Q1 2024 INVESTOR REPORT
INVESTMENTS THAT DELIVER A SLICE OF THE GOOD LIFE.
“I know that this investment will deliver a better prepared workforce, will bring talent to Macon, and jumpstart grassroots revitalization in underserved neighborhoods.”
Robert “Robbo” Hatcher, Jr. Forward Macon Campaign Co-Chair CEO, H2Capital, Inc.
Forward Macon initiatives continue to be successfully implemented in a collaborative strategy to create jobs, recruit new residents and develop new talent in Macon-Bibb Macon's downtown is vibrant - recently named the 2024 Great American Main Street - neighborhoods are improving and small businesses and industries are choosing to expand operations in Georgia's sweet spot for jobs and good living.
The OneMacon community economic development strategy has endorsed Forward Macon's key initiatives to accelerate our trajectory These initiatives are:
Workforce Development and Talent Attraction Startup Success Community Revitalization
Forward Macon's plan is designed to directly impact job creation By 2025, an additional 2400-3,100 jobs will be created, with new jobs expected to add an additional $56 million of consumer expenditures.
Goals for these initiatives are carried out by the Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Central Georgia and SparkMacon, where they are making an impact with the joint plan and its first phase of implementation. The latest quarterly update is provided in this newsletter, which includes highlights from ongoing efforts The critical work of Forward Macon is made possible by the vision and investment of community partners
3,100
$56M Additional Consumer Expenditures Projected in Five Years #1 Create Best Place for Business in Georgia
Create Direct and Indirect Jobs in Macon-Bibb
PILLAR I: IMPROVE WORKFORCE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TACTICS
Ensure graduates are college/career-ready by connecting business and education providers at all levels.
STAR Students Recognized for Excellence
WORKFORCE Q1 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
January
Produced two Future Workforce Fridays featuring speakers from CGTC spotlighting dual enrollment program with students in their CNA and construction pathways and Atrium Health Navicent Rise to Success.
Promoted Greater Career Works and served as presenting sponsor of Goodwill Career Expo reaching an attending audience of over 200 job seekers at the annual event
February
Produced two Future Workforce Fridays featuring SPINEN and Cherokee Brick.
Presented GreaterCareerWorks.com to Middle Georgia Economic Alliance to promote regional adoption of platform
Collaborated with Big Hair Productions to review Greater Career Works highlight videos and develop creative ad content. Inserted Greater Career Works ads in Greater Guide.
March
Produced Future Workforce Fridays featuring And So We Go production company and Piedmont Hospital.
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.
Recruit businesses to provide apprenticeships and internships for high school and post-secondary education students
GreaterCareerWorks.com Q1 2024 Analytics Students 7,204 Counselors/Teachers 531 Organizations 360 Job Postings 1,936 Applications 763 Completed Courses 132 Total Users on Site 14,643 Career Card Views 2,108 Three Public School Systems Bibb/Crawford/Twiggs Statistics Effective 03 31 24
FLEX Winners Earn Startup Funding
PILLAR II: ATTRACT & RETAIN TALENT
ATTRACTION & RETENTION TACTICS Q1 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
Proactively market Choose Macon as the place to live, work and play in the Southeast.
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 Macon Area Connections and Leadership Macon to retain talent already here.
Leadership Macon recruited the 45th class of emerging leaders to join the Greater Macon Chamber’s signature program. The aspiring leaders participated in the first information session and attended an orientation retreat in January The new class represents the most diverse cohort in the program ’ s history The group was recognized during Macon Day at the State Capitol in February.
Choose Macon marketing collateral and branded specialty items were delivered in a strategic effort to the Macon delegation and 50 additional key offices of the Georgia General Assembly. Legislative office visits were coordinated to engage leaders from our local delegation and surrounding regional counties
Choose Macon ads and sample itineraries were distributed through the Chamber’s Greater Guide, in partnership with Macon Magazine, with a targeted distribution of 7,500 copies
Atrium Health Navicent was awarded a DECAL grant to address childcare for parents with nontraditional working hours The Chamber Workforce department collaborated with Atrium and community partners for pre-planning and the grant launch event. In addition to hosting planning sessions and promoting the grant announcement, our team continues to share the new childcare options with regional businesses as a solution for their workforce challenges
PILLAR III: ATTRACT STARTUPS
Startup-Macon continued to host free networking meetings and saw an average attendance of 19 participants at each session In addition, Startup-Macon supported and promoted other ESO events to engage another 97 entrepreneurial individuals
Startup-Macon supported and promoted Perry Startup Week which was hosted from Feb 26 – March 1 An impressive 59 unique participants attended multiple programs hosted throughout the week. A total of 145 seats were filled at sessions. Event topics included sessions on how to start a business and panel discussions with business professionals Pitch workshops were also featured Many entrepreneurs who attended Perry Starup Week also serve customers and clients in Macon and Middle Georgia.
Startup-Macon also continued planning during first quarter for Macon Startup Week which was hosted May 6th-11th. The free, five-day celebration built momentum and created opportunity around entrepreneurship. A Women's Summit was scheduled, and more exciting programming was confirmed to engage participants.
The Q1 2024 metrics included 214 Engagements, 25 Direct ESO Referrals and four Entrepreneur Assessments.
Wednesday is for entrepreneurs. BANC (Business and Non-Profit Center) hosts a monthly class for entrepreneurs on the first Wednesday of the month at 5 pm at the Washington Memorial Library Startup-Macon hosts a networking meetup the third Wednesday of the month at 5 pm at Just Tap’d SparkMacon hosts a fireside chat with local business owners on each 4th Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm The second Wednesday is open for ideas Interested? Email Andrew Eck at Andrew@Startup-Macon.com.
WORK IT OUT WEDNESDAY!
PILLAR IV: REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS
REVITILIZATION TACTICS
The community revitalization pillar seeks to increase prosperity in underserved communities. The One Macon 2.0 plan identified that a Community Engagement Project Manager working within underserved communities could make a difference. Forward Macon helps fund the position currently housed with United Way of Central Georgia
REVITILIZATION HIGHLIGHTS
Dr. Donnie Hale, Southern Regional Deputy Director, Coalition for Community Schools at the Institute for Educational Leadership facilitated a discussion to create a strategic vision for supporting the well-being for children and families in Macon-Bibb. United Way of Central Georgia welcomed community partners and stakeholders including Bibb County School District representatives, Pleasant Hill residents, CSU volunteers, and UWCG board and staff members The community partner session with Dr Hale focused on children and the opportunities and challenges that impact them
On January 16th, community members and local schools joined together with the United Way of Central Georgia to make walking and cycling routes to school safer for the kids of L.H. Williams Elementary School. UWCG’s Community Schools United Path to Success Project launched the Walking School Bus, a community-driven effort to keep kids safe while improving attendance Under the supervision of volunteer route leaders and gleeful greetings from designated resident porch watchers, students meet up at different locations in the neighborhood and walk to school together.
The Walking School Bus is supported by the AARP's Community Challenge grant program and not only strives to keep kids safe and in school but also helps promote community involvement in education, and the ongoing revitalization of the Pleasant Hill neighborhood
The MVP Safe at Home project administrator met with the Pleasant Hill Home Team on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for orientation and to conduct CPTED home assessments of properties owned and occupied for participating senior residents.
