One Macon! Proposes Strategy for Economic & Community Growth
As a law firm located in the heart of downtown Macon, we have a deep sense of pride for our city and for the organizations working to improve it.
One Macon! has proposed a five-year strategy to unite the community’s various organizations and institutions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors around a consensus blueprint to move the community forward. This strategy addresses a variety of challenges that hinder the city economically and socially, and offers ways to support the development of key business sectors while promoting economic diversity.
The One Macon! Committee conducted extensive qualitative and quantitative research which indicated that Macon-Bibb requires a comprehensive approach to community and economic improvement. At the foundation of this approach are three pillars of the community:
- Quality schools to educate our youth
- Abundant jobs that match the skills of our residents
- Vibrant places that are attractive to diverse populations
Collectively, these three pillars should be the source of pride for Macon-Bibb’s existing and potential future residents. The OneMacon! strategy seeks to reinforce these pillars, unifying the community behind this blueprint for the future of Macon-Bibb – unification that can only be achieved through two attributes that are essential to effective implementation: collaborative leadership and engaged residents.
One portion of the One Macon! strategy involves an increased emphasis on supporting small businesses, promoting innovation, and opening up access to capital for entrepreneurs. Here is a specific example from the Community & Economic Development Strategy:
Integrate small businesses into business retention and expansion (BRE) outreach efforts:
- Develop an online survey that targets small business owners in Macon-Bibb that seeks to identify their individual concerns and barriers to expansion
- Utilize findings to inform ongoing efforts to improve the climate for existing businesses in Macon-Bibb
- Seek to engage small business owners that may not have previously been engaged by the small business support system, including but not limited to the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, MEDC, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), SCORE, and others
As a firm that represents small businesses and corporations in a wide variety of business matters, we believe that this resource will be beneficial to the small businesses in the Middle Georgia area.
Further Reading:
One Macon! Community & Economic Development Strategy
“One Macon! Targets Jobs, Education, & a Sense of Place”