campaign began.“Businesses like the Book Tavern have said that they’ve seen an incr