Q1 20 23 REPORT TO INVESTORS
2023 Q1 INVESTOR REPORT
Forward Macon initiatives continue to be successfully implemented into a collaborative strategy to create new jobs, recruit new residents, and develop new talent in Macon-Bibb. Our downtown is vibrant, neighborhoods are improving, and industries are choosing to expand operations and to consider relocation to Georgia’s sweet spot for jobs and good living
The unprecedented level of cooperation between government, business, education, and nonprofits continues to create a distinctive destination for commerce and culture By working together, we see positive results more quickly The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce and One Macon have endorsed Forward Macon key initiatives that are accelerating our trajectory The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with United Way, the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and SparkMacon have already created an impressive impact in the initial phase of the Forward Macon Plan’s execution
We are pleased to share some highlights from our work in 2023. We thank you for your past support of the Forward Macon campaign and appreciate your current contributions. This critical work would not be possible without your commitment and vision
Additional Consumer Expenditures Projected in Five Years #1 Create Best Place for Business in Georgia 3,100 Create Direct and Indirect Jobs in Macon-Bibb
$56M
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A C O N O N T H E M A P
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T T I N G M
Over 10,978 students and adults have been actively engaged with educators and employers on greatercareerworks.com.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Pillar I: Improve Workforce Through Greater Career Works, Forward Macon will ensure our graduates are college/career-ready by connecting business and education providers at all levels
Implement GreaterCareerWorks com, a web-based hub that links recruitment, skill-building, and career navigation into one collaborative system
Provide local businesses a seamless venue to post jobs, participate in virtual job fairs, and take advantage of hundreds of training modules
Provide educational institutions with analytics to assess skills needed in the community, access to promote or host job fairs for students, usage of training modules as part of their curriculum, and a place to promote their programs and training.
Provide job seekers a local resource for finding jobs and training at no charge
GreaterCareerWorks.com Educational
Students 7,204
Counselors/Teachers 531 Organizations 322
Job Postings 2,446 Applications 365
Completed Courses 104
Users on Site 10,978
Career Card Views 8,125
Three Public School Systems Bibb/Crawford/Peach
More than 2,446 career job opportunities have been posted on greatercareerworks.com.
Q1 20 23
Statistics Effective 03.31.23
Engagement
Lynn Farmer Presents greatercareerworks.com
Platform to Local Education Leaders
PILLAR II: ATTRACT & RETAIN TALENT
Proactively market Macon as the place to live, work and play in the Southeast
As part of Greater Macon Works, the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce will create and implement a talent attraction plan that builds on the region’s cultural and business narrative.
Identify Macon’s unique brand assets and develop a brand proposition around those assets.
Identify top talent markets for Macon
Create and execute a marketing blueprint to include, but not be limited to, website, social media, content development, ambassador & alumni outreach, media relations, and advertising
Enhance Young Professionals and Leadership Macon to retain talent already here
WORKFORCE & TALENT HIGHLIGHTS
Greater Macon Chamber Chief People Officer Lynn Farmer partnered with WorkSource Macon and presented the greatercareerworks.com platform to local leaders. She outlined details of the Bibb County Schools Partnership for school superintendents, CTAE directors, and Development Authority directors from all counties in the Central GA Region The engaged audience learned about the best practices in school and business partnerships Particular focus was allocated to the 9th Grade Academy using You Science and Work Keys
Farmer emphasized the importance of becoming a Work Ready Region, utilizing Greater Career Works as the hub to link information and initiatives together The enthusiastic participants expressed support for Greater Career Works Farmer and her team will continue the conversation with individual meetings with regional schools with one-on-one instructions on integrating the platform with their respective student databases
Phase two of the talent recruitment campaign is underway, focusing on marketing and branding maconworks.com with local business and industry who are engaged with recruitment
The Greater Macon Chamber partnered with the Bibb County FLEX entrepreneurship program which inspires Bibb County School students to start a company with two-three employees for the opportunity to participate in a Shark Tank-style competition for a $5,000 grand prize. before moving on to the State level contest
Mykayla Whitehead of Bibb County School District VIP Academy and W. S. Hutchings College and Career Academy won the local Bibb County competition Brittinique Be Unique specializes in creating new self-care items, including body products and candles The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce will welcome and recognize these student entrepreneurs at our State of the Community event in April
Talent Attraction Website
Q1 20 23
maconworks.com
“The Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce is on a mission. Zeroing in on workforce development and talent recruitment and retention, the chamber recently launched greatercareerworks.com, a free digital career navigation and exploration tool that connects local employers, students, career-seekers, educators and other workforce partners to meet the needs of employers and potential employees. "
-- Lynn Farmer, Greater Macon Chamber Chief People Officer Georgia Trend Magazine March 2023
GEORGIA IS 5TH LARGEST EMPLOYER OF AVIATION MECHANICS IN U.S.
Over 500 aviation companies operate facilities in Georgia As a result, our state has the 5th largest concentration of avionic mechanics in the U S who earn an average annual income over $74K
A recent episode of Future Workforce Friday featured Mike Pace, Executive Director for Business & Industry Training Economic Development at Central Georgia Technical College. Kanisha Chandler, an active aviation professional at Embraer, gave viewers a look into an average day at work in the exciting aviation industry.
Future Workforce Friday is a live virtual program highlighting key industry sectors that streams monthly on greatercareerworks com in cooperation with the Bibb County School CTAE Local educators and working professionals introduce students to fascinating careers that are available in Central Georgia Future Workforce Friday highlighted several major workforce sectors including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, cybersecurity, and healthcare. Remaining programs for the school year will feature automotive, warehouse, and distribution sectors An Adult Series of Future Workforce Fridays will be presented in partnership with WorkSource this summer
A $100 prize for completing the Introduction to Human Anatomy module on greatercareerworks.com was presented to Elizabeth Stewart, a Bibb County School student The incentive was randomly awarded to one of the students who completed the free featured online course on the workforce development platform that is available to students in participating school systems
GreaterCareerWorks.com is the web-based hub linking workforce development and career navigation tools. The digital footprint has been recently enhanced to serve a more expansive regional audience of job seekers. and employers. Over 10,978 users engaged with educators and employers since the program ' s inception.
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Entrepreneur Happy Hour in March at Fresh Produce
Pillar II: Attract and Retain Talent Entrepreneurial Support Initiative
The first quarter of 2023 was a transition period for Startup-Macon. The previous Community Navigator resigned to pursue other interests elsewhere in the ecosystem and to continue her education However, by early February, the leadership role was accepted by local entrepreneur, Andrew Eck.
Andrew Eck started several different companies in the Macon area and is very familiar with the local ecosystem Eck's primary goal is to help the ecosystem become self-sustaining before the end of the grant funding cycle
In Q1 of 2023, Andrew met with 15 new entrepreneurs and conducted four assessments The assessments allow Startup Macon to measure entrepreneurs on basic economic benchmarks relevant to the success of their business In addition, Andrew engaged local entrepreneurial service organizations nine times, and made four referrals to local Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs)
In addition, entrepreneurs continue to access the Startup-Macon website at www.startup-macon.com to engage with the program and local ESO’s 24/7. The site continues to function as an essential resource to assist new and existing entrepreneurs in the establishment of their business.
Startup-Macon hosted an Entrepreneur Happy Hour in March. Similar events will be scheduled and promoted twice a month to create interest and spur conversations with the rapidly-growing startup community
20 23
Q1
Andrew Eck in New Role as Community Navigator
PILLAR
OneMacon! neighborhood catalyst, Dr. Sundra Woodford, partnered with community organizations including the Solicitor General’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Middle GA Justice, Georgia Justice, Black Voter’s Matter, Giving Health, Macon-Bibb County and Beulahland Bible Church to host a record restriction clinic in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood Lawyers walked participants through their public records and discussed what offenses are eligible for clearing and when If the request for record restriction is granted, the access to the specified record is restricted to such a degree that only certain entities can see it going forward These entities are generally previously authorized personnel such as those working for government agencies or law enforcement
The goal of the clinic was to assist residents in restricting their criminal records and convictions in an effort to increase the quality of their life. Criminal records can be a barrier to employment, securing housing or a college or vocational degree
A strategic planning retreat is scheduled in April to focus on developing an action plan to implement neighborhood priorities for development, investment, and community engagement to increase the quality of life in the neighborhood. Two Hands International’s Tonja Khabir is the lead organizer.
