Aiken business leaders say they have found a way to keep downtown store fronts full and owners happy.

Across the river, downtown Augusta officials recently announced plans to use a new video to attract more businesses to the city. NBC Augusta spoke with several Aiken business owners who say their downtown area is full of life.

“I always wanted to move to downtown Aiken but I never thought I could afford it,” business owner, Cathy Sauther, said.

Sauther joined forces with a friend and found a way. Now she's moved her fabric business from the outskirts of town to Hayne Avenue.

“It's been absolutely wonderful. I see people everyday. My business has picked up tremendously,” Sauther said.

Booming business is a trend in Aiken's downtown that Susan Victor of Nandina Home and Design says many other cities are struggling to gain.

“I think what we have in Aiken is what a lot of developers try to create in other parts of the country. They say we're going to build this big community of downtown living but in Aiken we have it,” Victor said.

According to Carla Cloud with the Aiken Downtown Development Association, they have it because there's an understanding between the city government and business owners.

“The biggest thing that's helped keep Aiken vital is that relationship between the public and private sector,” Cloud said.

Cloud says the city often invests in development.

“Throughout history of Aiken there has been this desire to work together for the greater good and the city does understand they have to invest in private businesses,” she said.

Victor, who recently wanted to expand her business next door, had to instead expand across the street. She says there is one downside to downtown.

“The one thing that is a negative downtown is that it's hard to get space,” Victor said.

Cloud says that although downtown Aiken hasn't been hit that hard economically, the summer months are the worst financially. She says if the economy doesn't turn around by next year they will start marketing to increase tourism during the summertime.