Executive Director’s Report
Aerial view of the First Quality Baby Products, LLC manufacturing facility in Macon-Bibb County.
Macon-Bibb County is a Community of Achievers, and the MBCIA works continuously to tell our exciting stories of partnership and success. In May, local students celebrated graduation, and the Career, Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) achieved an impressive graduation rate of 99.1%, showcasing the effectiveness of their education programs focused on workforce readiness. We’re thrilled to champion initiatives that equip students with real-world experience, preparing them for immediate entry into the workforce. Congratulations to W. S. Hutchings College and Career Academy and Dr. Cassandra Washington, Executive Director and MBCIA board member, for their outstanding contributions to our students, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to succeed in their future careers!
In line with our community achievements, MBCIA announced the significant expansion of First Quality Baby Products, LLC, creating 600 new jobs and investing $418 million to expand its footprint. For many years, MBCIA has collaborated closely with First Quality to promote their growth. This expansion demonstrates the business’s faith in our community as a viable location for continued investment. We are committed to assisting First Quality and all our existing industries in their ongoing development and success.
Additionally, MBCIA congratulates Boogook Georgia, LLC, for receiving the prestigious 2024 CiCi Community Impact Award from Trade & Industry Magazine! Their first U.S. facility, opened in Macon, saw an investment of $6.8M and creates 80 new full-time jobs with growth potential. Boogook Georgia, LLC is just one of the great local industries driving positive change in Macon-Bibb County’s economic landscape.
As we wrap up this month, we applaud NewTown Macon for its noteworthy achievement of earning the distinguished Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA). This reputable recognition celebrates the incredible efforts by Macon-Bibb County in revitalizing our historic downtown area with a comprehensive and preservation-based approach. Our community’s collaborative contributions make this success possible, marking a win for us all!
For more updates and insights into our ongoing initiatives, don’t forget to visit our MBCIA Facebook page.
Existing Industry Manager’s Report
From Left to Right: Existing Industry Manager Eleyce Coleman, MBCIA, and Executive Director of CTAE, Dr. Cassandra Washington, Bibb-County School District, pose for a picture at the inaugural CD2 graduation in Macon-Bibb County, Georgia.
This month we celebrated a significant achievement with our valued partner, the Bibb County School District, which culminated in the graduation of 14 Bibb County educators, counselors, and work-based learning coordinators from the Community Developers Program (CD2). Together, Dr. Cassandra Washington, the Executive Director of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) and I launched the CD2 initiative in November 2023. This unique partnership facilitated a deeper understanding of the skills sought by industries in future employees. Participants engaged in classroom-style lectures, presentations, site visits, field trips, and concluded with a capstone project. Read the full press release detailing the CD2 partnership here.
To capture details about Macon-Bibb County industries and their unique collaborative efforts, the first in a series of surveys was launched at the April Industry Partners Luncheon. The initial round of participation has been invaluable in guiding the implementation of the subsequent surveys, providing comprehensive data on existing industry types, customer bases, and workforce demographics.
The survey responses included a diverse range of companies, including transportation, heavy equipment manufacturing, food and beverage production, steel/metal service centers, logistics and distribution, aerospace repair, and more. We are so thankful to the 25 existing industries that participated in the first round of surveys. This data offers the MBCIA a comprehensive snapshot of various industries and services in Macon-Bibb County and enables us to best support our industry’s ongoing needs.
Letter from the Project Manager
Hello from the greatest downtown in the country! Main Street USA has honored us with a prestigious Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA), and it’s well deserved for NewTown Macon, the Urban Development Authority, Visit Macon, and all our community partners.
This recognition is a big victory for all of us. As part of my job, I complete Requests for Information (RFIs) from companies worldwide considering Macon-Bibb County for industrial investment. They seek detailed information about our community, including tax rates, local parks, bike routes, and the education system. Our central location in Georgia draws their interest because of our access to the Atlanta airport and the Port of Savannah. However, companies now also want to know about our quality of life, climate, and overall environment.
The recognition that the GAMSA provides is crucial for attracting businesses, emphasizing downtown Macon is a place people want to be. Our actions, even small ones like properly disposing of trash, collectively shape our community’s image.
On that note, you may have noticed a team in blue shirts picking up litter downtown. Their hard work undoubtedly contributed to this award. If we all adopted this mindset citywide, consider how our actions would impact the entire community. Let’s keep striving for the greater good and show that we love where we live.
In your service,
Gary
Industry Partnership Feature
Celebrating our local industry partnerships, the MBCIA proudly highlights Armstrong World Industries’ dedication to community engagement and employee well-being. Investing back into their employees, Armstrong recently planned a day trip up to Atlanta. Their leadership visited The Georgia Aquarium and enjoyed a full day of the royal treatment, literally rolling out the red carpet for staff to enter their shuttle to the city.
Armstrong also has strong ties with the local Macon Bacon baseball team. The company, which employs almost 1000 people, chose to honor their employees with a family engagement event, where they purchased 1,000 tickets to the Macon Bacon Game for a special night of fun and relaxation. Giving back is company-wide, including one of their employees who coaches a youth baseball team and houses college age Macon Bacon players that do not live locally. Actions like these exemplify Armstrong’s commitment to our local community and solidify a commitment to investing back in their people.
Community Partner Feature
Macon-Bibb County’s robust water system serves as a crucial infrastructure advantage, supporting the positive industrial growth achieved through collaborative strategic initiatives. In May, the Macon Water Authority (MWA) received an “Excellent” rating on an audit of its Local Issuing Authority (LIA) program by the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC). MWA is a certified LIA by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division (EPD), and regulates and oversees all soil erosion and sedimentation control regulations within Macon-Bibb County. The recognition of MWA’s environmental stewardship reflects its commitment to maintaining high standards and managing local water resources effectively.
For more information on MWA’s initiatives and services, please visit their website.
Prospect Activity
We are pleased to highlight the current Industrial Prospect activity. This activity demonstrates the MBCIA’s continuous commitment to creating a successful business environment in Macon-Bibb County.
