MACON, Ga. – The Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority (MBCIA) held its November board meeting this afternoon. Key highlights from the meeting included details on a strategic plan check-in, property management improvements, prospect activity, industry job opportunities, and marketing activities.
MBCIA welcomed a new member to the team this month. Baleigh Burkett joins us as the new Operations and Finance Manager.
Gary Wilson, Project Manager, has been working hard to develop sites to become Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) certified. This helps create shovel-ready land that industry can immediately utilize when they choose Macon-Bibb County. Part of this work has been taking new photo and drone footage of our industrial parks and available tracts.
MBCIA currently has one GRAD-certified industrial park– Airport East Industrial Park. This means MBCIA can provide the site history, topography maps, site plans, wetland reports, utilities capabilities and locations, road integrity, and emergency response reaction to the site.
Based on input from our industries, signage has been updated throughout our parks and road repairs were made on Avondale Road to lessen wear and tear to industry vehicles.
The team participated in a county-wide trash pickup day, hosted by Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful and Macon-Bibb County.
The Executive Director’s Report showed that prospect activity is increasing. There are currently 28 open projects with a potential investment of more than $500 million and more than 4,200 potential jobs.
Steady prospect and realized activity has helped make Georgia the No. 1 state for business and contribute to the record-breaking growth in jobs and investment in Fiscal Year 2021.
Eleyce Coleman, Existing Industry Manager, met with Jamie Cook, STEM Outreach Coordinator of 21st Century Partnership, to discuss how our partnership nurtures the pipeline for tomorrow’s workforce in STEM careers. To watch the video, click here.
Eleyce also worked at educating and communicating with the industries. Announcements include:
- Department of Labor road work detours that will impact industries
- Phishing and cybersecurity
- Bibb County Schools Partnership PENCIL Program Opportunity
- Amazon
- Aspen
- Coca-Cola
- Dean Baldwin Painting
- Diamond Plastics
- Embraer
- Freightliner
- Geico
- Gilmer Warehouse and Logistics
- H&E Equipment Services
- Irving Tissue
- Kumho Tire
- L.H. Thomson
- Mr. Chips
- Pactiv
- Star Snacks
- Tractor Supply
- Tyson Foods
- Yancey Bros.
The Project Manager’s Report highlighted the following site activity:
- Trash Pick Up
- Beautification
- Mowing and edging to both sides of Amerson Parkway
- Signage Updating
- Road repairs to Avondale Road
In the marketing and public relations activities report, all social media platforms saw consistency or growth in reach, engagement, impressions, new followers, and page clicks than in previous months across all platforms.
Updates were given on website, branding, and brand guideline implementation.
Advertisements are currently running in Macon Magazine.
The meeting closed with an executive session.